Laundry drying appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry drying appliances introduce cooling medium into the fan and downstream areas where process air contacts laundry, leading to inefficiencies and potential issues with air circulation and moisture condensation.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange apparatus with a tiled fluid passage and a flat body made of thermally conductive material is integrated into the process air passage, separating it into sections and facilitating air circulation, while preventing the cooling medium from entering the fan area by using a design that includes an inlet and outlet for the cooling medium, ensuring efficient heat exchange without splashing or inhalation by the fan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If cooling medium is introduced into the fan and downstream areas, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but air circulation is interfered with and moisture condensation issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The process air passage is segmented into upstream and downstream sections by the heat exchange apparatus body. The body separates the passage such that cooling medium flows through the tiled fluid passages while process air flows in the annular space between the body and passage wall, preventing mixing of the two fluid streams and maintaining reliable air circulation to the laundry.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange apparatus body acts as an intermediary structure that enables heat transfer between cooling medium and process air without direct contact. The thermally conductive body transfers heat through its walls and tiled passages, allowing efficient heat exchange while maintaining separate flow paths for cooling medium and process air.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cooling medium flows directly in the process air passage, then heat exchange is enhanced, but fan operation is interfered with and blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid passage is segmented into tiled passages that line the inner surface of the heat exchange apparatus body. This segmentation allows cooling medium to flow through defined channels away from the fan area, preventing direct contact between cooling medium and fan components while maintaining effective heat exchange surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange apparatus body serves as an intermediary structure that positions the fluid passages away from the fan. The body's geometry and placement in the process air passage create a flow path for cooling medium that is spatially separated from the fan, eliminating interference with fan operation.
3Reliability
If cooling medium is used for heat exchange, then moisture condensation is improved, but sediment accumulation and blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The tiled fluid passages are designed with curved or inclined surfaces that facilitate smooth flow of cooling medium. The curvature and inclination of the tiled passages prevent stagnation zones where sediment could accumulate, reducing maintenance requirements and blockage risks while maintaining effective moisture condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange apparatus body acts as an intermediary that directs cooling medium flow through controlled paths. The body's structure and the tiled passages it contains guide the cooling medium in a manner that promotes continuous flow and prevents sediment deposition, reducing maintenance complexity.
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
This solution enhances the efficiency of the drying process by effectively exchanging heat between the cooling medium and air, reducing temperature and condensing moisture without interfering with the fan operation, ensuring continuous utilization of the cooling medium and preventing blockages or sediment accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange apparatus being provided in the process air passage, the heat exchange apparatus including a flat body, the body having a tiled fluid passage, and the fluid passage having an outlet and an inlet adapted to receive a cooling medium that enters the fluid passage from the inlet and leaves the fluid passage from the outlet
Implementation Method 2
the body is at least partially made of metal or a material whose thermal conductivity is not inferior to that of metal
Implementation Method 3
effectively exchanging heat between the cooling medium and air, reducing temperature and condensing moisture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A laundry drying appliance is provided, including a drying chamber (2) and a process air passage (5) connected to the drying chamber (2), a fan (7) being provided in the process air passage (5), so that air circulates in the drying chamber and the process air passage, and a heat exchange apparatus (10,100,200,300) being provided in the process air passage (5), the heat exchange apparatus (10,100,200,300) including a flat body (14,114,214,314), the body having a tiled fluid passage (11,110,210,310), and the fluid passage being adapted to receive a cooling medium that flows therein.