Washer-Dryer Condensate Drainage with Pumped Overflow Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combined laundry washer-dryers face issues with timely discharge of condensed water, leading to potential electrical failures and overflow due to inadequate drainage capacity, especially during self-cleaning functions or water intake faucet failures.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus equipped with a water accumulation tank, a drain pump, and a second drain pipe with a controller that activates the drain pump when the water level exceeds a preset threshold, ensuring timely discharge through a multi-channel pipe system with varying flow areas and inlets to enhance drainage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a small diameter open drain pipe is used for condensed water discharge, then the drainage structure is simple, but the drainage capacity is insufficient during self-cleaning or failure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is segmented into multiple independent drain pipes (first drain pipe for normal operation, second drain pipe for emergency drainage) rather than relying on a single pipe. This segmentation allows each pipe to have optimized dimensions for its specific function while collectively providing sufficient drainage capacity during all operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
A water accumulation tank is introduced as an intermediary component between the laundry drying device and the drainage system. This tank temporarily stores condensed water and allows controlled discharge through the drain pipes, enabling the system to handle variable water volumes and activate emergency drainage when needed.
2Speed
If the drain pump is activated immediately when water level reaches the threshold, then the drainage response is fast, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain pump operates periodically rather than continuously - it activates when the water level reaches a preset threshold and stops when the water level decreases to a lower threshold. This periodic operation ensures fast drainage response when needed while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the pump idle during normal operating conditions.
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 effectively prevents water accumulation and electrical failures by ensuring timely and efficient drainage, reducing the risk of overflow and improving the overall drainage performance of the laundry treatment apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a drain pump. The laundry drying device is provided with a water accumulation tank. An inlet of the first drain pipe is in communication with the water accumulation tank. A water outlet of the drain pump is in communication with the second drain pipe, and a water inlet of the drain pump is in communication with the water accumulation tank.
Implementation Method 2
An inlet of the first drain pipe is in communication with the water accumulation tank
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a clothes treatment apparatus, comprising a clothes drying device, a first drainage pipe, a second drainage pipe, a drainage pump and a controller, wherein the clothes drying device is provided with a water accumulation tank; an inlet of the first drainage pipe is in communication with the water accumulation tank; a water outlet of the drainage pump is in communication with the second drainage pipe; and a water inlet of the drainage pump is in communication with the water accumulation tank. By means of the additional provision of the drainage pump and the second drainage pipe, the clothes treatment apparatus can discharge water in the water accumulation tank in a timely manner, and the drainage performance of the clothes drying device is improved.