Laundry Dryer Condensing Structure Using Natural Convection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines with drying functions rely on separate forcible cooling means to condense water, which can be inefficient and require additional resources, whereas the goal is to achieve effective condensation through natural cooling or improved condensing rates using forcible cooling.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine design that utilizes natural convection for water condensation without separate cooling means, or enhances condensing rates by increasing the flow rate of hot air, potentially eliminating the need for forcible cooling by optimizing the tub structure, air flow paths, and using a condensing plate to increase the condensing surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If forcible cooling means (cooling water) is used to condense water, then condensing rate is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the separate forcible cooling means (cooling water system) from the drying machine, replacing it with the tub structure itself that utilizes natural convection for condensation. This eliminates the need for complex cooling systems while maintaining effective water condensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tub structure is designed to perform condensation function on its own through natural convection currents generated within the tub during the drying cycle. The hot air rising and cooling naturally creates condensation without requiring external cooling water or active cooling mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient.
2Productivity
If forcible cooling means is used to condense water, then condensing rate is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes natural convection currents that arise automatically during the drying process to achieve condensation. The heat from the drying laundry creates rising hot air currents that naturally cool and condense moisture without requiring additional energy input for cooling, making the condensation process energy-efficient and self-powered.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat generated during the drying process into a beneficial resource for driving natural convection and condensation. Instead of treating the hot air as waste that needs active cooling, the system harnesses this heat to create natural airflow patterns that facilitate efficient condensation without additional energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If natural cooling is used without forcible cooling means, then device complexity is reduced, but condensing rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and natural convection currents within the tub to enhance condensation efficiency. By designing the tub structure to promote upward hot air flow and subsequent cooling at higher levels, the system achieves effective condensation through three-dimensional natural convection patterns rather than relying on two-dimensional surface condensation alone.
4Productivity
If hot air flow rate is increased to improve condensing rate, then drying rate is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows hot air to circulate and cool naturally within the tub, creating self-sustaining convection currents that enhance moisture removal without requiring additional energy input. The natural cooling process maintains adequate temperature differences for condensation while avoiding the energy costs of forced cooling systems.
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 machine achieves efficient water condensation through natural cooling or improved drying rates with forcible cooling, reducing energy consumption and operational time by optimizing air flow and condensing surface area, while minimizing the need for additional cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
one embodied laundry machine may use natural convetion for condensing moistured hot air
Implementation Method 2
Cooling water is supplied into the condensing duct to condense water contained in the wet air
Implementation Method 3
The wet air flows into the drying duct after being condensed in contact with the cooling water
Implementation Method 4
the hot air returning to the drying duct is reheated by the heater
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry machine having a drying function for drying an object to be dried, especially clothes. The laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a circulating drying machine that supplies the hot air to an object to be dried, so as to remove water, and then condenses the water from the hot air and heats the condensed water to supply the heat to the object to be dried. At this time, condensing may be carried out using natural convection.