Method and apparatus for preventing mold growth in the reservoir of a food waste recycling appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food waste recycling appliances require large space, are often batch-type, and suffer from stagnant moisture in reservoirs, which can lead to microbial growth due to inadequate handling of condensate water, limiting continuous operation and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A food waste recycling appliance with a housing containing a porous wall, a condensate reservoir with copper scrubs to inhibit microbial growth, and an air supply system that uses heat exchangers and filters to manage moisture and odors, allowing for continuous operation and reduced microbial growth in the condensate reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a food waste recycling appliance is designed with a reservoir to collect condensate water, then moisture management is improved, but microbial growth occurs due to stagnant water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful effect of stagnant water by removing the water from the reservoir through a pump system. The pump actively removes condensate water before it can become stagnant and support microbial growth, thereby maintaining moisture management benefits while eliminating the harmful stagnant water condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous operation of the food waste recycling appliance by continuously pumping out condensate water from the reservoir. This continuous action prevents water stagnation and microbial growth, allowing the appliance to operate continuously without interruption for reservoir emptying.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the reservoir is emptied periodically, then microbial growth is reduced, but continuous operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces periodic manual emptying with continuous automated pumping. The pump operates continuously or at frequent intervals to remove condensate water, maintaining low microbial growth levels while allowing the appliance to operate continuously without interruption. This eliminates the need to stop operation for reservoir emptying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by automating the reservoir emptying process through a pump system controlled by the appliance's control system. The system automatically monitors and removes condensate water without requiring user intervention, maintaining both hygienic conditions and continuous operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the appliance size is reduced, then space requirements are minimized, but heat exchange efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous wall structure in the heat exchanger that allows water vapor to pass through while maintaining effective heat exchange. The porous material provides large surface area for heat transfer within a compact volume, enabling efficient condensation of moisture from the food waste processing chamber while keeping the appliance size reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional bulk heat exchange to surface-based heat exchange through the porous wall structure. This dimensional change allows heat transfer to occur across the surface area of the porous material rather than requiring large volumetric heat exchange surfaces, enabling compact appliance design while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
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 appliance effectively manages moisture and odors, inhibits microbial growth in the condensate reservoir, and enables continuous operation, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of food waste recycling while minimizing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A food waste recycling appliance with a housing containing a porous wall, a condensate reservoir with copper scrubs to inhibit microbial growth
Implementation Method 2
A food waste recycling appliance with a housing containing a porous wall
Implementation Method 3
A food waste recycling appliance with a housing containing a porous wall
Implementation Method 4
an air supply system that uses heat exchangers and filters to manage moisture and odors
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for a food waste recycling appliance comprising a housing defining an interior, a water reservoir (48) disposed in the interior of the housing for holding water used in an operation of the appliance and a plurality of scrubs (110) disposed in the water reservoir (48), each of the plurality of scrubs (110) having a matrix of members in three dimensions, each member having a surface of exposed copper, wherein the copper inhibits growth of life forms in water in the reservoir (48).