Liquid-Discharging Partition Plate for Heat Pump Dryer Backflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heat pump dryers, condensed fluid flows back into the air duct due to negative pressure, affecting drying efficiency and leading to potential bad odors.

Innovation Solution

A liquid-discharging partition with a liquid guide groove and a diffluent groove, connected through liquid passing openings, reduces hydraulic pressure and provides a path for backflow, preventing condensed fluid from re-entering the air duct.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple liquid guide groove is used, then the structure is simple, but condensed fluid flows back into the air duct due to negative pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidprevention of condensed fluid backflow
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid discharge path is segmented into multiple channels: a liquid guide groove and multiple diffluent grooves. This segmentation creates separate flow paths that collectively prevent backflow while maintaining structural simplicity. The liquid guide groove directs condensed fluid outward, and the diffluent grooves provide additional discharge paths, together forming a reliable anti-backflow system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single linear liquid guide groove to a two-dimensional network including diffluent grooves that extend in different directions. This dimensional expansion creates multiple discharge paths without significantly increasing structural complexity, effectively preventing condensed fluid from returning to the air duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If condensed fluid flows back into the air duct, then the structure remains simple, but drying efficiency decreases and bad odors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoiddrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the liquid discharge system into a liquid guide groove and multiple diffluent grooves, the invention creates efficient condensed fluid removal paths. This prevents water accumulation that would otherwise reduce drying efficiency and cause odors, while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of negative pressure (which causes backflow) into a beneficial feature. The diffluent grooves are strategically designed to utilize the negative pressure environment to enhance condensed fluid discharge efficiency, turning a problem into a solution that improves drying performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If a single liquid guide groove is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the path for backflow is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidbackflow prevention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid discharge system is divided into a liquid guide groove and multiple diffluent grooves that can be manufactured as integrated features on a single partition plate. This segmented design provides multiple discharge paths for reliable backflow prevention while maintaining ease of manufacture through一体化 fabrication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the liquid guide groove and diffluent grooves into a single integrated structure on the partition plate. This combining of multiple functions into one component achieves reliable backflow prevention through multiple pathways while keeping manufacturing simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces hydraulic pressure and increases the path for backflow, preventing condensed fluid from entering the air duct, thereby enhancing drying efficiency and minimizing odor issues.

Implementation Method 1

a diffluent effect can be achieved to reduce a hydraulic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure reduction through diffusion:

Implementation Method 2

a condensed fluid in a liquid guide groove flows back to an air duct due to the negative pressure in the air duct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4083305B1Liquid-discharging partition plate for dryer, and dryer
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 WUXI FILIN ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4083305B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4083305B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4083305B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid-discharging partition plate (10) for a dryer (100), and a dryer (100). The liquid-discharging partition plate (10) comprises a liquid guide recess (21); an inlet (211) of the liquid guide recess (21) and an outlet (212) of the liquid guide recess (21) are respectively located on two sides of the liquid guide recess (21) along the length direction. The liquid-discharging partition plate (10) also comprises a flow-diverting recess (31), which is located on at least one side of the liquid guide recess (21) along the width direction and which communicates with the liquid guide recess (21) by means of liquid-passing openings (22).