Dryer Process Air Circuit Siphon Sealing to Reduce Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Condensation laundry dryers suffer from air leakage through the process air circuit, leading to reduced efficiency and increased humidity in the surrounding environment due to the connection of the process air flow to the room air via the drain, causing losses and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dryer with a process air circuit that includes a blower, condensing device, condensate collecting vessel, and siphon-like elements in the pump and overflow conduits to prevent air transfer, ensuring airtightness by directing water back to the condensate collecting vessel without entering the condensate tank, and utilizing an overflow siphon to seal off the condensate collecting vessel from external pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the condensate tank is connected to the collecting vessel via a drain to allow condensate leakage discharge, then condensate leakage is handled, but room air is drawn into the process air and process air escapes to the room
Solution Approach 1:
A siphon tube is introduced as an intermediary element between the condensate tank and the collecting vessel. The siphon tube allows condensate to pass through while its water seal blocks air transfer, thus mediating between the need for condensate drainage and the need for air tightness. The siphon tube fills with condensate during operation, creating a liquid barrier that prevents process air from escaping and room air from entering.
Solution Approach 2:
The siphon tube creates an inert barrier using condensate (liquid) to seal the connection between the condensate tank and collecting vessel. This liquid seal acts as an inert environment that blocks air passage while allowing condensate to drain, effectively isolating the process air circuit from the room air without requiring mechanical valves or complex sealing mechanisms.
2Loss of energy
If the process air circuit is sealed to prevent air leakage, then energy efficiency is improved, but condensate drainage becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The siphon tube serves as a mediator that enables condensate drainage while maintaining the sealed nature of the process air circuit. By positioning the siphon tube's inlet below the condensate tank level and routing it through the sealed wall to the collecting vessel, it provides a dedicated drainage path that does not compromise the air seal of the main process circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses hydraulic principles through the siphon tube, which operates based on liquid flow and pressure differential. The siphon effect allows condensate to drain automatically when the liquid level rises above the siphon inlet, while the column of liquid in the siphon tube maintains the seal against air leakage, combining drainage functionality with airtightness through fluid mechanics.
3Loss of energy
If a valve is used to close the discharge from the receiving vessel, then air tightness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air-sealing function from the complex valve mechanism and relocates it to the siphon tube's liquid seal. By removing the valve from the air path and placing it only in the condensate drainage path (where it simply opens when condensate flows), the system achieves air tightness without requiring a valve in the process air circuit, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
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 solution enhances the airtightness of the dryer's process air circuit, improving overall efficiency and reducing energy consumption by preventing air exchange between the dryer and the environment, maintaining airtightness even when the condensate pump is stopped, and ensuring better performance by sealing the dryer's process air pressure from atmospheric pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a siphon-like element located in the pump conduit and/or in the overflow conduit to limit air transfer through these conduits
Implementation Method 2
a condensing device for condensing moisture from the process air coming from the drum
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A dryer 1 comprising a drum 2 and a process air circuit 3, which includes a blower 12 ; a condensing device 18; a condensate collecting vessel 5; a condensate tank 6; an overflow container 8 in which the condensate tank 6 is placed; an electric pump unit 7 associated to the condensate collecting vessel 5; a pump conduit 9 fluidly connecting a pump outlet 35 to a condensate tank inlet 36; an overflow conduit 10 fluidly connecting the overflow container 8 to the condensate collecting vessel 5; wherein the pump conduit 9 and the overflow conduit 10 are adapted to conduct at least part of the water 22 that is transported from the condensate collecting vessel 5 towards the condensate tank 6 back to the condensate collecting vessel 5 without entering the condensate tank 6; and wherein an overflow siphon 24 is located in the overflow conduit 10.