Washing Machine Water Recirculation With Two-Stage Filter Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines consume excessive water due to the use of dirty water for both washing and rinsing, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs due to filter blockages, which affect the cleaning efficacy and longevity of filters.
Innovation Solution
A water-saving washing machine design incorporating a pre-filter and main filter with a circulating filtration system, where the pre-filter filters out large particles and the main filter handles smaller impurities, with an integrated structural module and a control method that includes air and water washing for filter cleaning, ensuring clean water usage and extended filter lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single filter is used in the water recycling system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the filter is easily blocked and requires frequent replacement, increasing maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is divided into two independent filters: a first filter with larger pore size for capturing coarse particles, and a second filter with smaller pore size for capturing fine particles. This segmentation allows each filter to handle specific particle sizes, preventing the finer filter from being quickly blocked by large debris, thereby extending filter life and reducing maintenance frequency while maintaining effective water recycling
2Reliability
If multiple rinse cycles are performed to ensure clean clothes, then the cleaning rate is improved, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and reuses rinse water by filtering it through the two-stage filtration system and returning the cleaned water to the outer drum for subsequent rinse cycles. This allows multiple rinse cycles to be performed with the same water, significantly reducing water consumption while maintaining effective cleaning of clothes
Solution Approach 2:
The water recycling system operates continuously during the washing process, with the drainage pump continuously circulating water from the outer drum through the filtration system and back to the drum. This continuous circulation ensures that water is constantly being cleaned and reused, maximizing water efficiency throughout the entire washing cycle
3Loss of substance
If the same bucket of water is used for both washing and rinsing, then water consumption is reduced, but the cleaning performance deteriorates due to dirty water
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into two stages with different pore sizes to effectively remove various types of contaminants from recycled water. The first filter removes large particles while the second filter removes fine particles, ensuring that the recycled water is sufficiently clean for rinsing clothes, thus maintaining cleaning performance while reducing water consumption
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 system reduces water consumption by maintaining clean water throughout the washing process, prolongs filter life, decreases maintenance costs, and enhances cleaning efficiency through effective filtration and filter maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-filter and a main filter are further arranged on the circulating pipeline
Implementation Method 2
a first inlet of the pre-filter is connected to an air pump through a pipeline
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A water-saving washing machine and a control method are provided. The washing machine includes a washing drum and an outer drum (1), where a circulating pipeline is arranged between an outer drum drainage outlet (2) and an outer drum water inlet (3), a drainage pump (4) and a main filter (5) are arranged on the circulating pipeline, a pre-filter (6) is further arranged on the circulating pipeline, the pre-filter (6) is located between the drainage pump (4) and the main filter (5), and a compactness of a filter screen of the pre-filter (6) is lower than that of a filter screen of the main filter (5). Large-particle impurities are prevented from entering the main filter (5) to damage the main filter (5), a service life and a use effect of the main filter (5) can be improved. Water in a drum during washing and rinse processes is in a clean water state, and clothes are always washed in clean water, so that sense and psychology of a user are improved. Filters are washed to prevent the filters from being blocked, thereby prolonging a service life of the filters, preventing filtering effect deterioration or unavailability of the filters due to too many impurities, and reducing maintenance costs.