WASHING MACHINE HAVING MOISTURE ABSORPTION ELEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine which can reduce energy required for a washing cycle and a drying cycle. The washing machine includes a moisture absorption element containing porous aluminosilicate, in which the porous aluminosilicate has a Si/Al atomic ratio of 15 or less and a total specific volume (V.sub.total) of pores of 0.3 cm.sup.3/g, the V.sub.total of pores being defined as sum of V.sub.meso and V.sub.micro.

Claims

1. A washing machine having a moisture absorption element containing porous aluminosilicate, in which an atomic ratio of Si/Al is 15 or less and a total specific volume V.sub.total of pores, which is defined as a volumetric sum of V.sub.meso and V.sub.micro, is 0.3 cm.sup.3/g or more, wherein: the V.sub.meso represents a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) cumulative volume of mesopores having a pore size of 2 to 300 nm; and the V.sub.micro represents a volume of micropores having a pore size of less than 2 nm, as calculated from argon adsorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area by the t-plot method.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, comprising: a cabinet 10 having a laundry loading opening formed thereon; a door 11 installed at the laundry loading opening to be opened and closed; a tub 20 installed inside the cabinet to hold washing water; a drum 22 rotatably installed in the tub; a motor 50 installed on the tub to transmit a driving force to the drum; and a drying duct 60 fixed to an outer peripheral surface of an upper side of the tub in which its respective ends are connected to an intake port and an exhaust port of the tub such that the drying duct circulates hot air inside the drum, wherein the drying duct 60 includes a moisture absorption element 65 therein containing the porous aluminosilicate, a heater 63 attached to an outer peripheral surface of the moisture absorption element and adapted to heat the moisture absorption element and air, and a blowing fan 67 adapted to circulate air.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the porous aluminosilicate has a V.sub.meso of 0.05 cm.sup.3/g or more.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the porous aluminosilicate has, at 25? C. and relative humidity of 95%, a moisture absorption amount of 22% or more, the moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 95% RH) being defined by the following Formula 1, and has a ratio of moisture absorption amounts per relative humidity of 1.2 or more, the ratio of moisture absorption amounts being defined by the following Formula 2:
Moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 95% RH)=[W (g)/AS (g)]*100 [Formula 1]
Ratio of moisture absorption amounts per relative humidity=moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 95% RH)/moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 50% RH) [Formula 2] wherein, in Formula 1, AS (g) represents the weight of the porous aluminosilicate and W (g) represents the weight of water that has been maximally absorbed by AS (g) of the porous aluminosilicate when the moisture has been absorbed using the porous aluminosilicate, and in Formula 2, the moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 95% RH) represents the moisture absorption amount as defined by the above Formula 1, the moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 50% RH) represents the moisture absorption amount calculated according to the formula of [W1 (g)/AS (g)]*100 when the moisture is desorbed from the porous aluminosilicate in a state of the relative humidity being lowered from 95% to 50%, wherein W1 (g) represents the weight of water that has been maximally absorbed by AS (g) of the porous aluminosilicate after the moisture has been desorbed.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the porous aluminosilicate has an argon adsorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 200 m.sup.2/g or more.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the porous aluminosilicate is represented by Chemical Formula 1 as shown below:
M.sub.xSiAl.sub.yO.sub.a(OH) (H.sub.2O).sub.c [Chemical Formula 1] wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, M represents an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or a transition metal, x and y each independently represent a positive number, and a, b, and c represent a number of 0 or more (provided that a+b is a positive number).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a conventional laundry machine.

[0082] FIG. 2 illustrates a side cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0083] For a better understanding of the present invention, preferred examples are given below. However, the following examples are given merely to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto.

EXAMPLE 1

[0084] 3.02 g of NaOH and then 5.43 g of tertiary distilled water were added to a reactor, and allowed to mix well. To this solution, 7.76 g of sodium silicate (?10.6% Na.sub.2O, ?26.5% SiO.sub.2) was added, and the mixture was completely dissolved by stirring at 800 rpm at room temperature. To the thus-prepared solution, 3.8 g of metakaolin was added and stirred at 800 rpm for 40 minutes at room temperature, thereby obtaining a geopolymer resin having a Na:Al:Si atomic ratio of about 3:1:2.

[0085] The geopolymer resin was heated in an oven under the conditions of atmospheric pressure and 70? C. for one day, thereby obtaining a geopolymer resin having a pH level of 14. The heat-treated geopolymer resin was washed with a sufficient amount of tertiary distilled water and centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 5 minutes, and then a clear supernatant having a pH level of 14 was decanted. These washing, centrifugation, and decantation steps were repeated until the supernatant had a pH level of 7. The neutralized geopolymer resin was allowed to dry overnight in a vacuum oven at 80? C., thereby obtaining porous aluminosilicate as a final product.

EXAMPLE 2

[0086] A BEA-type zeolite (trade name: CP814E) available from Zeolyst International was prepared as Example 2.

EXAMPLE 3

[0087] A 13X-type zeolite (trade name: COLITE-MS80) available from Cosmo Fine Chemicals was prepared as Example 3.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0088] A ZSM-5-type zeolite (trade name: CBV8014) available from Zeolyst International was prepared as Comparative Example 1.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 1

[0089] Various physical properties of the aluminosilicates of the above examples and comparative example were measured and the results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0090] The Si/Al atomic ratio was analyzed using ICP-OES Optima 7300DV. Specifically, each sample was aliquoted into a Corning tube (50 ml) for analysis of Si/Al atomic ratio, and then an anti-static gun was used to remove static electricity. Hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid were added o the sample, and allowed to dissolve. Then, this solution was diluted with ultrapure water. After taking 1 ml of the solution, a supersaturated boric acid solution and scandium (Sc), that is, an internal standard, were added thereto, and diluted again with ultrapure water. Standard solutions were prepared as Blank, 1 ?g/ml, 5 ?g/ml, and 10 ?g/ml. The Si/Al atomic ratio of the solution diluted with ultrapure water was analyzed by the ICP-OES Optima 7300DV.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 1 Si/Al atomic ratio 1.5 12.5 1.2 40 V.sub.total (cm.sup.3/g) 0.54 0.64 0.34 0.26 V.sub.meso (cm.sup.3/g) 0.26 0.55 0.09 0.09 V.sub.micro (cm.sup.3/g) 0.28 0.09 0.25 0.17 BET (m.sup.2/g) 730 370 677 435 Moisture absorption amount according 24.65 43.02 27.71 10.54 to Formula 1 (% at 25? C., 95% RH) Moisture absorption amount (% at 16.02 15.93 22.26 8.54 25? C., 50% RH) Moisture absorption amount (% at 6.43 1.92 15.03 1.14 25? C., 0% RH) Ratio of moisture absorption amount 1.54 2.70 1.24 1.23 for each relative humidity according to Formula 2 Natural moisture desorption in 35 63 20 19 consideration of Formula 2 (%)

[0091] BET (m.sup.2/g): the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area

[0092] V.sub.meso (cm.sup.3/g): the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) cumulative volume of mesopores having a pore size of 2 nm to 300 nm

[0093] V.sub.micro (cm.sup.3/g): volume of micropores having a pore size of less than 2 nm, as calculated from argon adsorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area by the t-plot method

[0094] V.sub.total (cm.sup.3/g): total pore volume

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLE 2

[0095] (Energy Consumption Calculated when Applied to a Washing Machine)

[0096] 2 kg of each aluminosilicate according to the above examples and comparative example was applied to the washing machine of FIG. 2 as a moisture absorption element 65, and washing and drying cycles were allowed to proceed.

[0097] The amount of water (washing water) used in the washing cycle was 7 L, and its temperature was elevated from an initial temperature of 15? C. to 40? C. in order for the washing cycle to proceed. The amount of laundry was 3 kg. During the drying cycle, 0.5 kg of water was dried and removed, and the temperature was elevated from 30? C. to 60? C. The amount of energy required for these washing and drying cycles was calculated.

[0098] Further, the amount of energy required for the washing and drying cycles performed under the same conditions except that the aluminosilicate was not applied (Comparative Example 2, that is, the same cycles as the conventional washing and drying cycles but without use of a moisture absorption element) was calculated, and the data is summarized in Table 2 below.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparative Comparative Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 1 Example 2 (kWh) (kWh) (kWh) (kWh) (kWh) Washing Energy for 0.22 0.13 0.27 0.28 0 cycle desorbing moisture from moisture absorption material.sup.A Energy required for 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 heating (temperature elevation of) washing water.sup.B Energy saved by ?0.08 ?0.09 ?0.07 ?0.03 0 utilization of condensation heat from moisture absorption material.sup.C Drying Energy required for 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.35 cycle heating (temperature elevation and drying of) air.sup.D Energy saved by ?0.34 ?0.34 ?0.34 ?0.34 0 utilization of adsorption heat from moisture absorption material Basic energy required for 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 operation and maintenance of laundry machine Total energy consumption 0.37 0.27 0.43 0.48 0.58

[0099] A. Energy for desorbing moisture from moisture absorption material {[Energy required based on the assumption that there is no natural moisture desorption (0.34 kWh/2 kg of moisture absorption material)]?[Energy saved due to natural moisture desorption]};

[0100] *Energy saved due to natural moisture desorption:

[0101] (1) Example 1: 0.34 kWh per moisture absorbing material*35%=0.12 kWh

[0102] (2) Example 2: 0.34 kWh per moisture absorbing material*63%=0.21 kWh

[0103] (3) Example 3: 0.34 kWh per moisture absorbing material*20%=0.07 kWh

[0104] (4) Comparative Example 1: 0.34 kWh per moisture absorption material*19%=0.06 kWh

[0105] B. Energy required for heating (temperature elevation of) washing water=energy for elevating temperature of 7 kg of water from 15? C. to 40? C.;

[0106] C. Energy saved by utilization of condensation heat from moisture absorption material=[(moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 95% RH))?(moisture absorption amount (% at 25? C., 0% RH))]*vaporization heat (40? C)*(1-natural moisture desorption)

[0107] D. Energy required for heating (temperature elevation and drying of) air:

[0108] (1) Examples 1, 2, and 3 and Comparative Example 1=vaporization heat (30? C.)

[0109] (2) Comparative Example 2=energy required for elevating temperature of air (30? C..fwdarw.60? C.) +vaporization heat (60? C.)

[0110] Referring to Table 2, it is confirmed that the energy saving effect of Examples 1 to 3 was significantly larger than that of Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

EXPLANATION OF NUMBERS

[0111] 10: Cabinet

[0112] 11: Door

[0113] 12: Detergent container

[0114] 15: Water supply device

[0115] 17: Water heater

[0116] 20: Tub

[0117] 22: Drum

[0118] 50: Motor

[0119] 60: Drying duct

[0120] 63: Air heater

[0121] 65: Moisture absorption element

[0122] 67: Blowing fan

[0123] 70: Condensing duct

[0124] 75: Water supply nozzle

[0125] 80: Drain pump

[0126] 83: Drain hose