Washer-Dryer Hot Rinse Control for Low-Moisture Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional combination washing and drying machines often expend extra energy and exhibit poor drying performance due to excess moisture from the washing cycle, leading to inefficient drying and energy wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that includes a hot rinse cycle after the wash cycle, where water is heated to a predetermined temperature and the drum is spun to extract excess moisture, with repeated cycles until the residual moisture content is below a threshold before initiating the drying phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional combination washing and drying machines proceed directly to drying after washing, then the drying cycle must handle all moisture removal, but this results in excess energy consumption and poor drying performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a hot rinse cycle before the drying phase to pre-remove excess moisture from the laundry load. This preliminary moisture extraction reduces the burden on the subsequent drying cycle, leading to energy savings and improved drying performance. The hot rinse with spinning extraction is executed in advance to prepare the laundry for more efficient drying.
2Reliability
If a hot rinse cycle with repeated spinning is added before drying, then residual moisture content is reduced effectively, but the cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a moisture sensor to monitor the residual moisture content of the laundry load during the hot rinse and spinning extraction cycles. The controller repeatedly executes the spinning extraction cycle until the sensor detects that the residual moisture content falls below a predetermined threshold. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable moisture extraction while avoiding unnecessary extended cycling, thus balancing effectiveness with time efficiency.
3Productivity
If high spinning speed is used to extract moisture quickly, then extraction efficiency improves, but mechanical stress on laundry items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing hot water temperature as a variable to facilitate moisture extraction. The hot rinse cycle heats the water to a predetermined temperature before spinning, which reduces the viscosity and adhesion of water to fabric fibers. This thermal parameter change enables more effective moisture extraction at moderate spinning speeds, thereby improving extraction efficiency while minimizing mechanical stress on laundry items.
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 approach enhances drying efficiency, reduces cycle time, and minimizes energy consumption by ensuring the laundry is adequately dried before the drying phase, thereby improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
heating the supplied water to a predetermined temperature to form hot water
Implementation Method 2
rotating the drum at a spinning speed... spinning the treating chamber in an extraction cycle to remove excess moisture
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance with a treating chamber for treating a load of laundry the method comprising supplying a rinse to the treating chamber during a rinse cycle, spinning the treating chamber in an extraction cycle to remove excess moisture from the load of laundry, sensing a parameter indicative of a remaining moisture content value in the load of laundry, comparing the remaining moisture content value to a pre-determined remaining moisture content value.