Laundry apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines face inefficiencies in heating laundry without overheating wash water, leading to energy waste and uneven drying of large or entangled loads, with potential coil overheating and interference with other components.
Innovation Solution
A laundry apparatus utilizing an induction unit with a coil generating an electromagnetic field to directly heat the drum, allowing for efficient laundry heating without heating wash water, ensuring uniform drying and preventing coil overheating or short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If wash water is heated to raise laundry temperature, then laundry temperature increases, but energy consumption increases and wash water is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the wash water heating system and applies it directly to the drum. Instead of heating the wash water to transfer heat to laundry, the system directly heats the drum which then heats the laundry, eliminating the intermediate medium and reducing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional thermal heating system (heater heating wash water) with an electromagnetic induction heating system. The induction heater generates electromagnetic fields that directly induce eddy currents in the conductive drum, converting electromagnetic energy directly into heat in the drum without heating the surrounding wash water.
2Reliability
If heater is used to heat wash water for laundry sterilization, then sterilization effect improves, but energy and wash water are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the wash water and applies it directly to the drum. By heating the drum directly through electromagnetic induction, the system achieves the necessary temperature for sterilization without wasting energy on heating large volumes of wash water that may not be fully utilized.
3Productivity
If heated air is supplied to dry laundry, then drying function is achieved, but heated air is not uniformly supplied to large or entangled laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the conventional air-based drying system with direct electromagnetic heating of the drum. The induction heater heats the drum surface which then directly transfers heat to the laundry through contact, eliminating the need for air circulation and ensuring uniform heating regardless of laundry arrangement or entanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium. The induction heater heats the drum, which then serves as a large surface area heat source in direct contact with the laundry, ensuring uniform heat distribution without relying on air flow patterns that may be uneven.
4Productivity
If heater continuously supplies heated air to drying laundry, then drying is maintained, but completely dried laundry is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the moisture content and drying status of the laundry. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts or stops the induction heating operation, preventing overheating and damage to already dried laundry while maintaining efficient drying when moisture is present.
5Temperature
If coil is used for induction heating, then direct drum heating is achieved, but coil may overheat or generate magnetic field interference
Solution Approach 1:
The drum itself acts as an intermediary that converts electromagnetic energy to heat through eddy currents. The coil generates electromagnetic fields that induce currents in the conductive drum, and the drum's own resistance generates the heat uniformly distributed throughout its structure, preventing localized coil overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses alternating current at specific frequencies to generate electromagnetic fields that are optimized for induction heating. By controlling the frequency and amplitude of the alternating current in the coil, the system achieves efficient heating while minimizing magnetic field interference with other components through proper shielding and frequency selection.
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 enables efficient laundry soaking, sterilization, and drying without submerging laundry in water, reducing energy consumption, and preventing coil overheating or interference with other components, while ensuring uniform heating and drying.
Implementation Method 1
an induction unit provided in an outer circumferential surface of the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a coil generating an eddy current in the drum by generating a magnetic field, using an electric current supplied thereto
Implementation Method 3
heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3~4(b)
Figure 5(a)~5(c)
AI summary
There is disclosed a laundry apparatus comprising a cabinet; a tub provided in the cabinet and defining an internal space, with an opening formed in a front; a drum rotatably provided in the internal space of the tub and made of a conductor; and an induction unit provided in an outer circumferential surface of the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field, wherein the induction unit comprises a coil generating an eddy current in the drum by generating a magnetic field, using an electric current supplied thereto; and a coil arranging portion provided in the outer circumferential surface of the tub and guiding the coil to be wound around front and rear portions of the tub at least one time, spaced a preset distance apart from each other.