Steam Iron Conduit Heating for Condensate-Free Fabric Humidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ironing appliances with steam generation systems face issues where insufficient heating causes condensate spitting and excessive heating leads to poor steam condensation on fabrics, affecting ironing efficiency and potentially staining laundry.
Innovation Solution
An ironing appliance with a steam duct containing a heating element and a non-heating diffusion chamber, where the steam duct maintains vapor temperature above 100°C to minimize condensate formation, and the diffusion chamber lowers steam temperature to optimize humidity for effective humidification without overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heating body temperature is increased to prevent condensate formation in the steam duct, then condensate spitting is reduced, but the steam temperature becomes too high for effective condensation on fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into two independent parts: a heating body for drying the sole and a separate heating element in the steam duct for temperature maintenance. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between preventing condensate and maintaining appropriate steam temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
Different temperature conditions are applied to different locations: the heating body maintains high temperature for drying, while the heating element in the steam duct maintains a lower, controlled temperature sufficient to prevent condensate but not overheat the steam. This local differentiation of thermal properties resolves the temperature contradiction.
2Productivity
If the heating body temperature is decreased to ensure proper steam condensation on fabric, then steam condensation efficiency improves, but condensate forms in the steam duct and is spit out through outlet holes
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is divided between the heating body and a separate heating element in the steam duct. This segmentation allows the steam duct heating element to maintain sufficient temperature to prevent condensate formation independently, while the overall system can still achieve proper condensation on fabric through the controlled temperature at the outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element in the steam duct acts as an intermediary that maintains steam temperature during transport, preventing condensate formation in the duct while allowing controlled cooling at the outlet for effective fabric condensation. This intermediary heating element resolves the contradiction between preventing condensate and enabling proper condensation.
3Reliability
If a heating element is added to the steam duct to prevent condensate, then condensate formation is reduced, but the device complexity and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element in the steam duct serves multiple functions: it prevents condensate formation during steam transport and can be integrated with the existing heating body control system. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by providing condensate prevention without requiring a completely separate control system, thereby limiting the increase in complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the diffusion chamber is made non-heating to simplify construction and prevent overheating, then steam temperature control is improved, but the chamber structure must be carefully designed to maintain thermal properties
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion chamber is designed with specific local thermal properties: it is non-heating in the regions where steam diffusion occurs to prevent overheating, while maintaining appropriate thermal insulation characteristics. This local differentiation of thermal properties simplifies construction by avoiding heating elements in the chamber while still achieving precise temperature control through material selection and geometric 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
This configuration ensures optimal steam temperature and humidity for efficient laundry humidification, reducing condensate risk and enhancing ironing performance while simplifying construction and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the steam duct comprises a heating element, the diffusion chamber being supplied directly by the steam coming from the duct
Implementation Method 2
the diffusion chamber being supplied directly by the steam coming from the duct... the diffusion chamber is suitable for lowering the temperature of the vapor coming from the vapor duct
Implementation Method 3
the steam outlet holes being fed by a diffusion chamber arranged in a non-heating body covering the sole at the level of the laundry humidification zone
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
Ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base (100) and an iron (1) connected together by a steam conduit (4), the iron (1) comprising an ironing soleplate (3) comprising at least a laundry humidification zone (30) provided with steam outlet holes (31) and at least one drying zone (32) provided with steam outlet holes, the steam outlet holes (31) being supplied by a diffusion chamber (50) arranged in a non-heating body covering the sole (3) at the level of the humidification zone (30) of the laundry, the drying zone (32) being in thermal contact with a heating body ( 6), characterized in that the steam conduit (4) comprises a heating element (40), the diffusion chamber (50) being supplied directly by the steam coming from the conduit (4), without passing through the heating body (6) .