Two-Phase Fabric Laundering to Remove Solid Fat Soils at Lower Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry cycles, especially those at 30° C. or lower, face challenges in effectively removing solid fat soils and other temperature-sensitive soils due to inadequate cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an intermediate wash bath with a higher temperature than the final wash bath, where a reduced amount of water is initially used to concentrate chemistry and thermal energy, allowing for effective removal of solid fat soils and other temperature-sensitive soils through sequential dosing of detergent ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a standard wash cycle uses a large amount of water at 30°C or lower, then energy consumption is reduced, but cleaning performance of solid fat soils is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The wash cycle is divided into two distinct phases: an intermediate wash phase with reduced water volume and elevated temperature (above melting point of solid fats), followed by a main wash phase with full water volume and lower temperature. This segmentation allows concentrated thermal energy to effectively melt and remove solid fat soils in the intermediate phase, while the main phase completes the cleaning at lower energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically changes water temperature and volume parameters during the wash cycle. The intermediate wash uses heated water at elevated temperature with reduced volume to maximize cleaning effectiveness on temperature-sensitive soils, then transitions to the main wash with cooler water and full volume for energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If an intermediate wash bath with higher temperature is used, then cleaning performance on solid fat soils is improved, but the complexity of the washing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate wash phase is performed as a preliminary action before the main wash. By pre-treating the fabric with heated water in a reduced volume, solid fat soils are melted and loosened in advance, making the subsequent main wash more effective and simpler in achieving complete cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate wash uses an excessive amount of thermal energy relative to a standard cycle, but only for a portion of the total wash process. This partial excessive action is sufficient to address the specific problem of solid fat soil removal, while the overall cycle remains energy-efficient.
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 approach enhances cleaning performance by maintaining a higher temperature in the intermediate wash bath above the melting point of solid fats, facilitating their removal and improving stain removal indices across various soil types.
Implementation Method 1
heating the water that contacts the fabric during (c) with the energy calculated in (b) such that the intermediate wash bath has a temperature above the desired final temperature
Implementation Method 2
an intermediate laundering within the main wash subjects the fabric to an initial reduced amount of water, so that the same amount of chemistry and thermal energy dispensed in a standard cycle can be concentrated in this interim washing, resulting in a higher concentration of chemistry and a higher temperature, for example a washing temperature above the melting point of the solid fat soils
Data Source
AI summary
A method of laundering fabric including: (a) calculating a final amount of water to be added to a final wash bath; (b) calculating the amount of energy needed to heat this final amount of water to a desired final temperature; (c) contacting an amount of water that is less than the final amount water with fabric to form an intermediate wash bath, wherein a detergent composition is contacted to the fabric during the formation of the intermediate wash bath, or prior to the formation of the intermediate wash bath; (d) heating the water that contacts the fabric during (c) with the energy calculated in (b) such that the intermediate wash bath has a temperature above the desired final temperature; (e) washing the fabric in the intermediate wash bath for at least 3 minutes; (f) contacting the remaining amount of water to the intermediate wash bath to form the final wash bath having the desired final temperature; (g) washing the fabric in the final wash bath for at least 5 minutes; and (h) rinsing the fabric.