Induction-Heated Drum Drying With Alternating RPM Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses with hot-air drying functions face inefficiencies in heat transfer, leading to drying imbalances and mechanical stress on laundry, particularly with large or bulky loads, resulting in uneven drying and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus utilizing an induction heater with controlled drum motion cycles, including conductive accelerating and rearrangement motions, to ensure uniform heating and minimize mechanical stress, allowing for optimized drying performance across various load types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hot air drying is used with tumbling operation, then drying function is added to washing apparatus, but heat transfer efficiency is low and drying imbalance occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional hot air heating system with an induction heating system that uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat the drum. This substitution eliminates the need for complex air circulation ducts and fans, while significantly improving heat transfer efficiency through direct electromagnetic coupling between the induction heater and drum metal surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the complex air circulation system (ducts, fans, air heating heaters) from the drying function, replacing it with a simplified induction heating system. This extraction eliminates the structural complexity and control complications associated with hot air drying while maintaining the essential drying capability.
2Productivity
If tumbling operation is performed to dry laundry, then drying function is achieved, but mechanical force causes shrinkage or deformation of laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic alternation between conductive accelerating motion (high RPM) and rearrangement motion (low RPM) during the drying cycle. This periodic action allows the laundry to be evenly distributed and rearranged periodically, reducing continuous mechanical stress while maintaining drying efficiency through the high-speed conductive phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts drum rotation speed between two distinct operational modes: high-speed conductive accelerating motion for efficient heating and low-speed rearrangement motion for laundry redistribution. This dynamic speed adjustment optimizes both drying efficiency and laundry care by adapting the mechanical action to the specific needs of the drying process at different times.
3Loss of energy
If drum rotates at high speed for conductive accelerating motion, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but laundry mixing value decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic alternation between high-speed conductive accelerating motion and low-speed rearrangement motion. During high-speed phases, heat transfer efficiency is maximized, while during low-speed phases, laundry mixing and redistribution occur naturally, compensating for the reduced mixing during high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the drum rotation speed parameter between two distinct values: high RPM for conductive accelerating motion to maximize heat transfer, and low RPM for rearrangement motion to maximize laundry mixing. This parameter switching allows the system to optimize different aspects of the drying process at different times, achieving both efficient heating and good laundry distribution.
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 uniform drying of large or bulky loads by effectively distributing heat and reducing mechanical stress, preventing drying imbalances and damage, while enhancing overall drying efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum facing the heater
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform, during drying: a conductive accelerating motion having a target RPM in which the object rotates integrally with the drum while the object is in close contact with an inner circumferential face of the drum; and a rearrangement motion having a target RPM lower than the target RPM of the conductive accelerating motion.