Laundry Dryer Temperature Control for Heat-Sensitive Fabric Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses can damage laundry with poor heat tolerance during drying, as they rely on a single heater control method that does not differentiate between pre-dryness and post-dryness hot air supply control, leading to potential damage and increased drying time.
Innovation Solution
A control method for a laundry treatment apparatus that includes a drum, an air supply path with a heating unit, temperature and dryness sensing units, and distinct heating unit control procedures based on dryness levels, adjusting temperature thresholds and heater operations to prevent damage and optimize drying time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single heater control method is used for drying laundry, then the drying process is simple to operate, but laundry with poor heat tolerance may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first drying phase using first reference temperatures and a second drying phase using second reference temperatures. This segmentation allows different temperature control strategies to be applied at different stages, protecting heat-sensitive laundry while maintaining drying effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference temperatures are changed based on the drying phase. The control unit switches from first reference temperatures (higher) during the first drying phase to second reference temperatures (lower) during the second drying phase. This parameter change adapts the heating intensity to the laundry's heat tolerance requirements at different drying stages.
2Loss of energy
If heater operation is stopped when drum temperature reaches upper limit and restarted at lower limit, then energy consumption is reduced, but drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater control operates dynamically by continuously monitoring drum temperature and adjusting heater operation accordingly. The control unit compares real-time temperature with reference temperatures and adjusts heater on/off timing, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and drying time through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensing unit provides continuous feedback to the control unit about the drum's internal temperature. This feedback loop enables the control unit to make real-time decisions about heater operation, ensuring energy-efficient control while maintaining effective drying progress by preventing premature heater shutdown.
3Productivity
If conventional heater control is used, then general laundry drying is effective, but laundry with poor heat tolerance suffers damage
Solution Approach 1:
Different temperature control qualities are applied to different drying phases. The first drying phase uses higher reference temperatures suitable for general laundry, while the second drying phase uses lower reference temperatures specifically tailored for heat-sensitive laundry. This local quality differentiation protects sensitive materials while maintaining overall 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 effectively dries laundry with poor heat tolerance without damage and minimizes drying time by varying hot air supply control strategies based on dryness levels, ensuring safe and efficient drying.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit disposed in the air supply path and configured to heat air
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensing unit configured to sense an internal temperature of the drum
Implementation Method 3
a dryness sensing unit configured to measure a dryness of the laundry stored in the drum
Data Source
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AI summary
A control method of a laundry treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes a hot air supply procedure for supplying heated air to a drum through operation of a heating unit, a dryness measurement procedure for measuring dryness of laundry, a first heating unit control procedure executed when the measured dryness is lower than a reference dryness, to complete operation of the heating unit when the measured temperature reaches a first temperature and to operate the heating unit when the measured temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature, and a second heating unit control procedure executed when the measured dryness is equal to or higher than the reference dryness, to complete operation of the heating unit when the measured temperature reaches a third temperature lower than the second temperature and to operate the heating unit when the measured temperature reaches a fourth temperature lower than the third temperature.