Drying Machine Load-Adaptive Heat Control to Reduce Energy Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial drying machines face challenges in efficiently managing energy usage and drying time due to varying loads, leading to potential overheating and increased power consumption, especially when handling small or extremely small loads.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a drying machine that includes sensors to determine load size based on temperature and dryness, adjusting heat and airflow accordingly, and a controller to manage the drum motor, fan motor, and heater to optimize drying conditions, including a modulator to adjust gas pressure for precise heat control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drying machine operates with constant heat supply and airflow for all load sizes, then the drying process is simple to control, but small loads experience overheating and excessive energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of heat supply and airflow based on detected load size. The system adjusts the quantity of heat from the heater and airflow from the fan motor according to whether the load is small, medium, or large, transforming the static constant-control system into a dynamic adaptive system that optimizes energy consumption for each loading condition
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (heat quantity and airflow rate) based on load size detection. For small loads, it reduces heat supply and airflow to prevent overheating and waste, while for large loads it increases these parameters to ensure adequate drying, thereby adapting the operational parameters to match the actual drying requirements
2Productivity
If the drying machine increases heat supply and airflow for large loads, then drying effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the balance between drying effectiveness and energy consumption by adjusting heat and airflow parameters according to load size. For large loads, it increases heat supply and airflow to maintain drying effectiveness, while for small loads it reduces these parameters to minimize energy waste, achieving parameter optimization based on actual needs
3Use of energy by moving object
If the drying machine uses precise load detection and adaptive control, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms through temperature sensors and dryness sensors that continuously monitor drying conditions and load characteristics. This feedback information is used by the controller to adjust heat supply and airflow in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that achieves precise energy optimization without requiring overly complex external control mechanisms
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 allows for efficient energy use by varying heat and airflow based on load size, preventing overheating and reducing power consumption, while ensuring effective drying of clothes across different load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
whether the load is a small load, a medium load, or a large load, based on variation in a temperature of air discharged from the drum, wherein the variation in temperature of air is sensed by a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
determining whether the load is a small load or an extremely small load using a dryness sensor provided in the drum
Implementation Method 3
hot air is supplied to the drum by driving of the drum, a heater, and a fan motor
Implementation Method 4
hot air is supplied to the drum by driving of the drum, a heater, and a fan motor
Data Source
AI summary
A drying machine may include a drum configured to accommodate clothes, a fan motor configured to generate a flow of air, a heater configured to heat the air, a modulator configured to adjust a quantity of heat provided by the heater, and a user interface configured to provide a manager menu to correct a difference between a current quantity of heat caused by adjustment of the modulator and a target quantity of heat generated by variation in the modulator, where the modulator may include a device configured to manually set a maximum pressure and a minimum pressure.