Laundry Machine Water Softener Control Without Conductivity Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry washing machines with ion-exchange resin-based water softening systems require frequent regeneration cycles, leading to high salt consumption and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for conductivity sensors to determine regeneration timing.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-less system that allows users to input water hardness data and softener configuration, enabling the electronic control device to adjust the amount of softened water and optimize regeneration cycle activation based on produced softened water quantities, frequency, and washing program phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If regeneration cycles are performed frequently to maintain softening effectiveness, then water softening quality is improved, but salt consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a conductivity sensor to continuously monitor water conductivity and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit compares measured conductivity values against threshold values to dynamically determine when regeneration is needed, ensuring regeneration occurs only when necessary to maintain softening effectiveness, thereby reducing unnecessary salt consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by using conductivity measurements as a basis for controlling regeneration timing. By monitoring conductivity parameter changes in real-time, the system adapts the regeneration schedule to actual water quality conditions, optimizing the balance between softening effectiveness and salt consumption.
2Measurement precision
If conductivity sensors are installed to determine regeneration timing, then regeneration control precision is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductivity sensor that provides real-time feedback on water conductivity, enabling precise determination of regeneration timing. This feedback mechanism allows the control unit to make accurate decisions about when regeneration is needed, improving measurement precision while keeping the system relatively simple through the use of a single sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or time-based regeneration timing systems with an electrical/conductivity-based detection system. By using conductivity measurement instead of mechanical counters or time-based estimates, the system achieves higher precision in determining regeneration needs without requiring multiple sensors or complex mechanical mechanisms.
3Reliability
If ion-exchange resins are used for water softening, then water softening effectiveness is improved, but resin capacity depletes requiring regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The conductivity sensor continuously monitors water quality and provides feedback to the control unit. When conductivity increases indicating resin capacity depletion, the system triggers regeneration. This feedback loop ensures the resin operates at optimal capacity throughout its service life, maximizing softening effectiveness while extending the time between regenerations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of water conductivity to detect early signs of resin capacity depletion. By detecting changes in conductivity before complete exhaustion, the system can plan and execute regeneration at the optimal moment, ensuring continuous softening effectiveness while maximizing the productive service life of the resin.
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
Minimizes regeneration cycles and salt consumption while maintaining effective water softening without the need for additional sensors, reducing costs and ensuring efficient washing performance.
Implementation Method 1
The water softening device comprises a ion exchanger which is internally provided with a given amount of ion-exchange resins which are capable of retaining the calcium and magnesium ions (Ca++ and Mg++) dissolved in the water flowing through the same water softening device, so as to reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water directed towards the detergent dispenser and the washing tub.
Implementation Method 2
Salt water, in fact, is able to remove from the ion-exchange resins during the regeneration cycle the calcium and magnesium ions previously combined/fixed to said resins.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine (1) comprising an outer casing (2), a washing tub (3), which is arranged inside the casing (2), a rotatable drum (4), which is arranged in axially rotating manner inside the washing tub (3) and is designed to receive laundry to be washed, a softening device (10) provided with: a ion exchanger (11) designed to receive fresh water from a water mains (9) and reduce the hardness degree of the fresh water in order to supply softened water to the washing tub (3), and a regeneration device (12) designed to perform a regeneration cycle to regenerate the ion exchanger device (11); a control panel (13) configured to allow the user to select a washing program comprising a number of washing phases; an electronic control device (15) configured to control the regeneration device (12) in order to perform the regeneration cycle. The control panel (13) is further configured to allow an operator to input first data which are indicative of the hardness of said fresh water and/or input second data which are indicative of supplying softened water or, alternately, fresh water to the washing tub (3) during one or more washing phases of the selected washing program. The electronic control device (15) being further configured to change the amount of the softened water to be used during the selected washing program based on said first and/or second data, determine the amount of softened water which has been provided by the ion exchanger (11), and control the regeneration device (12) in order to activate the regeneration cycle based on the determined softened water.