Dryer Condensate Trap Structure for Airflow and Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes treatment apparatuses face challenges in maintaining heat exchange efficiency due to air leakage and lint particle accumulation, leading to decreased performance and increased energy consumption, especially in larger capacity dryers, where condensate water management and water level detection reliability are also issues.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treatment apparatus with an improved air flow mechanism featuring a trap structure that prevents external air suction, a water collection system with increased capacity, and a control method for accurate water level detection and drainage, ensuring efficient heat exchange and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drum capacity is increased to meet large-capacity demands, then the drying capacity is improved, but the amount of condensate water generated increases and the cabinet size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water collection system is segmented into multiple components: condensate water collection pan, drainage pump, water tank, and overflow channel. This segmentation allows for efficient management of large condensate water volumes generated by high-capacity dryers, enabling automatic drainage and preventing water accumulation that would otherwise limit dryer capacity.
2Loss of energy
If a U-trap structure is added to prevent air leakage, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trap structure is merged with the condensate water collection pan and drainage system. The trap utilizes the collected condensate water to prevent air leakage from the drum, combining the water collection function with the air sealing function. This eliminates the need for a separate U-trap structure while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the water tank capacity is increased to reduce emptying frequency, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage pump automatically pumps condensate water from the collection pan to the water tank, and the overflow channel automatically drains excess water when the tank is full. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual emptying while maintaining a compact tank structure, as the system automatically manages water levels without requiring a large buffer capacity.
4Productivity
If a drainage pump is installed to automatically drain condensate water, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage pump operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when condensate water accumulates in the collection pan and deactivating when the water tank reaches sufficient capacity. This periodic operation significantly reduces power consumption compared to continuous pumping, while still maintaining high drainage efficiency for the total condensate volume generated during the drying cycle.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and prevents apparatus failure by effectively managing condensate water and detecting water levels accurately, maintaining stable operation and improved drying performance.
Implementation Method 1
condenses moisture contained in the hot and humid air through heat exchange while circulating the air
Implementation Method 2
condenses moisture contained in the hot and humid air through heat exchange
Implementation Method 3
heater system that generates Joule's heat to condense moisture through a heat exchange process
Data Source
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AI summary
The present specification relates to a clothes treatment apparatus and a control method therefor, the apparatus comprising, in order to improve an air flow mechanism for circulating air to a drum, the drum for accommodating objects to be treated, an air circulation path connected to the drum, a circulation fan, which is provided on the downstream side of a heat exchanger inside the air circulation path and generates suction force so as to suction the air of the air circulation path and supply same to the drum, a water collection part formed at the lower side of the drum so as to collect condensate water, and a trap having a bottom surface that is lower than a peripheral area in the water collection part so as to allow the condensate water to gather therein.