Washer Ozone Wash Sequencing to Protect Detergent Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ozone washing in laundry machines reduces detergent effectiveness due to ozone's detrimental effect on detergent components and results in inefficient water usage and reduced washing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A washer with a controlled washing program that includes an ozone wash cycle followed by a detergent wash cycle, where ozone concentration is maximized during the ozone wash and then decomposed using temperature or mechanical movement changes to prevent ozone damage to detergents, allowing for efficient detergent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ozone gas is used for washing, then disinfection and soil removal effects are improved, but detergent components deteriorate and washing efficiency reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The washing process is divided into two separate cycles: an ozone wash cycle followed by a detergent wash cycle. This segmentation allows ozone to perform disinfection and soil removal in the first cycle, then be decomposed before the second cycle where detergent can work effectively without ozone interference, thus resolving the contradiction between ozone's beneficial effects and its harmful effect on detergent components
Solution Approach 2:
The ozone wash cycle is performed as a preliminary action before the detergent wash cycle. During this preliminary ozone treatment, disinfection and soil removal are achieved. Subsequently, the ozone is decomposed through heating or mechanical movement, preparing the system for the next stage where detergent can function optimally without ozone's detrimental effects
2Productivity
If high concentration ozone gas-water mixture is used, then washing effectiveness is improved, but water absorption by laundry increases and water usage becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The washing process is segmented into distinct cycles with different water absorption characteristics. The ozone wash cycle uses a high concentration ozone gas-water mixture for effective disinfection and soil removal. The subsequent detergent wash cycle uses fresh water, preventing the carryover of ozone-containing water that would otherwise be absorbed by the laundry, thus improving water usage efficiency while maintaining washing effectiveness
3Quantity of substance
If washing duration is reduced by using less detergent, then water usage decreases, but washing efficiency is profoundly lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameter of the washing system by introducing ozone gas. Ozone's strong oxidizing properties enable effective disinfection and soil removal, allowing reduced detergent usage while maintaining or improving washing efficiency. The ozone wash cycle achieves cleaning effects with minimal or no detergent, and the subsequent detergent wash cycle uses reduced detergent amounts since some pre-cleaning has already occurred
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
Enhances washing efficiency by maintaining ozone effectiveness while protecting detergent components and reducing water usage, ensuring effective disinfection and soil removal without compromising detergent performance.
Implementation Method 1
the heater is operated to reach a certain temperature or the rotational speed or the run time ratio of the drum is increased in order to remove the ozone gas dissolved in the water without adversely affecting the detergent to be used in the detergent wash cycle
Implementation Method 2
an ozone generator (4) providing to produce the ozone gas mixed into water delivered by the main water supply
Implementation Method 3
During washing with ozone, the ozone gas is disintegrated with the movement of the drum and the effectiveness of ozone washing is reduced
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The washer (1) of the present invention comprises a washing program having ozone wash and detergent wash cycles, a tub (2), a drum (3) wherein the laundry to be washed, dried is emplaced, an ozone generator (4) providing to produce the ozone gas mixed into the water delivered by the main water supply and a heater (5) that heats the water in the tub (2).