Laundry Steam Separator Layout to Prevent Water Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steam separators in laundry appliances, such as refresher dryers, are inefficient in separating steam and water, leading to water accumulation which can result in impaired drying performance when accumulated water exits through the steam outlet and drips into the drum.
Innovation Solution
A steam separator design featuring an open, U-shaped drain channel on a plate-like insert within the separator housing, ensuring a curved gradient for continuous water flow and preventing accumulation, along with a steam outlet positioned adjacent to the drain channel to minimize condensation and enhance steam rise, and a flexible hose and nozzle system for directed steam injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional steam separator design is used, then the structure is simple, but water accumulates in the separator leading to impaired drying performance
Solution Approach 1:
The separator housing is divided into distinct functional zones: a drain channel section with U-shaped curvature for water flow, a separation chamber for steam-water separation, and a discharge section. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, preventing water accumulation while maintaining reliable steam delivery for drying
Solution Approach 2:
The drain channel is designed with a U-shaped curved gradient instead of a straight channel. This curvature promotes continuous water flow toward the water outlet by utilizing gravity and centrifugal effects, effectively preventing water accumulation in the separator and improving drying performance
2Productivity
If the steam outlet is positioned far from the drain channel, then condensation is reduced, but steam delivery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The steam outlet is positioned adjacent to the drain channel opening, creating a localized arrangement where steam is discharged close to the point of water removal. This local positioning ensures efficient steam delivery to the laundry while the nearby water outlet simultaneously prevents condensation accumulation, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful condensation effects
3Reliability
If water flows with major disturbances in the separator, then separation is enhanced, but water accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped curved drain channel creates smooth, continuous water flow with minimal turbulence. The curvature guides water along a controlled path toward the outlet, preventing both major disturbances that would cause separation issues and stagnation that would lead to accumulation. This balanced flow regime maintains reliable separation efficiency while preventing water buildup
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 design effectively separates steam and water without disturbances, preventing water accumulation and ensuring efficient steam delivery to the laundry, thereby improving drying results and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a mixture of steam and water is fed into the inlet and the steam is risen up to the steam outlet, and wherein the water is flowed within the steam separator along an open drain channel arranged in the steam separator housing to the water outlet
Implementation Method 2
the open drain channel is formed on an upper surface of a plate-like insert and is curved basically U-shaped along its flow direction, for letting water entering through the inlet to flow within the steam separator without major disturbances
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The steam separator (9) according to the present invention comprises an inlet (17) for a water/steam mixture W+S, a water outlet (18) and a steam outlet (19), wherein the inlet (17) and the water outlet (18) are connected by an open drain channel (20). The method of separating steam S and water W in a steam separator (9) comprises that a mixture of steam and water S+W is fed into an inlet (17) of a steam separator (9); within the steam separator (9), the water W is flowed along an open drain channel (20) to a water outlet (18) of the steam separator (9); and within the steam separator (9), the steam S is risen up to a steam outlet (19) of the steam separator (9). In particular, the inventive steam separator (9) is dedicated to use in a laundry appliance, preferredly a refresher dryer (1).