Laundry machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry machines with heat pumps face overheating issues due to imbalanced heat exchange during the drying cycle, leading to reduced efficiency and potential compressor overload, which increases operational temperature and refrigerant pressure.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a cooling unit using condensed water to cool the compressor, with a heat exchanger positioned to optimize air flow and heat exchange efficiency, and the strategic placement of the air-blowing fan to ensure consistent air flow through the heat exchanger, preventing overheating and maintaining constant heat pump efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a heat pump is used to heat air for drying laundry, then energy efficiency is improved, but the heat pump overheats due to imbalanced heat exchange
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat pump and the environment. This cooling unit facilitates heat dissipation from the heat pump by providing a dedicated heat exchange pathway, allowing the heat pump to maintain its energy efficiency while preventing overheating through the intermediary cooling mechanism.
2Productivity
If the heat pump operates continuously to maintain drying temperature, then drying efficiency is improved, but the compressor becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit is activated in advance or simultaneously with the heat pump operation to preemptively manage thermal buildup. By establishing cooling capacity before the compressor becomes overloaded, the system maintains continuous drying operation while preventing compressor failure through preliminary thermal management.
3Loss of energy
If the heat exchanger size is increased to improve heat exchange balance, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange function is segmented into two separate components: the original heat exchanger for heating and the additional cooling unit for cooling. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function with appropriate size, avoiding the need for a single oversized heat exchanger while maintaining overall heat exchange efficiency.
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 reduces the volume of the laundry machine, improves air supply and heating structures, enhances heat exchange efficiency, and directly cools the heat pump when it overheats, maintaining constant operational efficiency and preventing compressor overload.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit installed at the compressor to cool the compressor using a supplied fluid
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator may remove moisture contained in the air
Implementation Method 3
the condenser may heat the air and supply and circulate the heated air to the tub
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry machine (100) is disclosed. The laundry machine (100) includes a tub (120), an air supply unit (160) configured to circulate air in the tub (120), a heat pump including a compressor (165), an evaporator (220), an expansion valve, and a condenser (240), the heat pump being configured to dehumidify and heat the air from the air supply unit (160), and a cooling unit (300, 400, 500) installed at the compressor (165) to cool the compressor (165) using a supplied fluid.