Laundry Treating Chamber Dehumidification for Mold and Odor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances often face issues with moisture retention, leading to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors due to unaddressed humidity within the treating chamber and other areas after cycles are completed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a dehumidifying device, such as a fan or heat source, coupled with humidity sensors to actively monitor and control humidity levels, facilitating air circulation and dehumidification within the treating chamber and other areas of the appliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If moisture-laden laundry is left in the treating chamber after the cycle, then the appliance structure is simple and energy consumption is low, but mold and mildew grow creating unpleasant odors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs dehumidification action in advance by detecting high humidity levels after the wash cycle and activating the heating element and fan to remove moisture before mold and mildew can grow, preventing the harmful effect rather than treating it after occurrence
Solution Approach 2:
The humidity sensor continuously monitors moisture levels in the treating chamber and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically activates the heating element and fan when humidity exceeds a threshold, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains low humidity without requiring complex user intervention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a dehumidifying device is added to the appliance, then mold and mildew growth is inhibited, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element and fan are integrated into the existing appliance structure, serving dual purposes: the heating element provides both heat for drying and thermal energy for evaporation, while the fan provides both air circulation and forced convection for moisture removal, reducing the need for separate dedicated components
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the laundry itself as the heat source by retaining thermal energy from the wash cycle, and the humidity sensor automatically triggers the dehumidification process when needed, allowing the system to self-regulate without complex external control mechanisms
3Reliability
If active dehumidification is implemented, then humidity is effectively reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dehumidification system operates periodically rather than continuously, with the humidity sensor triggering the heating element and fan only when moisture levels exceed a threshold, and the controller deactivating them when the target humidity is achieved, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective humidity control
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter by heating the air to increase its moisture-holding capacity and accelerate evaporation, and changes the air flow parameter by using the fan to enhance convection, thereby improving dehumidification efficiency and reducing the total energy required compared to passive drying
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
Effectively reduces humidity, inhibiting the growth of odor-producing microorganisms and extending the lifespan of the appliance by ensuring moisture is managed efficiently, even in humid environments.
Implementation Method 1
The laundry treating appliance may further include a heating element, such as a resistive heating element or light bulb, for heating air circulated by the fan
Implementation Method 2
The dehumidifying device 70 may include a fan for circulating air through the treating chamber 28
Implementation Method 3
Additional examples include a heat source, an evaporator, a condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry and configured to perform one or more cycles of operation and method for actively dehumidifying the treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance to retard or eliminate the adverse effects of moisture-laden laundry remaining in the treating chamber or moisture remaining in the treating chamber or other areas of the laundry treating appliance.