Heat Pump Clothes Care with Separate Water and Drain Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clothes drying apparatuses using electric heaters face issues of high energy consumption and maintenance costs, as well as the risk of damaging clothes with excessively hot air, and require complex installations.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treating apparatus with a heat pump system that generates dry air, a moisture supply unit, and a separate water and drain unit system, allowing for efficient energy use and easy maintenance by using a heat pump to refresh clothes without direct high-temperature air transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electric heaters are used to heat air for clothes treating, then clothes can be dried or refreshed, but electric energy consumption increases significantly and maintenance expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric heater (thermal system) with a heat pump system that uses refrigerant circulation and phase change to achieve heating and drying functions. The heat pump uses a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator to transfer heat efficiently, substituting the direct resistance heating method with a more energy-efficient thermal transfer mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system utilizes phase transitions of refrigerant (liquid to gas in evaporator, gas to liquid in condenser) to absorb and release heat. The refrigerant evaporates at low temperature absorbing heat from the environment, then condenses at high temperature releasing heat for clothes treating, enabling efficient energy transfer without direct high-temperature heating.
2Productivity
If electric heaters are used to heat air for clothes treating, then clothes can be dried or refreshed, but the structure becomes complex requiring complex installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drying function and refreshing function into a single heat pump system. The heat pump simultaneously provides heated air for drying and can supply moisture for refreshing, merging multiple functions that would otherwise require separate systems into one integrated apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system serves multiple purposes: it heats air for drying clothes, provides conditioned air for refreshing clothes, and manages moisture through its refrigerant cycle. The same core system performs heating, cooling, and dehumidification functions, making the apparatus universally applicable for different clothes treating needs.
3Productivity
If electric heaters are used to heat air for clothes treating, then clothes can be dried or refreshed, but air at dangerously high temperature may damage clothes or cause fire
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant undergoes phase transition in the evaporator, changing from liquid to gas at low temperature, which absorbs heat from the surrounding air. This phase change occurs at controlled temperatures, ensuring the air contacting clothes remains within safe temperature ranges while still achieving effective drying and refreshing.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant acts as an intermediary medium that transfers heat indirectly to the air and clothes. Instead of directly heating air to high temperatures with an electric heater, the refrigerant absorbs heat through evaporation and releases it through condensation, mediating the thermal transfer process to prevent excessive temperatures.
4Device complexity
If water supply unit and drain unit are integrated, then structure is compact, but maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water management system into separate functional modules: a water supply unit with water tank, a drain unit with drain pan, and a heat pump unit. Each module can be independently accessed, removed, and maintained. The water tank can be separately filled and cleaned, the drain pan can be separately emptied and cleaned, and the heat pump can be serviced independently, facilitating easy maintenance while maintaining structural integration.
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 heat pump system significantly reduces electric energy consumption and simplifies maintenance by using a heat pump to refresh clothes while avoiding direct high-temperature air transfer, thus minimizing the risk of damage and energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
an air supply unit for generating dry air and supplying the dry air to the holding space
Implementation Method 2
The heat pump system significantly reduces electric energy consumption and simplifies maintenance by using a heat pump to refresh clothes while avoiding direct high-temperature air transfer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to clothes treating apparatus. The clothes treating apparatus includes a housing having a holding space for holding clothes, an air supply unit for generating dry air and supplying the dry air to the holding space, a moisture supply unit for supplying moisture to the holding space, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the moisture supply unit, and a drain unit for collecting condensed water from the air supply unit, wherein the water supply unit and the drain unit are provided separate from each other.