Laundry treating apparatus and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses using carbon dioxide as a cleaning solvent face issues with large size, complex pipe connections, difficulty in maintenance, and potential contact between liquid carbon dioxide and drivers, leading to increased weight and installation space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a single pressure vessel divided into a washing space and a storage space by a partition wall, allowing for simplified pipe connections, pressure equilibrium, and blocking liquid carbon dioxide flow while reusing purified carbon dioxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid carbon dioxide is filled up to the space where the motor is installed, then the washing function is improved, but the amount of carbon dioxide increases and the chamber size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is divided into a washing chamber and a storage chamber by a partition wall. The washing chamber accommodates the drum and performs washing operations, while the storage chamber stores liquid carbon dioxide. This segmentation allows the motor to be installed in the storage chamber away from liquid CO2, and enables efficient use of space by dedicating specific zones to specific functions.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the washing chamber and storage chamber. It physically separates the two spaces, prevents liquid carbon dioxide from contacting the motor, and allows for selective communication between chambers through openings in the partition wall.
2Adaptability or versatility
If three or more pressure vessels are used for washing, storage, and distillation, then the carbon dioxide treatment function is improved, but the apparatus becomes large and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pressure vessels (washing chamber, storage chamber, distillation chamber) are merged into a single integrated pressure vessel structure. The partition walls divide the internal space while the outer shell remains unified, reducing the total number of separate vessels and connections needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pressure vessel structure serves multiple functions: it contains the washing chamber for washing operations, the storage chamber for liquid CO2 storage, and the distillation chamber for carbon dioxide recovery. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate pressure vessels for each function.
3Extent of automation
If complex pipes connect the pressure vessels, then the carbon dioxide flow control is improved, but the maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space is segmented into distinct chambers with dedicated openings for carbon dioxide flow control. Each chamber has specific openings in the partition walls that allow controlled communication between chambers, simplifying the pipe network by using the chamber walls themselves as flow control structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls with openings serve as flexible flow control structures. The openings can be opened or closed to control carbon dioxide flow between chambers, eliminating the need for complex external piping and valves while maintaining automated flow control capability.
4Volume of stationary object
If the chamber size is reduced by using a single pressure vessel, then the installation space is improved, but the driver may be exposed to liquid carbon dioxide
Solution Approach 1:
The single pressure vessel is segmented into washing chamber and storage chamber by a partition wall. The motor (driver) is installed in the storage chamber, physically separated from liquid carbon dioxide in the washing chamber, protecting it from exposure while maintaining compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as a protective intermediary between the liquid carbon dioxide and the motor. It prevents direct contact between the corrosive liquid and the driver components, ensuring driver durability while allowing the compact single-vessel design.
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 apparatus is miniaturized, reduces installation space, simplifies maintenance, and enhances driver durability by preventing liquid carbon dioxide contact, while efficiently purifying and reusing carbon dioxide.
Implementation Method 1
a partition wall that separates spaces into a washing space and a storage space to block the flow of the liquid carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
carbon dioxide may evaporate when a washing process at a high pressure is completed and the pressure is lowered to the atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 3
carbon dioxide may evaporate when a washing process at a high pressure is completed and the pressure is lowered to the atmospheric pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes a pressure vessel configured to receive fluid and to maintain a pressure therein to be higher than an atmospheric pressure, a separator that divides the pressure vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, a drum rotatably disposed in the first chamber and configured to accommodate laundry therein, a driver configured to rotate the drum, and a pump configured to cause the fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.