Dryer Appliance Energy-Based Dry Time Estimation for Cycle Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryer appliances provide inaccurate estimated cycle times due to varying machine tolerances and installation conditions, leading to inefficiencies in drying processes.
Innovation Solution
A dryer appliance equipped with a controller that determines the remaining moisture content of a load, estimates energy requirements, tracks energy output during the dry cycle, and provides user notifications when the tracked energy output exceeds a predetermined threshold percentage of the estimated energy requirement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional dryer appliances use fixed estimated cycle times based on option settings and previous dry times, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of remaining dry time estimation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual energy consumption during the drying cycle and compares it to the estimated energy requirement. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust the remaining dry time estimation in real-time, improving accuracy without requiring complex additional hardware. The controller uses the comparison between actual and estimated energy consumption to dynamically update the cycle time prediction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or fixed-program cycle time estimation with an energy-based estimation system. Instead of relying on pre-programmed times based on option settings, the system uses energy consumption measurements to determine remaining dry time. This substitution of the estimation mechanism improves precision while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Measurement precision
If dryer appliances monitor and track actual energy consumption to improve dry time estimation accuracy, then the measurement precision of remaining dry time is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it manages the drying cycle, monitors energy consumption, estimates remaining moisture content, calculates energy requirements, and provides user notifications. By making the controller multi-functional, the system improves measurement precision without adding separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the dryer's own energy consumption data to estimate remaining dry time. The energy monitoring capability serves dual purposes: it manages the drying process and simultaneously provides accurate time estimation. This self-service approach allows the system to improve precision using existing operational data without requiring extensive additional instrumentation.
3Reliability
If the dryer appliance provides real-time energy output tracking and comparison, then the reliability of drying process control is improved, but the loss of time for processing and comparison increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy output tracking and comparison operations occur continuously throughout the drying cycle rather than as discrete interruptions. The controller continuously monitors energy consumption and updates the remaining dry time estimation without stopping the drying process or requiring separate measurement phases. This continuous operation maintains reliability while minimizing time loss.
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
Accurately estimates the remaining dry time by monitoring and adjusting to the actual energy consumption, thereby improving the precision of cycle duration predictions.
Implementation Method 1
One or more heating elements, for example electric heating elements, heat air prior to the air entering the drum
Implementation Method 2
the warm air is circulated through the drum as the clothes are tumbled to remove moisture from laundry articles
Implementation Method 3
the warm air is circulated through the drum as the clothes are tumbled to remove moisture from laundry articles in the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a dryer appliance includes determining a remaining moisture content of a load of articles to be dried in the dryer appliance and estimating an energy requirement for drying the load of articles based on the determined remaining moisture content of the load of articles. The method also includes activating a heating system of the dryer appliance during a dry cycle of the dryer appliance while tracking an energy output of the heating system during the dry cycle. The method further includes comparing the tracked energy output to the estimated energy requirement. When the tracked energy output is greater than a predetermined threshold percentage of the estimated energy requirement, a user notification is provided.