Laundry Steam Generator with Dual Heated Chambers for Dry Steam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steam generating devices for laundry treatment machines face challenges in maintaining high steam quality and preventing droplet formation, requiring precise water regulation and high heating outputs, which can lead to condensation issues and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A steam generating device with a second heated chamber to further heat generated steam, combined with an atomizing nozzle to prevent droplet formation and a labyrinthine channel for additional heating, ensuring steam remains hot and efficient, while a metal block with a curved tubular heating element provides compact and effective heat storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is fed through a mass block to generate steam, then steam can be produced, but droplet formation occurs when too much water is fed
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generation process is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber for water evaporation and a second chamber for steam heating. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each chamber's function, enabling high water flow rates for steam production while preventing droplet carryover through the heated second chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The second heated chamber acts as an intermediary between the first chamber and the steam outlet. This intermediate chamber heats the generated steam to above 100°C, serving as a buffer that prevents droplet formation and ensures dry steam delivery without requiring precise water flow control.
2Productivity
If high heating output is used to generate steam quickly, then steam production efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second chamber is pre-heated before steam enters it, creating a thermal reservoir that prepares the environment for steam heating. This preliminary heating action allows the steam to be efficiently heated without requiring excessive continuous energy input, as the pre-heated chamber reduces the temperature differential needed for heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the steam by heating it above 100°C in the second chamber. This parameter change increases the steam's thermal energy and reduces its tendency to condense, improving steam quality and delivery efficiency without requiring proportionally higher energy consumption.
3Power
If steam is generated at high pressure, then steam delivery power improves, but droplet entrainment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the potentially harmful high-pressure steam flow into a benefit by using the pressure to drive steam through the heated second chamber. The high temperature in this chamber ensures that even under pressure, the steam remains in a dry state and prevents droplet formation, turning a potential problem into an advantage.
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 effectively prevents droplet formation and maintains high steam quality, ensuring efficient steam delivery to the laundry treatment area without condensation, while the compact design avoids overheating and limescale buildup, making it suitable for household use.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element and a chamber heated by the heating element to provide the boiling process
Implementation Method 2
The inlet opening is provided with a nozzle which is designed to atomize the water flowing into the steam generating device
Implementation Method 3
the heating element or the mass block is heated to a predetermined temperature, for example at least 100° C., as a result of which the water fed through the line is heated and evaporated
Implementation Method 4
In the second chamber, the steam that has already been generated is further heated or at least maintained at a temperature above the boiling point of water
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a steam generation device (12) for treating laundry (8) with steam in a laundry treatment machine (1) such as a washing machine, washer-dryer, or dryer, comprising a heating element (26), a chamber (20a) heated by the heating element (26) for providing the boiling process, with an inlet opening (18) for water and an outlet opening (19) for steam. In order to reliably provide steam of very good quality in a simple manner, a second heated chamber (20b) is connected downstream of the heated chamber (20a) for further heating and/or maintaining the temperature of the steam, thereby largely preventing droplet formation. The invention also relates to a laundry treatment machine (1) with a corresponding steam generation device (12).