Dryer Door Steam Injection Cell for Droplet Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes drying machines face issues with liquid droplets forming and condensing within the steam supply conduit, leading to spot-like discoloration of fabrics, visible halos after treatment, and user safety risks due to hot liquid droplets during the drying process.
Innovation Solution
A clothes drying machine design featuring an ejection cell with an upright wall to intercept and condense liquid droplets, a drain pipe conduit to collect liquids, and a siphon-trap configuration to ensure only gas/vapour enters the drum, preventing liquid particles from reaching the clothes and minimizing user exposure to hot droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If steam is delivered directly to the nozzle opening into the drum, then the treatment process is simple and effective, but liquid droplets enter the drum causing fabric discoloration and halos
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary chamber is introduced between the steam delivery system and the drum nozzle. This chamber serves as a separation zone where liquid droplets are condensed and drained away before the steam is injected into the drum, thus preventing fabric damage while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The steam delivery system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a steam delivery conduit, a separation chamber for liquid-vapor separation, and a nozzle for drum injection. This segmentation allows liquid droplets to be removed in the intermediate chamber while pure steam reaches the drum
2Productivity
If steam is delivered at high pressure to ensure effective treatment, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but liquid droplets are ejected more forcefully causing more severe discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The separation chamber acts as a pressure-regulating intermediary that allows high-pressure steam delivery while capturing and removing liquid droplets before they reach the drum, thus maintaining treatment efficiency without exacerbating fabric damage
Solution Approach 2:
Liquid droplets are extracted from the steam stream in the separation chamber through condensation and drainage mechanisms, removing the harmful component while preserving the high-pressure steam flow for effective treatment
3Productivity
If the nozzle is positioned close to the drum opening for direct injection, then the treatment is more effective, but user safety is compromised due to hot liquid droplets
Solution Approach 1:
The separation chamber serves as a safety intermediary that removes hot liquid droplets before steam is delivered to the drum vicinity, maintaining treatment effectiveness while eliminating the scalding hazard to users
Solution Approach 2:
Liquid droplet removal is performed in advance in the separation chamber before the steam reaches the drum and user access area, preventing potential scalding incidents while preserving treatment efficacy
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
Effectively prevents liquid droplets from entering the drum, reducing fabric discoloration, eliminating halos, and enhancing user safety by ensuring only vapor is directed at the clothes, thus maintaining fabric quality and safety during the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
an ejection cell with an upright wall to intercept and condense liquid droplets
Implementation Method 2
a siphon-trap configuration to ensure only gas/vapour enters the drum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Household-type clothes drying machine provided with a rotating drum (1), first means adapted to circulate a stream of drying air through said drum and comprising an appropriate inflow conduit and an outflow conduit for said air stream, second means (3) adapted to generate a gas or vapour stream, a first delivery pipe conduit (4) connecting said second means with an ejection arrangement (5) located on the inner surface of the loading door of the drum, a second drain pipe (7) conduit adapted to collect the condensed moisture from said ejection arrangement and convey it into a collecting container; said ejection arrangement comprises a substantially sealed cell that is however provided with a first port to enable the gas/vapour stream to flow in from said first delivery pipe conduit, a second port to enable liquid and condensate to flow into said drain pipe conduit, and an ejection window that opens into the interior of said drum and is adapted to eject said gas/vapour stream flowing in from said first delivery pipe conduit. Inside said cell there is provided a vertically extending wall and said first port is oriented towards said wall, which terminates with a free lower edge projecting onto the bottom of said cell.