Cleaning Fluid Tank Heating Using Motor Exhaust Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices, such as carpet extractors, face inefficiencies in heating and maintaining the temperature of cleaning fluids, which affects the cleaning performance and fluid properties during operation.
Innovation Solution
A portable surface cleaning apparatus with a housing that includes a fluid delivery system and a motor/fan assembly generating airflow, where a duct downstream of the motor/fan assembly is in heat exchange relationship with the supply tank, featuring an undulating profile to increase the heat exchange surface area, effectively heating the cleaning fluid using transferred heat from the airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional duct is used for heat exchange with the supply tank, then the structure is simple, but the heat exchange surface area is insufficient to effectively heat the cleaning fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is designed with an undulating profile instead of a straight configuration, creating curved surfaces that increase the heat exchange area between the duct and the supply tank. This curvature allows more surface contact for thermal transfer without requiring additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The duct extends in multiple dimensions within the housing space, creating a three-dimensional heat exchange pathway rather than a simple linear arrangement. This multi-dimensional configuration maximizes the heat exchange surface area within the available volume
2Reliability
If the cleaning fluid is heated to improve cleaning performance, then the cleaning effectiveness increases, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures waste heat from the motor/fan assembly that would otherwise be lost to the environment and redirects it through the duct to heat the cleaning fluid in the supply tank. This converts a harmful waste product (excess heat) into a beneficial resource for improving fluid temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The motor/fan assembly serves dual functions: it generates airflow for cleaning operations and simultaneously provides heat for warming the cleaning fluid. The system uses its own operational byproducts to maintain optimal cleaning fluid temperature without requiring external heating energy
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 configuration enhances the heating of cleaning fluids within the supply tank, maintaining or increasing their temperature during operation, thereby improving cleaning performance and fluid properties, as demonstrated by temperature graphs showing significant temperature increases over time.
Implementation Method 1
the motor/fan assembly transfers heat to air moving through the pathway
Implementation Method 2
a duct downstream of the motor/fan assembly and upstream of the outlet and having a section in heat exchange relationship with the supply tank
Implementation Method 3
to heat the supply of cleaning fluid in the supply tank by heat transfer from the heated air
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus for a floor surface comprises a fluid delivery system having a supply tank for storing cleaning fluid and a fluid distributor for delivering the cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned. An air pathway is provided in the cleaning apparatus for removing heated air from the motor. In operation, heat from the heated air is transferred to the cleaning fluid in the supply tank.