Drying Apparatus Ambient Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying apparatuses suffer from low precision in controlling air temperature and may emit excessive initial air temperature, leading to potential burns or inadequate drying due to inaccurate temperature detection and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus equipped with a barometer to detect ambient pressure, which adjusts airflow speed and heating element power based on ambient pressure to maintain consistent air temperature and drying time across varying environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If temperature feedback loop control is used with thermistor, then the control system is simple and easy to implement, but the temperature detection accuracy is poor especially in high temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal sensing system (thermistor) with an acoustic sensing system (microphone). Instead of measuring temperature directly with a thermistor that has non-linear characteristics and installation errors, the system uses a microphone to detect acoustic signals generated by thermal convection currents, which are then processed to determine temperature with higher accuracy across the full temperature range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary to indirectly measure temperature. Rather than having the thermistor directly contact and measure the heated airflow temperature, the system uses sound waves generated by thermal convection as a mediator to convey temperature information to the microphone, enabling more accurate remote temperature detection.
2Volume of stationary object
If thermistor is used for temperature detection, then the installation space requirement is small, but the detection accuracy is greatly reduced in high temperature range above 100°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermistor-based thermal sensing system with an acoustic sensing system using a microphone. This substitution allows for accurate temperature detection in the high temperature range (above 100°C) without the limitations of thermistor non-linearity and installation errors, while maintaining compact installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an acoustic copy of the thermal field information. Instead of directly measuring temperature with a thermistor that suffers from non-linear response above 100°C, the system captures acoustic signals that replicate temperature field characteristics through thermal convection, then processes these signals to reconstruct accurate temperature data.
3Device complexity
If air temperature feedback loop is used for control, then the control process is simple, but there is a lag in temperature control especially when initial air temperature is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by using the microphone to detect acoustic signals that indicate temperature trends before the actual temperature change occurs. The acoustic field responds faster to heating changes than the thermal field itself, allowing the control system to anticipate temperature changes and adjust heating power in advance, eliminating the lag present in traditional feedback loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal feedback mechanism with an acoustic sensing mechanism. The microphone detects acoustic signals generated by thermal convection, which provide faster and more responsive temperature information than direct thermal sensing, thereby reducing control lag while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
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
Ensures precise control of air temperature and drying time, preventing burns and ensuring consistent user experience regardless of altitude or environmental changes.
Implementation Method 1
A drying apparatus equipped with a barometer to detect ambient pressure
Implementation Method 2
a heating element 12, and a barometer 13
Implementation Method 3
an airflow generating element 11, a heating element 12
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A drying apparatus (10) and a control method, wherein the drying apparatus (10) comprises: an airflow generating element (11), a heating element (12), a barometer (13) and a main control module (14). The airflow generating element (11) is configured to generate an airflow, the heating element (12) is configured to heat the airflow, the barometer (13) is configured to obtain ambient pressure, the main control module (14), coupled to the heating element (12), and the barometer (13), is configured to adjust the power of the heating element (12) according to the ambient pressure.