Dryer or washer dryer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes dryers and washer dryers face inefficiencies in heat exchange due to high water consumption, high production costs, and limited heat dissipation areas, leading to unsatisfactory condensation effects and maintenance issues with lint accumulation and air inlet non-uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer or washer dryer with a condensing structure featuring a heat exchanger composed of superposed plastic fins in a longitudinal-transverse alternating manner, a frame for enhanced strength, and integrated filtering and flushing structures to prevent lint blockage and ensure air uniformity, increasing heat exchange efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a plastic sheet-type heat exchanger with stacked fins is used to increase heat dissipation area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes complex and lint blockage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple thin plastic fins stacked in alternating longitudinal and transverse directions, creating a modular structure that increases heat dissipation area while maintaining manufacturability through simple stacking and lapping processes
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fins are nested within a frame structure, with each fin containing air channels that guide airflow through the heat exchanger. The fins are stacked and lapped together to form a compact nested arrangement that maximizes heat exchange surface area within limited space
2Area of stationary object
If thinner plastic sheets are used to increase the number of fins, then heat dissipation area increases, but strength and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Thin plastic sheets are used to create flexible yet functional fins that can be easily formed and stacked. The thinness of these sheets allows for a high number of fins to be packed into the available space, significantly increasing the heat dissipation area while maintaining adequate structural integrity through the stacking arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger combines multiple thin plastic fins with a supporting frame structure, creating a composite system where the thin fins provide large surface area for heat exchange while the frame provides structural support and rigidity, resolving the contradiction between thinness and strength
3Strength
If aluminum alloy material is used for the heat exchanger, then strength is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive aluminum alloy with cheaper plastic materials for the heat exchanger fins and frame. Although plastic has lower inherent strength, the design compensates through the stacked multi-fin structure and frame support, achieving adequate durability at reduced material cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal (aluminum alloy) to polymer (plastic), fundamentally altering the manufacturing process from metal forming to plastic molding and stacking. This parameter change reduces material cost and simplifies production while maintaining functional performance through design optimization
4Strength
If a frame is added outside the heat exchanger, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity and lint blockage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the heat exchanger, guides airflow through integrated air channels, and acts as a mounting structure for the entire condensing assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device despite the added frame structure
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, prevents lint blockage, and automates cleaning, leading to improved reliability, reduced maintenance, and increased service life while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger is arranged inside the condensing structure; the heat exchanger is composed of fins which are superposed in a longitudinal-transverse alternating manner
Implementation Method 2
energy is used for both evaporating water of clothes into steam and continuing to condense the evaporated steam into water vapor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a dryer or a washer dryer, including at least a clothes drying system, where the clothes drying system includes a heating structure and a condensing structure; the condensing structure is arranged on a lower part of the dryer or the washer dryer; the condensing structure includes an air inlet (36) and an air outlet (37) for hot air, and further includes a gas inlet (33) and a gas outlet (45) for cold air, and a heat exchanger (35) is arranged inside the condensing structure; the heat exchanger (35) is composed of fins which are superposed in a longitudinal-transverse alternating manner, and a frame with an enclosure structure is arranged outside the heat exchanger (35). The dryer or the washer dryer is provided with the condensing structure which has high heat exchange efficiency and high clothes drying speed, and is further provided with a filtering structure, a washing filtering and air uniform structures, thereby preventing lint from blocking air paths and ensuring smoothness and uniformity of air flows; and moreover, the dryer or the washer dryer is simple in structure and convenient to operate.