Condenser Dryer Load Detection Using Temperature and Condensate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Condensation dryers often over-dry laundry when loaded below nominal capacity, leading to inefficient energy use and prolonged drying times, as existing methods for determining laundry load are inaccurate and fail to adapt the drying process accordingly.
Innovation Solution
A condensation dryer with multiple temperature sensors and a control device that determines the laundry load by analyzing the time profiles of temperature changes and condensed water, allowing for precise adaptation of the drying process based on the load, using a condensation rate calculation and sensors for accurate condensate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the drying process is aligned with nominal load, then the dryer can operate with a standard drying program, but the laundry is over-dried with lower loads leading to unnecessary energy consumption and excessively long drying times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the laundry load before the drying process begins. The control device calculates the load based on temperature change measurements taken during the initial heating phase, allowing the drying program to be adapted in advance to match the actual load size, thereby avoiding energy waste from over-drying
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the temperature change of process air during the heating phase and using this information to calculate the actual laundry load. This feedback loop enables the control device to adjust the drying program parameters based on the determined load, optimizing energy consumption while achieving complete drying
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drying process is aligned with nominal load, then the dryer follows a fixed drying program, but the drying time becomes excessively long for lower loads
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary load determination during the heating phase before the main drying process begins. Based on the calculated load, the drying program is adapted in advance to set appropriate drying times, ensuring that smaller loads are dried quickly without unnecessary waiting time while larger loads receive adequate drying duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drying program flexible and adaptive rather than fixed. The control device adjusts drying program parameters such as duration and intensity based on the dynamically determined load, allowing the system to optimize drying time for each specific loading condition
3Measurement precision
If existing load determination methods are used, then the dryer attempts to estimate load, but the methods are inaccurate and fail to adapt the drying process accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inaccurate mechanical or simple sensing load determination methods with a thermodynamic measurement system. By measuring the temperature change of process air during the heating phase and calculating the load based on thermal physics principles, the system achieves high measurement precision that enables accurate adaptation of the drying process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct mechanical load sensing to indirect thermal parameter measurement. By monitoring temperature change (ΔT) of the process air and using this thermal parameter to calculate the laundry load, the system achieves more precise and reliable load determination that directly supports drying program adaptation
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
This approach ensures optimal drying results, reduces energy consumption, and allows for user-defined dryness levels, protecting the laundry and minimizing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger for the condensation of water from moist, warm process air
Implementation Method 2
The warm and humid process air is cooled down in it, so that the water it contains condenses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a condenser dryer (1) having a process‑air channel (2), a drum (3) for accommodating items of laundry, a heat exchanger (5, 15) for condensing water from humid/warm process air, a control device 10, at least one temperature sensor (27, 28, 29, 30) and a means (11, 20, 32) for determining the quantity of water condensed in the heat exchanger, wherein the at least one temperature sensor (27, 28, 29, 30) is arranged in a cooling‑medium channel (24) and/or in the process‑air channel (2) and the control device (10) is intended to determine loading of the drum (3) with items of laundry with reference to progression over time of the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor (27, 28, 29, 30) and progression over time of the quantity of water condensed. The invention also relates to a method which is suitable for operating said dryer.