The present invention relates to a method for performing a drying function after a cooking function, in particular after a steam cooking function, wherein said method comprises the steps of: running the cooking function or steam cooking function (12) for a predetermined time or being manually finished by the user, detecting and/or calculating (16; 26) at least one parameter value (Y; H; t.sub.e) after the cooking function or steam cooking function has been finished, comparing (18; 28) the detected and/or calculated parameter value (Y; H; t.sub.e) with a corresponding threshold parameter value (Yth; Hth; t.sub.eth), checking, if the drying function is required, and running the drying function (22) if required.

An electrostatic spray dryer for drying liquid into powder including an elongated cylindrical drying chamber having an electrostatic spray nozzle at an upper end and a powder collection vessel at a lower end. The powder collection vessel includes a removable and replaceable filter collections sock made of filter material for receiving and collecting dried powder from the drying chamber. For cleaning residual powder from an inside wall of the drying chamber, a scraper member is provided that is coupled by magnetic attraction to a manually removable driver on the external surface of the wall.

The present invention provides a drying method to dry a to-be-dried object by allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with gas having a different temperature. The method includes comprising: an introduction process of introducing the to-be-dried object; a first heating/cooling process of heating or cooling the to-be-dried object to have a first temperature; a transportation process of transporting the heated or cooled to-be-dried object; a humidity comparison process of comparing the to-be-dried object humidity of the to-be-dried object with the gas humidity of gas used for dehumidification; an atmosphere temperature adjustment process of adjusting, when the to-be-dried object humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and adjusting, when the gas humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to the second temperature higher than the first temperature; a dehumidification process of allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with the gas of the second temperature to thereby dehumidify the to-be-dried object; and a removal process of removing the to-be-dried object.

The present invention provides a drying method to dry a to-be-dried object by allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with gas having a different temperature. The method includes comprising: an introduction process of introducing the to-be-dried object; a first heating/cooling process of heating or cooling the to-be-dried object to have a first temperature; a transportation process of transporting the heated or cooled to-be-dried object; a humidity comparison process of comparing the to-be-dried object humidity of the to-be-dried object with the gas humidity of gas used for dehumidification; an atmosphere temperature adjustment process of adjusting, when the to-be-dried object humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and adjusting, when the gas humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to the second temperature higher than the first temperature; a dehumidification process of allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with the gas of the second temperature to thereby dehumidify the to-be-dried object; and a removal process of removing the to-be-dried object.

Example dryers and washer-dryers having a closed process air circuit having a drum, a condenser downstream from the drum for dehumidifying warm moist air, and a thermoelectric device having a cold side arranged in the process air circuit downstream from the drum are disclosed. Example thermoelectric devices have a warm side cooled by a fluid which is circulated in a liquid/air heat exchanger arranged in the process air circuit downstream from the condenser. Using the disclosed architectures, appliance design can be simplified without decreasing overall system performance.

A wood monitoring system and method is disclosed for monitoring lumber characteristics (e.g., lumber moisture) in environments of extremely high and prolonged temperature and moisture, e.g., a kiln. The monitoring system and method includes: (a) Sensors (provided within lumber stacks), wherein such sensors are battery powered and wirelessly communicate measurements indicative of moisture content of the wood adjacent to and/or between metal plates provided in an electrical circuit with the sensors and the wood between the plates; (b) Computer implemented methods and systems for wireless communication that conserve sensor battery power such that the sensors can operate for, e.g., six months within extremely adverse temperature and moisture environmental variations; and (c) Computer implemented methods and systems for estimating moisture content with a wood/lumber stack, and for predicting such moisture content (e.g., as a substantially steady state within the wood) after drying completion.

A wood monitoring system and method is disclosed for monitoring lumber characteristics (e.g., lumber moisture) in environments of extremely high and prolonged temperature and moisture, e.g., a kiln. The monitoring system and method includes: (a) Sensors (provided within lumber stacks), wherein such sensors are battery powered and wirelessly communicate measurements indicative of moisture content of the wood adjacent to and/or between metal plates provided in an electrical circuit with the sensors and the wood between the plates; (b) Computer implemented methods and systems for wireless communication that conserve sensor battery power such that the sensors can operate for, e.g., six months within extremely adverse temperature and moisture environmental variations; and (c) Computer implemented methods and systems for estimating moisture content with a wood/lumber stack, and for predicting such moisture content (e.g., as a substantially steady state within the wood) after drying completion.

A method for operating a dishwasher having a sorption drying device includes performing a desorption process using the sorption drying device according to a selected cleaning cycle of the dishwasher. The desorption process is capable of releasing moisture.

A system and method for drying cavities containing spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.

A system and method for drying cavities containing spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.