Washing Machine Two-Stage Water Heating to Reduce Energy Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines consume significant energy, particularly for heating water, and existing methods do not efficiently reduce energy usage while maintaining effective laundry treatment at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a washing machine with a drum, drive motor, control device, water supply system, and heating device, where a first quantity of aqueous liquid is heated to a predetermined temperature and then additional water is added to maintain a minimum temperature for the washing phase, optimizing energy use and preventing overheating of protein-containing contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is heated to high temperatures for washing, then washing effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating a first quantity of water to a first temperature before adding a second quantity of water. This pre-heating prepares the washing liquid in advance, ensuring that when the second quantity of water is added, the mixture still achieves the required washing temperature without needing to heat the entire volume from the start, thus reducing total energy consumption while maintaining washing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by using different temperatures for different quantities of water. The first quantity of water is heated to a first temperature (higher than the final required temperature), while the second quantity remains at ambient temperature. This parameter differentiation allows the system to achieve energy-efficient heating by only heating the necessary portion of water to the required temperature
2Reliability
If large amounts of water are used for wetting laundry, then wetting effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption for heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by differentiating the temperature parameter between different quantities of water. The first quantity of water is heated to a higher first temperature, while the second quantity remains at ambient temperature. This allows the system to use larger total water quantities for effective wetting while minimizing energy consumption by only heating the first quantity
3Reliability
If water is heated to high temperatures, then washing performance is improved, but protein-containing contaminants may be burned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a two-stage temperature approach. The first quantity of water is heated to a first temperature that is higher than the second temperature, but not excessively high. When the second quantity of water is added, the mixture achieves an optimal washing temperature that is sufficient for washing performance but low enough to prevent burning of protein-containing contaminants. This differentiated temperature parameter prevents harmful effects while maintaining washing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by heating the first quantity of water to a controlled first temperature before mixing with the second quantity. This preliminary heating at a controlled temperature prevents the water from reaching temperatures that would burn contaminants, while still providing sufficient heat for effective washing when mixed with the ambient temperature second quantity
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 allows for an energy-efficient washing process at high temperatures with reduced energy consumption, ensuring effective washing and preventing the burning of contaminants, while maintaining optimal detergent performance and bleaching effects.
Implementation Method 1
heating the quantity q1 of aqueous liquid to a predetermined temperature T1
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine for treating laundry (7), having a drum (2) mounted in a rotatable manner in a tub (1), having a drive motor (14) for the drum (2), having a control device (12), having a water-supply system (8, 9, 10, 11), having a measuring device (18) for determining a quantity of aqueous liquid (6) introduced into the tub (1), having a heating device (13) for heating the aqueous liquid (6) in the tub (1), and having a temperature sensor (17), wherein the following steps are carried out: (a) introducing a first quantity q1 of aqueous liquid (6) at a temperature Tq1 into the tub (1); (b) heating the quantity q1 of aqueous liquid (6) to a predetermined temperature T 1 > Tq1; wherein the quantity q1 can be introduced in one dose or in a state in which it is divided into a number of sub-quantities q1', and the operation of heating to the temperature T1 can begin following the introduction of q1 or after one or more sub-quantities q1' have been added, wherein q1 and a first sub-quantity q1'' introduced are each greater than a quantity qmin, which is necessary for covering the heating device (13); (c) adding a second aqueous quantity q2 at a temperature Tq2 < T1 to the heated aqueous quantity q1; and (d) carrying out a washing phase with the laundry (7) in the presence of a detergent. The invention further relates to a washing machine suitable for implementing said method.