Laundry treating appliance with a condenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional laundry treating appliances with closed-loop drying systems face reduced efficiency due to the condenser being located inside the cabinet, where it operates at a higher temperature than ambient air, increasing energy consumption and reducing capacity, and are noisy due to the presence of a blower.
Innovation Solution
The drying system incorporates an air recirculation loop with a condenser chamber formed by exterior cabinet walls to utilize ambient air for cooling and condensing water vapor, eliminating the need for a blower by using drum rotation to drive air through the condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the condenser is located inside the cabinet, then the appliance structure is compact, but the condenser operates at higher temperature than ambient air increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is extracted from the interior cabinet space and positioned in an exterior location where it can access ambient air. This separation allows the condensing operation to occur at ambient temperature rather than elevated cabinet temperature, reducing the energy required for condensation while maintaining compact appliance dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
An air conduit system acts as an intermediary, channeling ambient air from the exterior environment to the condenser and then to the treating chamber. This mediator enables thermal exchange with ambient air without requiring the condenser to be physically located in the ambient environment, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and energy efficiency.
2Productivity
If a blower is used to move air through the condenser, then air circulation is effective, but the appliance generates noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the existing drum rotation to drive air circulation through the condenser and treating chamber, eliminating the need for a separate blower motor. The drum's rotational motion naturally creates sufficient air flow for effective drying while significantly reducing noise generation, as the drum is already rotating for laundry tumbling.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum rotation serves dual functions: tumbling the laundry for drying and simultaneously driving air circulation through the condenser system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated air-moving components that would generate noise, while maintaining effective drying performance.
3Device complexity
If the condenser is located inside the cabinet, then the structure is simplified, but the operating temperature is higher than ambient air reducing condensing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is extracted from the cabinet interior to an exterior position, allowing it to operate with ambient air cooling. This extraction maintains structural simplicity through integrated air conduits while dramatically improving condensing efficiency by eliminating the temperature differential penalty of interior cabinet heating.
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 configuration reduces energy consumption, increases appliance capacity, and significantly decreases noise, providing a more efficient and quieter drying process.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser fluidly coupled to the recirculation conduit and having a condensing chamber defined at least in part by the at least one exterior wall
Implementation Method 2
utilize ambient air for cooling and condensing water vapor
Implementation Method 3
rotation of the drum causes the flowing of air from the treating chamber, through the condenser, and back to the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance comprising a combination washer/dryer having a cabinet defining an interior, a tub located within the interior with a first access opening, and a rotatable drum located within the tub interior and defining a treating chamber with a second access opening, aligned with the first access opening, and an air recirculation conduit.