Washing Machine Using Additive-Lowered CO2 Vapor Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid CO2 washing machines require high-pressure systems to maintain liquid CO2 in a solvent state, leading to design challenges, increased weight and volume, and safety concerns, limiting their use to household applications and effectiveness in washing water-soluble contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that mixes gaseous CO2 with additives to lower vapor pressure, allowing the mixed solution to remain in a liquid state at pressures of 10 bar or less, reducing system weight and energy consumption, and enabling effective washing of various contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure system (50 bar or higher) is used to maintain liquid CO2, then CO2 can be used as solvent in liquid form, but system weight and volume increase and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (50 bar or higher) to low pressure (10 bar or lower) by introducing additives that modify the phase behavior of CO2, allowing liquid state maintenance at reduced pressure through vapor pressure lowering effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces additives as intermediary substances that mediate between CO2 and the pressure environment, enabling CO2 to maintain liquid state at low pressure through interactions with the additive molecules, thus avoiding high-pressure system requirements
2Reliability
If high pressure system (50 bar or higher) is used to maintain liquid CO2, then CO2 can be used as solvent in liquid form, but device complexity and safety regulations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the operating pressure parameter from high to low range, which simplifies the overall system design and reduces the number of safety components required while maintaining the essential function of liquid CO2 as solvent
Solution Approach 2:
Additives serve as mediators that enable the phase transition and stabilization of CO2 at low pressure, eliminating the need for complex high-pressure containment systems and safety mechanisms
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 enables a smaller, lighter, and energy-efficient washing machine capable of effectively washing both oil-soluble and water-soluble contaminants at lower pressures, suitable for household use while maintaining excellent washing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the additive lowers a vapor pressure of the mixed solution to maintain the mixed solution in a liquid state at pressures of 10 bar or less
Implementation Method 2
a distillation chamber configured to accommodate the mixed solution discharged from the washing chamber and vaporize the carbon dioxide from the mixed solution therein
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a washing machine including: a storage chamber configured to store carbon dioxide in a gaseous state; an additive container configured to store an additive; a mixing chamber configured to mix the carbon dioxide in the gaseous state supplied from the storage chamber with the additive supplied from the additive container and pressurize the carbon dioxide and the additive, which are mixed with each other, to generate a mixed solution in a liquid state; a washing chamber configured to wash laundry using the mixed solution supplied from the mixing chamber; and a distillation chamber configured to accommodate the mixed solution discharged from the washing chamber and vaporize the carbon dioxide from the mixed solution therein, wherein the additive lowers a vapor pressure of the mixed solution to maintain the mixed solution in a liquid state at pressures of 10 bar or less.