Garment Drying Airflow Layout for Heat Exchange and Dryness Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses face inefficiencies in heat exchange and dryness determination due to the blower's location relative to the heat exchanger, leading to excessive energy consumption and inaccurate dryness measurement, especially when impurities accumulate on temperature sensors.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a circulation path that allows air to pass through the entire heat exchanger, featuring a blower positioned between the heat exchanger and the discharge duct, and a dryness sensing unit using condensed water flow rate measurement to determine moisture content and control the drying process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the blower is located in front of the heat exchanger, then the air flow path is simplified, but the heat exchange efficiency deteriorates because air passes through only a portion of the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the blower behind the heat exchanger instead of in front. This reversal allows air to pass through the entire heat exchanger surface area, maximizing heat exchange efficiency while the blower still maintains simplified control of the air flow path.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the temperature sensor is placed in the air discharge path, then dryness can be monitored, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to impurity accumulation on the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensor from the direct air discharge path and relocates it to measure condensed water temperature instead. This separation removes the sensor from the impurity-laden air environment, preventing accumulation on the sensor surface while maintaining the ability to monitor dryness through condensed water temperature measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses condensed water as an intermediary medium to indirectly measure air dryness. Instead of directly sensing air temperature which is contaminated by impurities, the system measures the temperature of condensed water formed from the air, providing accurate dryness information without exposing the sensor to impurity accumulation.
3Productivity
If excessive energy is supplied to the heat exchanger, then drying capacity is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to low heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the blower and heat exchanger arrangement, the system achieves complete air passage through the heat exchanger, maximizing heat transfer efficiency. This allows the heat exchanger to operate at optimal efficiency, maintaining drying capacity while reducing the excessive energy supply previously required to compensate for poor heat exchange efficiency.
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 heat exchange efficiency and accurately determines dryness by preventing impurity accumulation on sensors, ensuring automated filter cleaning and optimized energy use.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger installed to the circulation path to implement heat exchange with the air introduced into the circulation path by condensation and heating of said the air
Implementation Method 2
a flow rate sensing device installed to the condensed water pipe and configured to measure the quantity of condensed water generated in the heat exchanger
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a garment processing apparatus comprising: a hot-air supply unit having a circulation flow path for directing the air drawn out from the interior of a garment receiving unit into the interior of the garment receiving unit, a heat exchange unit provided to the circulation flow path, for condensing and heating the air introduced into the circulation flow path, and a blower for circulating the air in the interior of the garment receiving unit through the circulation flow path; and a dryness detection unit having a flow rate detection means for measuring the amount of condensate water formed in the heat exchange unit, and a control section for determining the amount of moisture contained in the laundry on the basis of the flow rate data provided by the flow rate detection means.