Steam Drum Heating for Allergen Removal in Laundry Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines are inefficient in removing allergens such as house dust mites, animal hair, and pollens from laundry, which can exacerbate atopic dermatitis, as they rely on insufficient steam supply for sterilization and do not effectively separate these allergens during washing.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine and controlling method that includes a tiny-creatures-killing step using steam to expose laundry to a hot environment at or above 55°C for over 10 minutes, combined with rinsing and spin-drying, to efficiently kill mites and remove allergens, utilizing steam's higher heat capacity and direct heat transfer for effective allergen removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is supplied to kill tiny creatures, then the tiny-creatures-killing effect is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to steam to achieve high-temperature heating. Steam is generated by heating water in a steam generation chamber and then supplied to the drum to kill mites and other tiny creatures on laundry. This phase transition enables efficient heat transfer and effective sterilization while controlling energy consumption through the natural properties of steam.
2Loss of energy
If conventional washing method is used, then energy consumption is lower, but allergen removal efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by using steam to raise the temperature inside the drum to high levels (above 55°C) for a sustained period. This temperature parameter change is sufficient to kill mites and remove allergens like pollen and animal hair, achieving effective allergen removal while managing energy consumption through efficient steam generation and distribution.
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 method achieves a 100% tiny-creatures-killing rate and efficient removal of allergens, with improved energy efficiency compared to using hot water alone, ensuring thorough allergen elimination and enhanced washing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The steam generator evaporates water into high temperature hot steam and supplies the hot steam to the drum 130
Implementation Method 2
The heating part 210 evaporates water into high temperature steam
Implementation Method 3
The spray nozzle 230 is nozzle-shaped to spray the steam smoothly and an outlet end of the nozzle 230 is toward an inside of the drum 130
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a controlling method, which can remove allergens on the laundry. A controlling method of a laundry machine includes a mite-killing step of supplying seam to a drum to make laundry exposed to a hot environment at or over a temperature and for or over a duration of time, wherein the temperature and the duration are predetermined enough to kill house dust mites on the laundry; a rinsing step of rinsing the laundry; and a spin-drying step of spin-drying the rinsed laundry. The present invention has a advantageous effect of removing allergens including house dust mites, animal hair and pollens efficiently. In addition, if the house dust mites are killed by using steam, energy efficiency is high and an effect of mite-killing is great.