Hand Dryer with Independent Cold Plasma Generator for Hygiene Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drying devices lack effective hygiene maintenance and air purification, with deteriorating aerodynamic circuits and insufficient ambient air cleaning capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A drying device incorporating a cold plasma generator and independent control modules for fan and plasma operation, allowing for regular, uncorrelated treatment cycles to enhance hygiene and air purification, with optional secondary fan for diffusing plasma in the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ionization assemblies are incorporated into the aeraulic circuit to treat air flow, then hygiene of the drying device is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plasma generator is extracted from the aeraulic circuit and placed in the internal volume of the frame, independent from the fan means. This separation allows the plasma treatment function to be added without increasing the complexity of the aeraulic circuit, while still achieving hygiene improvement through regular treatment cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The control means implement periodic treatment cycles that are regular and uncorrelated from drying cycles. The cold plasma generator operates in bursts during these treatment cycles to disinfect the internal volume and aeraulic circuit, maintaining hygiene without requiring continuous operation that would increase complexity.
2Reliability
If the cold plasma generator is operated continuously to maintain hygiene, then air purification is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plasma generator operates periodically during treatment cycles rather than continuously. The control means schedule these treatment cycles to occur at regular intervals, providing sufficient air purification and hygiene maintenance while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Treatment cycles are performed preliminarily to prevent contamination buildup in the internal volume and aeraulic circuit. By conducting regular treatment cycles before hygiene deterioration occurs, the system maintains air purification quality without requiring excessive energy input.
3Productivity
If the fan speed is increased to improve drying performance, then drying speed is improved, but the diffusion of cold plasma in the environment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operation is segmented into different modes: during treatment cycles, the fan operates at reduced speed to allow cold plasma diffusion, while during drying cycles, it operates at high speed for rapid drying. This segmentation allows both plasma diffusion and drying speed requirements to be met at different times without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan speed is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase. The control means modify the fan speed in real-time: reducing it during treatment cycles to enable plasma diffusion, and increasing it during drying cycles to maximize drying performance. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between drying speed and plasma diffusion.
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 device provides improved hygiene and active air cleaning, optimizing air purification independently of the hand drying function, and can be adjusted based on usage and space volume.
Implementation Method 1
cold plasma generator means, for generating cold plasma
Implementation Method 2
fan means, for the production of a flow of air along said aeraulic circuit and adapted to generate a jet of drying air
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a drying device comprising a chassis (2) delimiting an internal volume (3) which includes control means (8) comprising two control modules (81, 82): - a first control module (81), for controlling fan means (6) in an active configuration according to successive drying cycles, - a second control module (82), for controlling cold plasma generator means (7) in an active configuration according to successive treatment cycles which are regular and uncorrelated with said successive drying cycles.