Laundry Drum Steam Refreshing Without Wetting Garments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines that generate steam using a washing heater face challenges in efficiently utilizing steam for refreshing without wetting the laundry, requiring additional drying procedures and limited steam utilization due to structural restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine control method that selectively supplies wash water to prevent it from passing through the drum, generating steam at a predetermined water level, and combines tumbling and spin driving operations to enhance steam distribution and absorption, allowing for effective refreshing without subsequent drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If steam is generated using a washing heater in conventional laundry machines, then energy consumption is reduced by eliminating a separate steam generator, but steam utilization is limited and additional drying procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically adjusted during the refreshing operation. The drum rotates at a first speed during steam generation and heating phases to facilitate steam distribution, then transitions to a second, faster speed during the spin phase to remove excess moisture from laundry. This dynamic speed adjustment enables the system to achieve both effective steam utilization and moisture removal without requiring separate drying procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The refreshing operation employs periodic alternation between tumbling mode (with drum rotation and steam supply) and spin mode (with increased drum rotation speed for moisture removal). This periodic switching between different operational phases allows the washing heater-generated steam to be effectively utilized for refreshing while simultaneously removing excess moisture, thereby expanding steam utilization versatility without additional energy consumption.
2Quantity of substance
If wash water is supplied to generate steam, then steam generation is achieved, but wash water may pass through the drum and wet the laundry requiring additional drying
Solution Approach 1:
The system controls water supply location and drum rotation to ensure water is supplied to specific regions where it can evaporate and generate steam without passing through the drum to wet laundry. The washing heater is positioned to heat water in controlled zones, and the drum rotation speed is adjusted to prevent water from penetrating to the laundry while maintaining steam generation in the air space above the water level.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum rotation speed parameter is changed based on the operational phase. During steam generation, the drum rotates at a slower speed to allow steam formation without water penetration. During the spin phase, the rotation speed increases to a second speed that effectively removes moisture from laundry surfaces. This parameter change enables the system to achieve steam generation while preventing harmful water penetration.
3Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed to remove moisture, then drying effect is improved, but steam distribution and absorption may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically alternates between tumbling operation (slower drum rotation with steam supply) and spin operation (faster drum rotation for moisture removal). During the tumbling phase, steam is supplied and distributed throughout the laundry. During the spin phase, excess moisture is removed. This periodic alternation ensures both adequate steam absorption and effective moisture removal, achieving both refreshing and drying effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Steam supply and drum tumbling operations are performed preliminarily before the high-speed spin phase. This preliminary steam exposure ensures that laundry has absorbed sufficient moisture from steam during the refreshing phase, and only after this absorption is complete does the system transition to high-speed spinning for moisture removal. This sequencing ensures both steam absorption and drying effectiveness.
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 method significantly improves crease removal and odor elimination, enabling garments to be worn immediately after refreshing without additional drying, while optimizing steam generation and supply, and executing wash water heating independently of steam operations.
Implementation Method 1
a steaming operation of heating the wash water by driving a washing heater provided at the tub, thereby generating steam from the wash water at the water level for generation steam
Implementation Method 2
heating the wash water by driving a washing heater provided at the tub, thereby generating steam from the wash water
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry machine having a refreshing operation and a control method of the same are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises a steam water supply operation of supplying wash water to a tub up to a water level for generation of steam while preventing the wash water to pass through a drum, when the refreshing course is selected, a steaming operation of heating the wash water by driving a washing heater, thereby generating steam, and a refreshing operation of refreshing the laundry by alternately executing, after the steaming operation, a tumbling driving operation to tumble the laundry within the drum through rotation of the drum and a spin driving operation to rotate the laundry within the drum in close contact with an inner surface of the drum, in accordance with high-speed rotation of the drum.