Clothes Washer Demand Response Using Additional Spin Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household clothes washers face challenges in reducing energy consumption during peak demand periods, necessitating innovative operational adjustments to minimize energy costs while maintaining consumer convenience.
Innovation Solution
A controller in the clothes washer receives energy cost signals, modifying its operation to include additional spin cycles and agitation in an energy savings mode, reducing moisture content for more efficient drying and overall energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If additional spin cycles are added to reduce moisture content, then energy efficiency is improved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding extra spin cycles before the main drying process to remove as much moisture as possible from the laundry load. This preliminary moisture removal reduces the energy required during the subsequent drying phase, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and cycle time by preparing the load in advance for more efficient processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process is segmented into multiple distinct spin cycles rather than relying on a single prolonged drying phase. By dividing the moisture removal process into separate spin cycles with different speed profiles, the system achieves more effective water extraction while maintaining flexibility in timing and energy consumption patterns.
2Loss of energy
If spin cycles are extended or multiplied, then moisture extraction is improved, but power consumption during peak periods increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through multiple discrete spin cycles rather than continuous operation. Each spin cycle is a distinct periodic event with specific duration and speed parameters. This periodic structure allows the system to achieve cumulative moisture extraction while enabling strategic pauses between cycles, facilitating demand response participation and avoiding peak pricing periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The spin cycles feature dynamic speed variations with multiple acceleration and deceleration phases within each cycle. The drum speed is not constant but dynamically adjusted during each spin cycle, optimizing water extraction at different stages while managing power consumption patterns to align with utility pricing structures.
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 reduces average power consumption during peak pricing times, saves costs, and enhances consumer flexibility by completing cycles faster without pausing or delaying them, while optimizing energy efficiency between the washer and dryer.
Implementation Method 1
A clothes washer includes a housing that receives a drum mounted for selected rotation relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The controller signals the drum to tumble and/or agitate the laundry items at least one additional time before the at least one additional spin cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by modifying the spin cycle to achieve a lower remaining moisture content in the clothes load prior to going into a dryer, thus reducing overall total energy consumption to completely wash and dry a clothes load.