Tumble dryer and a drying method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumble dryers suffer from uneven drying due to single air intake positions, leading to longer drying times and potential damage to clothing fibers from prolonged high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A tumble dryer design with multiple air chambers on the outer drum's sides, allowing hot air to be blown from different directions based on the rotation direction of the inner drum, ensuring even air intake and distribution, thereby controlling the drying process to enhance uniformity and reduce time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drying air inlet is used at the front or rear of the dryer, then the structure is simple, but the drying uniformity deteriorates and drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single air inlet is segmented into multiple air inlets positioned at different locations (front and rear) of the dryer. This allows hot air to enter from multiple positions simultaneously, improving drying uniformity across different clothing items while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air inlet configuration transitions from a single-point intake to a multi-point spatial distribution. By adding air inlets at both front and rear positions, the system creates a three-dimensional air flow pattern that enhances drying effectiveness without significantly increasing structural complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single drying air inlet is used, then the device structure is simple, but drying time increases due to uneven drying
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is segmented into multiple simultaneous air flow paths through front and rear air inlets. This parallel processing approach reduces total drying time by treating different regions of the laundry load concurrently rather than sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic switching between front and rear air inlet operation. By alternating the active air inlet position, the system maintains efficient drying cycles while managing thermal loads and energy consumption effectively.
3Device complexity
If hot air is supplied from a single position, then the heating system is simple, but clothing fibers are damaged due to prolonged high temperature exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The single heat source is segmented into multiple heating zones by positioning air inlets at different locations. This distributes the thermal load across multiple entry points, reducing localized overheating and minimizing fiber damage while maintaining effective drying temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the dryer receive hot air from optimally positioned inlets based on local drying needs. The front and rear air inlets create localized heating zones that adapt to the spatial distribution of clothing items, preventing uniform overheating and reducing fiber damage.
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 achieves quicker and more uniform drying, reducing drying time by 10-30% and improving fabric preservation by avoiding over-drying and fiber damage, with enhanced air intake modes that address the limitations of single air inlet systems.
Implementation Method 1
the water vapor in the hot and humid air needs to be condensed and drained before the heating
Implementation Method 2
the use of heat pump system to strengthen the heat recycling
Implementation Method 3
the moisture-absorbed air taken from the clothes is sent back to the evaporator for dehumidification
Implementation Method 4
a fan and a heating system are provided in the air duct
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes dryer comprises an inner drum, an outer drum, an air heating and supplying means and an air duct, and at least two air chambers each in communication with the air duct. The air chambers are respectively arranged corresponding to two sides along which clothes rise or fall as the inner drum rotates, the air chamber at one side starts supplying air and the air chamber at the other side stops supplying air according to a rotation direction of the inner drum, all air chambers are distributed in the order of front and rear of the outer drum in an axial direction, and the rotation direction of the inner drum is controlled according to the distribution of the air chambers, such that air is supplied in different positions corresponding to the front part and the rear part of the inner drum at different clothes drying stages, in order to dry clothes.