Steam generator and laundry treatment apparatus including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam generators for laundry treatment apparatuses take a long time to generate steam, are prone to scale buildup which can plug discharge parts, and require excessive water consumption, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to laundry due to uneven drying times.
Innovation Solution
A steam generator design with a generator body featuring flow channels and a heating system that includes multiple heating parts and inflection portions to efficiently heat fluid, reducing steam generation time, preventing scale buildup, and minimizing water usage, while a laundry treatment apparatus controls steam and hot air supply to prevent overdrying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional steam generator uses a storage space filled with water and a heater to boil the water for steam generation, then steam can be generated, but the steam generation time is long and steam pressure control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generator is divided into multiple heating chambers (first heating chamber, second heating chamber, third heating chamber) with independent flow channels. Each chamber can process water independently and simultaneously, enabling parallel steam generation. This segmentation allows multiple heating zones to operate concurrently, dramatically reducing the overall time required to generate sufficient steam pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-heats water in multiple chambers before final steam generation. The first heating chamber receives water and performs preliminary heating, while the second and third chambers continue the heating process. This staged preliminary action in parallel chambers accelerates the overall steam generation process compared to sequential heating in a single chamber.
2Productivity
If water is heated in a storage space with a heater, then steam is generated, but scale builds up on the heater and storage space surfaces, potentially plugging the discharge member
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent heating chambers (first, second, and third heating chambers), each with its own flow channel. This segmentation distributes the heating load across multiple zones, preventing excessive scale accumulation in any single chamber and reducing the risk of discharge member plugging. Each chamber can be independently monitored and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the heating system by stacking multiple heating chambers vertically. This dimensional change allows water to flow through multiple heating zones in sequence, distributing thermal stress and scale formation across different spatial locations, thereby reducing localized scale buildup that could block discharge paths.
3Reliability
If the heater must be completely immersed in water for safety, then safety is ensured, but water consumption increases as water must be resupplied even when considerable water remains
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system uses multiple heating chambers with distributed heating elements rather than a single large heater requiring complete immersion. Each heating chamber can operate with its own water level, allowing the system to maintain safety while using less total water. The segmented design enables independent water management in each chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complete immersion of a large heater (excessive action), the system uses multiple partial heating chambers where each heater is immersed only to the extent needed for its specific chamber. This partial action approach maintains safety while reducing overall water consumption, as water is not required in excess beyond what each individual chamber needs.
4Ease of operation
If hot air is supplied for a fixed time based on laundry amount, then drying process is simplified, but laundry with lower moisture content may be damaged due to overdrying
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system incorporates sensors that detect laundry moisture content and provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the hot air supply duration and intensity based on real-time moisture detection, preventing overdrying of delicate items while ensuring thorough drying of heavier items. This closed-loop feedback control eliminates the need for fixed-time drying based solely on laundry amount.
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 significantly reduces steam generation time, prevents scale-related issues, minimizes water consumption, and ensures even drying by controlling steam and hot air distribution, thereby preventing laundry damage from overdrying.
Implementation Method 1
a heating part for heating the generator body to supply heat to fluid in the respective flow channels
Implementation Method 2
a heating part for heating the generator body to supply heat to fluid in the respective flow channels
Implementation Method 3
heating the generator body to supply heat to fluid in the respective flow channels... generating steam
Implementation Method 4
heating the generator body to supply heat to fluid in the respective flow channels... generating steam
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A steam generator (7) and a laundry treatment apparatus (100) comprising said steam generator (7) are disclosed. The steam generator (7) includes a generator body (71) including an introduction part (72) through which fluid is introduced and a discharge part (73) through which the fluid is discharged, a first flow channel (75) defining a flowing path for fluid introduced into the generator body (71) through the introduction part (72), a second flow channel (76) connected to the first flow channel (75) to guide fluid toward the discharge part (73), and a heating part (78) for heating the generator body (71) to supply heat to fluid in the respective flow channels, and particularly for supplying heat from a region thereof generating the greatest amount of heat to fluid in the first flow channel (75).