Ionic adder dryer technology

• US 9,173,253 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cool Dry, Inc.
• Inventors: Wohl, Michael Andrew, Wisherd, David S., Eisenberg, John A., D'Anna, Pablo E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Angwin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAFLAME JR, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/297,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20130119055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 219/400, 219/771, 219629-632, 219/643, 219678-688, 219690-697, 219/702, 219/704, 219708-716, 345/28, 34245-247, 34250-265
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/50 for monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/62 Apparatus for specific applications

Abstract

A method for RF dielectric heating an object having a variable weight including a medium is provided The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including the medium into an enclosure; (B) adding an ionic substance to the medium; (C) initiating a heating process by subjecting the medium including the object to a variable AC electrical field; and (D) controlling the heating process. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature, or being heated before getting into the enclosure, to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.

Claims

1. A method for RF dielectric heating an object immersed in a medium;

said method comprising;

(A) placing said object and medium into an enclosure;

wherein said object substantially has absorbed said medium in a first “

cool”

state; and

wherein said object includes a maximum weight in said first “

cool”

state due to absorption of said medium;

(B) adding an ionic substance to at least one of said object and medium;

(C) initiating a heating process by subjecting said object and medium to a variable AC electrical field produced by an RF source;

wherein said object is substantially free from said medium in a second “

heated”

state due to substantial release of said medium from said object; and

said released medium is substantially evaporated during said heating process; and

(D) controlling said heating process, wherein said heating process is terminated when said object is substantially transitioned into said second “

heated”

state;

wherein said ionic substance is a substance from the group consisting of a dilute acidic substance of mineral acid; and

hydrochloric acid.

2. A method for RF dielectric heating an object immersed in a medium;

said method comprising;

(A) placing said object and medium into an enclosure;

wherein said object substantially has absorbed said medium in a first “

cool”

state; and

wherein said object includes a maximum weight in said first “

cool”

state due to absorption of said medium;

(B) adding an ionic substance to at least one of said object and medium;

(C) initiating a heating process by subjecting said object and medium to a variable AC electrical field produced by an RF source;

wherein said object is substantially free from said medium in a second “

heated”

state due to substantial release of said medium from said object; and

said released medium is substantially evaporated during said heating process; and

(D) controlling said heating process, wherein said heating process is terminated when said object is substantially transitioned into said second “

heated”

state;

wherein said ionic substance is a substance from the group consisting of HCl;

NH₄OH; and

a mixture of HCl and NH₄OH.