Washer Dual-Heater Design for Spin-Drying and Drying Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washers lack efficiency in both washing and drying cycles, particularly in achieving energy and time efficiency during the drying process, as they do not effectively maintain or increase the temperature of laundry before the drying cycle, leading to suboptimal spin-drying and drying performance.
Innovation Solution
A washer equipped with a first heater to heat water and a second heater to heat air, along with a fan to guide heated air into the drum, controlled by a processor to perform sequential washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying cycles, including a second rinsing cycle that heats water and a spin-drying cycle that heats air based on drum speed, enhancing temperature maintenance and air circulation for improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional washers perform drying cycle without pre-heating laundry, then device complexity is reduced, but drying efficiency and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a spin-drying cycle with heated air before the main drying cycle. The controller heats air using the second heater and introduces it into the drum during spin-drying to pre-heat the laundry, so that when the drying cycle begins, the laundry is already at a higher temperature, improving overall drying efficiency without requiring the dryer to work from cold start conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the washer universal by enabling it to perform both washing and drying functions with integrated temperature control. The first heater heats water for washing/rinsing while the second heater heats air for spin-drying and drying cycles. The controller coordinates these heating functions across multiple cycle types, allowing the washer to handle various laundry treatment needs (washing, rinsing, spin-drying, drying) within a single device.
2Productivity
If washer uses additional heaters and fans for drying cycle, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces energy consumption by performing preliminary spin-drying with heated air before the main drying cycle. This pre-heating and partial drying action removes a significant portion of moisture beforehand, so that the subsequent drying cycle requires less energy to complete the drying process, improving overall energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by seamlessly transitioning from the spin-drying cycle to the drying cycle without interruption. The controller manages the sequential execution of washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying cycles, ensuring that the laundry remains in the drum and the drying process continues uninterrupted, maximizing the effectiveness of energy input across the entire process.
3Reliability
If washer performs sequential washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying cycles, then laundry treatment quality is improved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces total cycle time by performing preliminary spin-drying with heated air before the main drying cycle. This preliminary action removes a significant amount of moisture during the spin-drying phase, so that the subsequent drying cycle completes much faster, reducing the overall treatment time while maintaining quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes cycle time by dynamically adjusting operational parameters during different phases. The controller adjusts heating temperature, air flow rate, and drum rotation speed based on the current cycle phase (washing, rinsing, spin-drying, or drying), ensuring optimal performance at each stage while minimizing total processing time.
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 configuration enhances energy and time efficiency by maintaining or increasing the laundry temperature through heated water and air, improving spin-drying rates and reducing drying cycle time, while preventing laundry from sticking to the drum.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater to heat water to be introduced to an inside of a drum
Implementation Method 2
a second heater to heat air to be introduced to the inside of the drum
Implementation Method 3
a fan to guide air to the inside of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A washer comprising: a first heater to heat washing water; a second heater to heat air; a fan to guide air; a memory to store one or more programs; and a controller which is electrically connectable to the first heater, the second heater, the blower fan, and the memory. The washer is controlled by the controller to sequentially perform a washing cycle, a first rinsing cycle, a second rinsing cycle, a spin-drying cycle, and a drying cycle, wherein the second rinsing cycle includes an operation of heating the washing water through the first heater and an operation of rotating the drum, and the spin-drying cycle may include heating the air through the second heater in at least a part of a section based on a rotation speed of the drum, and guiding the heated air into the drum by using the blower fan.