Hybrid Laundry Drying Airflow for Lower Water and Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment apparatuses with circulation drying systems consume excessive cooling water due to low cooling efficiency, while those with exhaust drying systems face high energy consumption due to discharge of heated air.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a combined drying system that includes a controller to manage the rotation speed of the drum, water supply, and air flow paths, preventing cooling water from reaching the laundry and optimizing air circulation to reduce energy and water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a circulation drying system is used, then drying efficiency is improved through heat recovery, but cooling water consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the cooling function from the circulation drying system by introducing a dedicated cooling water supply structure that supplies water to the tub rather than using cooling water for condensation. This allows the circulation system to maintain its heat recovery efficiency while eliminating excessive cooling water consumption through direct water supply to the drying space for evaporative cooling effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of cooling method from using cooling water for condensation (circulation system approach) to using water supply to the tub for evaporative cooling. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining drying efficiency through evaporation while avoiding the excessive cooling water consumption associated with condensation-based cooling
2Loss of substance
If an exhaust drying system is used, then cooling water consumption is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to discharge of heated air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both circulation and exhaust systems by creating a hybrid approach: the circulation duct recovers heat from exhaust air to pre-heat incoming air (reducing energy consumption), while the water supply unit provides evaporative cooling (reducing cooling water consumption). This combination resolves the contradiction by achieving both energy and water efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers thermal energy from the exhaust air that would otherwise be discarded through the circulation duct, using it to pre-heat incoming fresh air. This recovery mechanism reduces the energy required to heat air for drying while maintaining the benefit of discharging moisture-laden air, thus resolving the energy consumption issue
3Quantity of substance
If cooling water is supplied to condense air in a circulation drying system, then dehumidification is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical condensation system (requiring cooling water circulation, condensate drainage, and heat exchangers) with a simpler evaporative cooling approach where water is supplied directly to the tub. This substitution achieves dehumidification through evaporation control while dramatically reducing system complexity by eliminating the need for complex cooling water management infrastructure
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 solution achieves enhanced drying efficiency by minimizing energy and water usage, preventing cooling water from reaching the laundry, and maintaining effective air circulation, thus addressing the inefficiencies of previous systems.
Implementation Method 1
the controller may rotate the drum at first Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and second RPM during operation of the fan and the heater, the first RPM may be set to RPM at which the centrifugal force of laundry caused by rotation of the drum becomes greater than the weight of the laundry
Implementation Method 2
a heater configured to heat air, a first heat exchange flow path including a tub configured to provide a space in which the drum is received and a space in which air is condensed and a duct through which some of interior air of the tub is directed to the heater and then resupplied to the tub
Implementation Method 3
a circulation duct through which interior air of the tub is circulated, an exhaust duct through which some of the interior air of the tub is discharged from the tub, a suction duct through which outside air is supplied into the tub and a heating unit configured to supply heated air into the tub
Implementation Method 4
a first heat exchange flow path including a tub configured to provide a space in which the drum is received and a space in which air is condensed
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a circulation duct (7) configured to guide air discharged from a tub (2) so as to resupply the air to the tub (2), a fan (71) placed in the circulation duct (7) to circulate interior air of the tub(2), a heater (73) placed in the circulation duct (7) to heat the air, an exhaust duct (83) configured to discharge some of air introduced into the tub (2) from the tub (2), a suction duct (81) configured to introduce outside air of the tub (2) into the tub (2), and a water supply unit (4) configured to supply water into the tub (2) so as to cool the tub (2).