Washing Machine Spin Control for Peak-Rate Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances like washing machines face challenges in reducing peak power consumption, leading to high operational costs and inefficient drying due to peak load demands, which existing demand response systems struggle to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine with a communication unit to receive power rate information and a controller that adjusts the final spinning mode algorithm based on power rates and environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, to optimize energy usage and prevent performance deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the washing machine performs the drying operation during high power rate periods to meet user demand, then the user obtains dried clothes at the desired time, but the power consumption increases significantly and drying performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine performs a pre-spinning operation before the drying cycle to remove excess water from clothes in advance. This preliminary action reduces the moisture content that needs to be evaporated during drying, thereby reducing the energy required during high power rate periods while still meeting the user's time requirement for dried clothes.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine dynamically adjusts the spinning speed and duration based on real-time power rate information. During high power rate periods, the system modifies spinning parameters to optimize the balance between drying effectiveness and energy consumption, allowing the user to obtain dried clothes at desired times without excessive power usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the washing machine delays the drying operation to avoid high power rate periods, then power consumption is reduced, but the user cannot obtain dried clothes at the desired time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs water removal through spinning before the drying operation, which is energy-intensive. By completing this preliminary water extraction phase, the subsequent drying phase requires less energy and can be completed more quickly, allowing the machine to operate during lower power rate periods while still meeting user time requirements.
3Reliability
If the washing machine uses high spinning speed and extended spinning time during final spinning mode, then drying performance is improved, but power consumption during peak load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine changes operational parameters (spinning speed and time) based on power rate conditions. During high power rate periods, the system adjusts parameters to maintain adequate drying performance while reducing energy consumption. The controller modifies the final spinning mode parameters dynamically to balance performance and energy usage according to real-time power rate information.
4Productivity
If the washing machine operates all components at full capacity during drying, then drying speed is maximized, but the components deteriorate faster and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine employs periodic spinning cycles with varying intensities rather than continuous high-capacity operation. The final spinning mode uses repeated cycles of high and low spinning speeds, which maintains drying effectiveness over time while reducing stress on components and lowering overall power consumption during peak periods.
Data Source
AI summary
In a washing machine, a power management apparatus and a method of controlling the same, washing operation and drying operation commands are input by a user, power rate information for each time period is received from an EMS, a drying operation execution time is confirmed, and power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are determined based on the power rate information for each time period. Then, the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are compared with the standard power rates to determine whether the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation is adjusted if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.