Fluff Filter Washing Using Condensate Storage and Periodic Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment apparatuses face inefficiencies in cleaning the fluff filter, leading to reduced performance and increased energy consumption due to inadequate condensate management and unnecessary wetting of the filter.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a condensate collector and intermediate tank system that stores condensate for targeted filter washing, minimizing contamination and energy use by controlling condensate flow and pump operations, and utilizing a separate washing liquid collector to prevent backflow and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If condensate is continuously pumped to wash the fluff filter, then the filter surface is kept clean, but energy consumption increases and unnecessary wetting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate pump operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when the condensate storage chamber reaches a predetermined volume threshold. This periodic operation eliminates unnecessary pumping cycles and associated energy consumption while maintaining effective filter cleaning when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A level detection mechanism provides feedback on the condensate volume in the storage chamber, triggering pump operation only when the threshold is reached. This feedback control ensures the pump runs only when necessary, preventing energy waste from continuous operation while ensuring cleaning effectiveness when condensate is available.
2Device complexity
If condensate is stored in a single collector, then the system is simple, but contaminated washing liquid may backflow and contaminate fresh condensate
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate management system is segmented into two functionally separate chambers: a condensate storage chamber for collecting fresh condensate and a washing liquid collector for holding used washing liquid. This segmentation physically prevents contamination between clean and dirty liquid streams while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing liquid collector acts as an intermediary containment vessel that receives and isolates contaminated washing liquid from the fresh condensate supply. This intermediate storage prevents direct contact and potential backflow contamination between the two liquid types, ensuring condensate purity.
3Reliability
If the fluff filter is washed frequently, then filter performance is maintained, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Filter washing is performed periodically based on condensate accumulation rather than continuously or on a fixed schedule. The system accumulates condensate during normal operation and uses it to wash the filter only when sufficient volume is available, reducing unnecessary washing cycles and associated water consumption while maintaining filter performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational byproduct (condensate) to service the filter, creating a self-sustaining cleaning mechanism. The condensate generated during normal drying operations is stored and then reused for filter washing, eliminating the need for external water sources and reducing overall water consumption.
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 effectively washes the fluff filter only when necessary, reducing energy consumption and preventing unnecessary wetting, thereby enhancing the apparatus's efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The process air is cooled at a heat exchanger arranged in the process air circuit whereby humidity carried by the process air is condensed
Implementation Method 2
A condensate pump is arranged in liquid connection to the condensate collector and adapted to convey the collected condensate into an intermediate tank
Implementation Method 3
A washing pump is arranged in liquid connection to the intermediate tank and adapted to convey stored condensate from the intermediate tank to the fluff filter for washing at least a portion of the filter surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus (2) comprising a control unit (16), an apparatus cabinet (3), a laundry treatment chamber (8) for treating laundry using process air (A), a process air circuit for circulating the process air (A), a heat exchanger (38) arranged in the process air circuit for cooling the process air (A) and condensing humidity from same, a condensate collector (32) assigned to the heat exchanger (38) for collecting condensate (C) condensed at the heat exchanger (38), a fluff filter (36) arranged in the process air circuit upstream the heat exchanger (38) for filtering fluff from the process air (A) passing the fluff filter (36), a washing liquid collector (34) assigned to the fluff filter (36) and being adapted to collect washing liquid (L) from the fluff filter (36), an intermediate tank (60) for storing condensate (C) for washing the fluff filter (36), a condensate pump (52) in liquid connection to the condensate collector (32) and being adapted to convey the collected condensate (C) into the intermediate tank (60), a washing pump (64) in liquid connection to the intermediate tank (60) and being adapted to convey the stored condensate (C) from the intermediate tank (60) to the fluff filter (36) for washing at least a portion of its surface by removing fluff.