Solid-Particle Drum Cleaning With Low-Water Rinse Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aqueous washing processes face challenges in reducing water and detergent consumption while maintaining effective mechanical action for cleaning, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns, particularly in domestic washing machines with limited drum size and high substrate loading.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning method utilizing a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum that rotates to create an annular path for soiled substrates, allowing solid particulate material to be introduced into the central portion, enhancing distribution and mechanical interaction without increasing detergent usage, and incorporating a second cleaning cycle with an aqueous non-detergent medium to prolong mechanical action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water level in the drum is increased to improve mechanical action, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional aqueous mechanical washing system with a plasma-based cleaning system. Plasma is generated within the drum to directly interact with soiled substrates, providing cleaning action without requiring large volumes of water. The plasma creates reactive species that chemically interact with soil and stains, substituting the mechanical water-based cleaning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the cleaning medium from liquid water to plasma state matter. This parameter change allows cleaning to occur in a low-water environment while maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness through the unique properties of plasma, including high reactivity and ability to penetrate fabric structures.
2Productivity
If water level is increased to improve mechanical action, then soil removal is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the energy-intensive mechanical agitation system (drum rotation with water) with a plasma generation system. Energy is used to create and sustain plasma within the drum, which then performs cleaning through chemical reactions rather than mechanical force, potentially reducing overall energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy utilization parameter from mechanical kinetic energy (drum rotation) to electromagnetic energy (plasma generation). This parameter change enables soil removal through chemical reactions initiated by plasma, bypassing the need for high-energy mechanical agitation.
3Productivity
If detergent dosage is increased to improve cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical detergent-based cleaning with plasma-based cleaning. Plasma generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that naturally break down organic stains and soils without requiring synthetic detergents, thereby eliminating the environmental harm associated with detergent discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning agent parameter from chemical detergents to plasma-generated reactive species. This parameter change eliminates the need for detergent dosing and the subsequent environmental disposal issues, as plasma reactions occur in situ and produce minimal waste.
4Volume of moving object
If drum size is reduced for domestic applications, then device compactness is improved, but mechanical action is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical action (which requires drum size and water volume) with plasma action that can be generated in any drum size. Plasma can be uniformly distributed throughout the drum volume regardless of size, maintaining cleaning effectiveness in compact domestic appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning mechanism parameter from mechanical (water-based agitation) to plasma-based (electromagnetic field generation). This parameter change allows the cleaning process to be independent of drum volume, enabling effective cleaning in compact domestic-sized drums.
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 method improves cleaning efficiency by optimizing the distribution and mechanical interaction of solid particulate material with substrates, reducing water and detergent consumption, and providing environmental benefits through reduced water usage and detergent requirements.
Implementation Method 1
rotating the drum such that said at least one soiled substrate describes an annular path whereby a central portion of the drum is not occupied by any soiled substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for cleaning at least one soiled substrate in a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum of a cleaning apparatus with a multiplicity of solid particles are provided. One method includes the steps of: agitating the at least one soiled substrate in the drum with wash liquor and the multiplicity of solid particles for a first cleaning cycle wherein the wash liquor includes at least one cleaning agent; draining the wash liquor from the cleaning apparatus; and introducing an aqueous non-detergent medium into the cleaning apparatus and agitating the at least one soiled substrate with the multiplicity of solid particles in the drum for a second cleaning cycle. Another method includes rotating the drum such that the at least one soiled substrate moves about a generally circular path and introducing the multiplicity of solid particles into the drum through an annulus defined by the generally circular path as the drum rotates.