Washing Machine Steam Generator Control Under Low Water Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam generators for washing machines have inefficiencies due to large volume, high production costs, and difficulties in applying them to other appliances, with issues like energy and water waste, prolonged steam generation times, and potential damage to laundry from high temperature water and bubbles interfering with sensors.
Innovation Solution
A controlling method for a steam generator that omits the low water level sensing sensor, uses a different initial driving pattern for steam generation based on the selected course, and incorporates a low water pressure compensating algorithm to enhance efficiency and reduce production costs, allowing for compact design and stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional steam generator uses a large volume water storage space and heater, then it can generate steam, but it increases the overall device volume and production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by predicting water level based on water supply pressure and duration before actual steam generation begins. This allows the system to prepare optimal heating parameters in advance, eliminating the need for large water storage spaces and extensive sensor arrays, thereby reducing device volume while maintaining reliable steam generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical water level sensors with a prediction-based control system that uses water supply pressure and time data to calculate water level. This substitution of mechanical sensing with computational prediction reduces the physical components needed, decreasing device volume while maintaining accurate water level monitoring for reliable steam generation.
2Productivity
If the steam generator operates at high temperature, then steam generation efficiency is improved, but it causes damage to laundry and interferes with sensor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts heating power based on real-time water level predictions and steam generation requirements. Instead of maintaining constant high temperature, the system optimizes heating intensity at each moment, ensuring efficient steam generation while preventing excessive heat from damaging laundry or interfering with sensor operation through adaptive temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring water supply pressure, calculating water level, and adjusting heating power accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that high temperature operation is maintained only when necessary for efficient steam generation, while automatically reducing heat when water levels indicate potential damage risks to laundry or sensors.
3Device complexity
If the steam generator uses simple water level sensing, then device complexity is reduced, but it cannot accurately detect water level under varying water supply pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit changes the approach from direct physical measurement to computational prediction by using water supply pressure and time as input parameters. This parameter transformation allows accurate water level detection under varying pressure conditions without complex sensors, maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity through mathematical modeling rather than hardware complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If the steam generator uses prolonged heating, then sufficient steam is generated, but it increases energy consumption and water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary calculation of required steam quantity and corresponding water consumption based on predicted water levels. This allows the system to heat only the necessary amount of water for the required steam output, preventing prolonged heating and associated energy waste while ensuring sufficient steam generation through advance planning of heating duration and intensity.
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 reduces steam generation time, prevents high temperature water from being supplied to the drum, minimizes damage to laundry, and enables efficient steam generation even at low water supply pressure, resulting in a more cost-effective and user-friendly steam generator.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to heat the water stored in the steam generator
Implementation Method 2
it generates high temperature steam
Implementation Method 3
a steam generator configured to supply steam to the inside of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments may relate to a washing apparatus, more specifically, to a washing apparatus having a steam generator and a controlling method of the same and embodiments may relate to a home appliance including a steam generator. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a controlling method of a washing machine configured to perform a steam washing course having a steam cycle and a refresh course having a steam cycle, wherein water supply to a steam generator for performing the steam cycle initially and an initial steam generator control pattern for applying the power to a heater of the steam generator are controlled different in the steam washing course and the refresh course.