Method for the treatment of laundry in a laundry treating machine and laundry treating machine for the treatment of laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment machines, particularly heat pump tumble dryers, face challenges in achieving high temperatures required for reactivating impregnations in textiles, which can lead to inefficient energy use and mechanical stress on clothing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a laundry treatment machine with a drum made of ferromagnetic material, inducing eddy currents via an electrical coil to heat the drum, and controlling the drum speed to alternately apply and release laundry against the drum walls, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump tumble dryer is used to heat the drum, then energy efficiency is improved, but the maximum temperature achievable is limited and heating speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into two independent systems: a heat pump system for general energy-efficient drying and an induction heating system for high-temperature impregnation reactivation. This allows each system to operate in its optimal temperature range without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit periodically switches between heat pump heating and induction heating based on the required temperature and process stage. Induction heating is activated periodically when high temperatures are needed for impregnation reactivation, then switched off when lower temperatures suffice.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump tumble dryer is used to heat the drum, then energy efficiency is improved, but heating speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented into two independent systems: a heat pump system for general energy-efficient drying and an induction heating system for rapid high-temperature heating. This allows each system to operate in its optimal performance range without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit periodically switches between heat pump heating and induction heating based on the required temperature and process stage. Induction heating is activated periodically when rapid heating is needed, then switched off when slower heating suffices.
3Reliability
If the drum is driven at high speed for impregnation reactivation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but mechanical stress on laundry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the drum rotation speed parameter based on the treatment phase. During impregnation reactivation, the drum is driven at higher speeds to ensure effective treatment, then reduced to lower speeds during normal drying to minimize mechanical stress on the laundry.
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 enables rapid and gentle reactivation of impregnations with reduced energy use and mechanical stress, allowing for quicker and more efficient treatment of laundry while minimizing the need for a heat pump during the reactivation process.
Implementation Method 1
inducing eddy currents in the at least one drum wall of the drum to heat the drum
Implementation Method 2
By means of induction heating, for example, a heat pump can remain switched off during the treatment of the laundry
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for treating laundry. The method can be carried out in connection with a laundry treatment machine (100) which has a drum (110) for receiving the laundry, the drum (110) having at least one drum wall made of a ferromagnetic material. The method includes a step of inducing eddy currents in the at least one drum wall of the drum (110) to heat the drum (110). The method also has a step of causing a volume flow of process air (135) through the drum (110). The method also has a step of driving the drum (110) between a feed speed at which the laundry received in the drum (110) rests against the drum wall during a rotary movement of the drum (110) and a laundry falling speed at which the drum (110) laundry that has been picked up falls off the drum wall when the drum (110) rotates.