Two-Phase Heater Cycling for Laundry Dryer Energy and Time Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry drying appliances often oversupply heat or require long drying times due to inefficient heater control, which can be wasteful and inconvenient for users seeking shorter or lower-heat drying cycles.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a two-phase heating approach where the heater operates at full output until a maximum evaporation rate is reached, then cycles on and off to maintain this rate, redistributing laundry and controlling air flow to optimize drying time and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the heater is turned on/off based on the temperature of the air exiting the treating chamber, then the laundry is dried, but the drying time is long and heat is oversupplied
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from sensors (moisture sensor, temperature sensor) to continuously monitor the drying state and adjust heater operation. The controller receives real-time data about laundry moisture content and air temperature, then dynamically controls the heater to maintain optimal drying conditions without oversupplying heat or extending drying time unnecessarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater control system transitions from static on/off based solely on exhaust temperature to dynamic control that adapts to changing drying conditions. The system adjusts heater power and cycling based on real-time feedback about moisture levels, temperature, and drying progress, allowing optimal heat supply that changes throughout the drying cycle.
2Productivity
If the heater supplies high heat, then the evaporation rate increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters (heater power level, heater cycling frequency, air flow rate) based on the drying phase and moisture content. During high-moisture phases, higher heat and faster cycling are used to maximize evaporation rate. As moisture decreases, parameters are adjusted to maintain productivity while reducing energy consumption, achieving optimal balance between evaporation rate and energy use.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously, with the cycling frequency and duration adjusted based on drying conditions. This periodic operation allows the system to deliver intense heat when needed for maximum evaporation while permitting cooling periods that reduce overall energy consumption, maintaining productivity while improving energy efficiency.
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 allows for the fastest possible drying with the least amount of heat and energy consumption, balancing evaporation rate and heat supply to achieve efficient and cost-effective drying.
Implementation Method 1
heating the air supplied to the treating chamber by actuating a heater
Implementation Method 2
exhausting the supplied air from the treating chamber to define an exhaust air flow
Data Source
AI summary
A method of drying laundry in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber in which the laundry is received for drying comprises moving the treating chamber to redistribute the laundry, supplying air to the treating chamber to define a supply air flow, exhausting the supplied air from the treating chamber to define an exhaust air flow, heating the air supplied to the treating chamber by actuating a heater at full output to define a first heating phase and then cycling the heater ON/OFF to define a second heating phase.