Evaporator Front-Washing Guide Layout for Laundry Dryers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry processing apparatuses with self-washing heat exchangers face inefficiencies in washing the front surface of the evaporator due to condensed water deviation, leading to incomplete cleaning and reduced heat exchange performance, especially when the water flow rate is variable.

Innovation Solution

A laundry processing apparatus with a washing unit that includes a nozzle part and a front guide part, where the nozzle part is inclined and the front guide part is positioned to guide the washing water at a predetermined angle, ensuring it flows onto the lower side of the heat exchanger's front surface without entering the evaporator, using a relative ratio between the nozzle guide end's protruding length and distance to the front guide part to optimize the spray angle and flow rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If condensed water is sprayed toward the front surface of the evaporator, then the washing coverage is improved, but the water flows into the evaporator due to air blowing force, surface tension reduction, or Coanda effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing coverage areaVSAvoidwater flow control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guide part is introduced as an intermediary component between the nozzle and the evaporator surface. This guide part redirects the condensed water flow path, preventing direct contact with the evaporator while ensuring comprehensive coverage of the front surface. The guide part acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between achieving wide coverage and preventing water intrusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow parameters of condensed water by adjusting the nozzle inclination angle and positioning the guide part at specific locations. By modifying these parameters, the water flow is directed to follow the front surface downward without penetrating into the evaporator, even when affected by air blowing force or surface tension changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the nozzle is positioned to spray water along the evaporator surface, then the washing efficiency is improved, but the water may be introduced into the evaporator by the Coanda effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing efficiencyVSAvoidCoanda effect intrusion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to prevent the Coanda effect directly, the invention inverts the approach by using the guide part to redirect water flow away from the evaporator surface. The guide part creates a flow path that goes along the surface and then redirects downward, effectively counteracting the Coanda effect's tendency to attach water to the surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the amount of condensed water is small, then the self-washing function operates without additional water supply, but the condensed water cannot be discharged ahead of the surface and penetrates into the evaporator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-washing adaptabilityVSAvoidwashing reliability under low flow conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide part is pre-positioned to create an optimal flow path before the condensed water is discharged. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that even a small amount of water will follow the intended path along the front surface and be redirected downward, preventing penetration into the evaporator regardless of flow rate variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures even washing of the heat exchanger's front surface, maintaining high washing efficiency regardless of the condensed water flow rate, thereby improving the apparatus's reliability and performance by preventing water from entering the evaporator and ensuring thorough cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

a washing unit configured to spray washing water on a front surface of the heat exchanger into which the exhaust air flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 2

The guide end guides the washing water toward the front surface of the heat exchanger, so that the washing water performs the washing evenly to a lower side of the front surface of the heat exchanger without being introduced into the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Implementation Method 3

The clothing drying machine is configured to supply high temperature air to an object to be processed such as clothing and bed linen... Thus, moisture contained in the clothing to be processed is evaporated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

condensed water is generated while the high temperature and humidity air generated for drying heated air passes through an evaporator, which is a heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP3767027B1Laundry processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3767027B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3767027B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3767027B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laundry processing apparatus is proposed. In the laundry processing apparatus, a washing unit (C) is provided in an installation space of a cabinet (110), which corresponds to an upper portion of a heat exchanger and has the installation space therein, to spray washing water to a front surface (362) of an evaporator (360). Herein, the washing unit (C) has a nozzle part (S) provided at the upper portion of the heat exchanger in an inclined direction to guide the washing water toward the heat exchanger and a front guide part (420) provided at an opposite side of the nozzle part (S) while being space apart therefrom, with the front surface (362) of the evaporator 360 that is the heat exchanger interposed between the front guide part (420), guiding the washing water discharged from the nozzle part (S) toward the front surface (362) of the evaporator (360).