Washing Machine Ozone Delivery During Spin Drying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ozone gas efficiency decreases due to temperature and pH variations in water, interacts negatively with detergents, and ozone generators overheat during high-voltage, low-current operation in existing washing machines, reducing cleaning effectiveness and increasing energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine delivers ozone gas only during spin drying steps when the drum rotates at high speed, using a pre-operated ozone generator to ensure effective ozone penetration and incorporates a cooling system to prevent overheating, while directing unused ozone gas through a waste water discharge conduit to prevent odor and microorganism accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ozone gas is delivered to the wash water during washing steps, then disinfection and soil removal effects are improved, but ozone gas disintegrates due to temperature and pH value of water decreasing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ozone generator is operated in advance before the washing step to generate and accumulate ozone gas in the tub. The ozone is delivered to the clothes during spin drying when the drum rotates at high speed, allowing the clothes to rotate with the drum without falling and the ozone gas to penetrate into the clothes completely. This timing avoids the disintegration problem caused by water temperature and pH during the washing step.
2Reliability
If ozone gas is delivered to the washing medium during detergent use, then disinfection is improved, but ozone gas interacts with detergent deteriorating its chemical structure
Solution Approach 1:
Ozone gas is generated and accumulated in advance before the detergent is introduced into the tub. The ozone is then delivered to the clothes during spin drying, which occurs after the main washing step with detergent. This sequential timing prevents direct interaction between ozone gas and detergent, avoiding deterioration of the detergent's chemical structure while still achieving disinfection and soil removal effects.
3Quantity of substance
If ozone generator operates at high voltage and low current level, then ozone gas generation is improved, but the ozone generator overheats reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling system is introduced as an intermediary component between the ozone generator and its operating environment. The cooling system includes a cooling fan and a heat dissipation structure that actively removes heat from the ozone generator during operation. This allows the ozone generator to maintain high voltage and low current operation for efficient ozone production while preventing overheating that would reduce efficiency.
4Area of stationary object
If ozone gas is delivered during low drum speed, then coverage is improved, but penetration into clothes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Ozone gas delivery is synchronized with the periodic rotation of the drum during spin drying. The drum rotates at high speed, creating periodic centrifugal force that keeps clothes pressed against the inner wall. Ozone gas is delivered during this periodic high-speed rotation, allowing complete penetration into the clothes. The periodic nature of drum rotation ensures both coverage and penetration are achieved effectively.
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 approach enhances ozone gas effectiveness by ensuring complete penetration onto clothes, maintains detergent integrity, reduces energy consumption, and prolongs ozone generator operation without additional components like Venturi tubes, while efficiently managing ozone gas and heat.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone generator (4) generating ozone gas (O3) and delivering the ozone gas into the tub (2)
Implementation Method 2
the water circulation line serves as a heat exchanger by surrounding the ozone generator like a coil to cool the ozone generator
Implementation Method 3
the water particles dispersing around in the drum by means of the centrifugal force formed in the drum provide the ozone gas to be carried onto clothes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) wherein an ozone generator (4) that generates ozone gas is used for increasing the washing performance and providing sanitation. The ozone gas generated by the ozone generator (4) is delivered directly onto the clothes inside the tub (2) without mixing with the wash water and hence without dissolving in the wash water, and furthermore the ozone generator (4) that gets overheated due to operation at high voltage is cooled by the water used in the washing process.