Laundry Recirculation Spray Kit for Low-Water Soil Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial, institutional, and industrial laundry facilities face challenges in efficiently managing water usage and recirculation, leading to high water and wastewater costs, ineffective soil removal, and increased textile wear due to inadequate water management and recycling systems.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a nozzle system, pump, and replacement window that recirculates and sprays rinse water back into the wash tank, optimizing water usage and contact with textiles, while using a centrifugal pump to deliver recirculated water and cleaning composition effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If low water volume is used in washing machines, then water consumption is reduced, but soil removal efficiency deteriorates due to insufficient free water to solubilize soils
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously recirculates wash water through a spray ball that distributes water droplets throughout the wash load, maintaining continuous contact between cleaning chemistry and textiles throughout the wash cycle, thereby achieving effective soil removal with reduced water volume
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a spray ball mechanism that hydraulically distributes recirculated wash water as fine droplets throughout the wash load, maximizing the surface area and contact efficiency of the limited water volume available for soil solubilization and removal
2Reliability
If high water volume is used to solubilize soils, then soil removal efficiency is improved, but chemistry concentration is reduced and water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and recirculates wash water that would otherwise be discarded, maintaining adequate chemistry concentration by continuously reusing the same water volume throughout the wash cycle, thereby avoiding the need to add large volumes of fresh water
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous recirculation and spraying mechanism ensures that the same volume of chemistry-rich wash water repeatedly contacts the wash load, maintaining effective chemistry concentration over time without requiring additional water input
3Loss of substance
If traditional recirculation systems are used, then water recapture is achieved, but the systems get fouled with heavy soils requiring frequent manual cleaning and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The spray ball creates intense mechanical agitation and vibration as water droplets are dispersed throughout the wash load, preventing soil accumulation and fouling on the recirculation components, thereby reducing maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic spray distribution that actively moves and redistributes water and soil throughout the wash load, preventing static accumulation and fouling of recirculation system components
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 solution reduces water consumption, improves soil removal efficiency, and extends the life of textiles by optimizing water usage and recirculation, thereby lowering operational costs and maintaining cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
using a centrifugal pump to deliver recirculated water and cleaning composition effectively
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses and methods for easily modifying and using a laundry washing machine to recirculate water and spray wash water and cleaning compositions onto textiles in order to optimize water usage, wash temperature, and composition dosage are provided. An apparatus comprising a replacement door window, a spray nozzle, a pump, tubing, and connectors for use in the modified laundry washing machine is further provided. The modification system provides improved cleaning performance and effective cleaning even in low water conditions.