EP3090092A1 - Household drying appliance - Google Patents

Household drying appliance

Info

Publication number
EP3090092A1
EP3090092A1 EP14830665.7A EP14830665A EP3090092A1 EP 3090092 A1 EP3090092 A1 EP 3090092A1 EP 14830665 A EP14830665 A EP 14830665A EP 3090092 A1 EP3090092 A1 EP 3090092A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
household appliance
drying
working fluid
heating
appliance according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP14830665.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Luca Bossi
Aldo Liberatore
Giovanni Bombardieri
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Indesit Co SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indesit Co SpA filed Critical Indesit Co SpA
Publication of EP3090092A1 publication Critical patent/EP3090092A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements

Definitions

  • the object of the present invention is a household appliance for drying laundry.
  • a drier equipped with a heat pump is known in the prior art.
  • the air is drawn from a drying compartment and treated by the heat pump prior to being re-introduced in the same compartment.
  • the heat pump comprises a circuit comprising, in succession, an evaporator, a thermal expansion member, a compressor and a condenser.
  • a working fluid circulates within the heat pump.
  • the evaporator of the heat pump enables condensation of the moisture present in the air drawn from the drying compartment (this phase is accompanied by the evaporation of the working fluid circulating in the heat pump).
  • the condenser of the heat pump instead brings about heating of the air extracted from the compartment and previously dehumidified (this phase is accompanied by condensation of the working fluid circulating in the heat pump).
  • the air extracted from the drying compartment can be redirected back towards the laundry to be dried that is located in the compartment.
  • the technical task underlying the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and make available a household appliance that enables optimization of the drying cycle.
  • a household appliance for drying laundry is indicated by the reference number 1 in the accompanying figure.
  • This household appliance can be a washer-drier or a drier, for example.
  • This household appliance 1 comprises:
  • the heat pump 4 comprises a circuit 9 in which a working fluid circulates.
  • this working fluid could consist of R134a.
  • the circuit 40 comprises an evaporator 41 and a condenser 42 of the working fluid.
  • the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 interact with the drying air flowing in the line 3.
  • the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9 is in thermal contact with the drying air.
  • the evaporator 41 brings about condensation of the moisture present in the air.
  • the condensation of the moisture is accompanied by the evaporation of the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9.
  • the condenser 42 determines the heat transfer from the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9 to the drying air. This enables the previously dehumidified air to be heated so as to make the drying action thereof more effective on the laundry.
  • the evaporator 41 is located upstream of the condenser 42, considering the direction of flow of the drying air along the line 3 for drawing and reintroducing the air.
  • the circuit 9 conveniently comprises a thermal expansion member 43 for thermal expansion of the working fluid.
  • the thermal expansion member 43 is located downstream of the condenser 42 and upstream of the evaporator 41 .
  • the thermal expansion member 43 could be constituted by a capillary that determines a reduction of a section for passage of the working fluid.
  • the circuit 9 comprises a compressor 44 for compressing the working fluid.
  • the compressor 44 is located downstream of the evaporator 41 and upstream of the condenser 42 along the direction of flow of the working fluid in the heat pump 4.
  • the compressor 44 conveniently has a pre-established fixed speed of rotation during the drying cycle.
  • the household appliance 1 comprises heating means 5 for heating at least one portion of said circuit 9, said heating means 5 being external to said circuit 9.
  • the heating means 5 comprises:
  • the means 51 for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a fluid flow which flows against said compressor 44. In the preferred solution, this fluid flow flows against an external casing of the compressor 44 and thus heats it.
  • the means 51 for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a flow which is introduced into a compartment for housing at least one part of said circuit 9.
  • the circuit 9 is entirely encompassed within said housing.
  • the means 51 for generating a fluid flow comprises a fan 510 that draws outside air.
  • This fluid flow therefore consists of outside air (drawn from the exterior of the household appliance).
  • the heating element 52 is preferably located downstream of said fan 510. The fluid flow comes into contact with the heating element 52, thereby heating the flow.
  • the fan 510 is always operating if the heating element 52 is switched on (thus preventing localized concentrations of heat). However, the fan 510 could also be operating with the heating element 52 switched off. In this situation, the fan 510 would function as a cooling system for cooling the compressor 44 (for example, to avoid overheating of the compressor).
  • the household appliance 1 conveniently comprises a temperature sensor 6 that provides an indication of the temperature of the environment where the household appliance 1 is located.
  • the household appliance 1 further comprises control means 7 that activates said heating means 5.
  • the control means 7 defines means for activating the heating means upon detection, by said sensor 6, of a temperature lower than a pre-established value. In this operating mode (that is, when the household appliance 1 is located in a cold environment), the heating element 52 helps the heat pump 4 to reach a condition close to the condition constituting its optimal operating state in less time.
  • the control means 7 defines means for activating the heating means 5 upon start-up of the drying cycle. In fact, even during the transients, the heating means 5 helps the heat pump 4 to operate in a condition closer to the condition constituting its optimal operating state. An example of such transients consists of the starting of the drying cycle given that in this phase, the household appliance 1 is not fully operational.
  • control means 7 also defines the means for activating the heating means 5 upon detection of an amount of laundry in the drum 2 that is below a pre-established value.
  • the control means 7 defines the means for activating the heating means 5 upon detection of an amount of laundry in the drum 2 that is below a pre-established value.
  • the means 5 upon detection of an operating condition with a half load, the means 5 is of assistance, acting in such a manner that the thermal profile of the working fluid along the circuit 9 will be as close as possible to that of the design solution (above all, enabling adequate heating of the drying air in the condenser).
  • Detection of the half-load condition is conveniently entrusted to a drum weight sensor or preferably to a calculation algorithm that is a function of the modalities for reaching a condition of full imbibition.
  • the invention makes it possible to achieve multiple advantages.
  • the invention makes it possible to help the compressor, in some specific situations, to operate in a condition closer to the optimal condition. These specific situations typically include operation in a cold environment, in transients, and with a half load. Moreover, the invention also makes it possible to reduce drying time, in that heating the compressor and the working fluid flowing through it can also contribute to faster heating of the drying air and thus to a reduction of the initial transient (in which rather than eliminating moisture from the laundry, the drying air is more of a factor that causes heating of the laundry). Furthermore, the invention also allows for optimization of the consumption of electricity, in particular drying cycles such as the half-load and rapid drying cycles.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

A household appliance for drying laundry, comprising: -a rotating drum (2) designed to house the laundry to be dried; -a drying compartment (20), in which the drum is located (2); -a line (3) for taking air for drying from said compartment (20) and for re- introducing the same air in the compartment (20); -a heat pump (4) for treating the air for drying, a working fluid circulating in said heat pump (4), and said heat pump (4), in turn, comprising: i) an evaporator (41) and a condenser (42) of the working fluid, said evaporator (41) and said condenser (42) interacting with the drying air flowing in said line (3); ii) a thermal expansion member (43) for thermal expansion of the working fluid; with respect to the flow of the working fluid, said thermal expansion member (43) is located downstream of the condenser (42) and upstream of the evaporator (41); iii) a compressor (44) for compressing the working fluid; iv) heating means (5) for heating the compressor (44).

Description

Household drying appliance
DESCRIPTION
Technical field
The object of the present invention is a household appliance for drying laundry.
State of the art
The use of a drier equipped with a heat pump is known in the prior art. In this type of drier, the air is drawn from a drying compartment and treated by the heat pump prior to being re-introduced in the same compartment.
The heat pump comprises a circuit comprising, in succession, an evaporator, a thermal expansion member, a compressor and a condenser. A working fluid circulates within the heat pump.
In particular, the evaporator of the heat pump enables condensation of the moisture present in the air drawn from the drying compartment (this phase is accompanied by the evaporation of the working fluid circulating in the heat pump). The condenser of the heat pump instead brings about heating of the air extracted from the compartment and previously dehumidified (this phase is accompanied by condensation of the working fluid circulating in the heat pump).
At this point, the air extracted from the drying compartment can be redirected back towards the laundry to be dried that is located in the compartment.
One drawback of this design solution relates to the fact that the compressor of the heat pump does not perform particularly well in some operating modes or conditions, including for example: low ambient temperature, start-up of the drying cycle (when it is still not fully operational), operation with a half load, etc.
Aim of the invention In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and make available a household appliance that enables optimization of the drying cycle.
Brief description of the drawings
The defined technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a household appliance that comprises the technical characteristics set forth in one or more of the appended claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate and thus non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a household appliance for drying laundry, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic view of a household appliance according to the present invention (see Figure 1 ).
A household appliance for drying laundry is indicated by the reference number 1 in the accompanying figure. This household appliance can be a washer-drier or a drier, for example. This household appliance 1 comprises:
-a rotating drum 2 designed to house the laundry to be dried;
-a drying compartment 20, in which the drum 2 is located;
-a line 3 for drawing air for drying from said compartment 20 and for reintroducing the same air in the compartment 20; the drying air drawn from the compartment 20 is laden with moisture drawn from the laundry, -a heat pump 4 for treating the air for drying. The heat pump 4 comprises a circuit 9 in which a working fluid circulates. For example, but not necessarily, this working fluid could consist of R134a. The circuit 40, in turn, comprises an evaporator 41 and a condenser 42 of the working fluid. The evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 interact with the drying air flowing in the line 3. At the condenser 42 and the evaporator 41 , the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9 is in thermal contact with the drying air. In particular, the evaporator 41 brings about condensation of the moisture present in the air. The condensation of the moisture is accompanied by the evaporation of the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9. In the evaporator 41 , there is a transfer of heat from the drying air laden with moisture to the working fluid. This brings about condensation of the moisture, which is thus removed from the drying air.
The condenser 42 determines the heat transfer from the working fluid circulating in the circuit 9 to the drying air. This enables the previously dehumidified air to be heated so as to make the drying action thereof more effective on the laundry.
The evaporator 41 is located upstream of the condenser 42, considering the direction of flow of the drying air along the line 3 for drawing and reintroducing the air.
The circuit 9 conveniently comprises a thermal expansion member 43 for thermal expansion of the working fluid. With respect to the flow of the working fluid, the thermal expansion member 43 is located downstream of the condenser 42 and upstream of the evaporator 41 . The thermal expansion member 43 could be constituted by a capillary that determines a reduction of a section for passage of the working fluid.
The circuit 9 comprises a compressor 44 for compressing the working fluid. The compressor 44 is located downstream of the evaporator 41 and upstream of the condenser 42 along the direction of flow of the working fluid in the heat pump 4.
The compressor 44 conveniently has a pre-established fixed speed of rotation during the drying cycle.
The household appliance 1 comprises heating means 5 for heating at least one portion of said circuit 9, said heating means 5 being external to said circuit 9. In the preferred solution, the heating means 5 comprises:
- means 51 for generating a fluid flow in thermal contact with at least one section of said circuit 9;
-a heating element 52 for heating said fluid flow. The heating element 52 is thus external to the heat pump 4. In the example illustrated, the means 51 for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a fluid flow which flows against said compressor 44. In the preferred solution, this fluid flow flows against an external casing of the compressor 44 and thus heats it.
The means 51 for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a flow which is introduced into a compartment for housing at least one part of said circuit 9. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the circuit 9 is entirely encompassed within said housing.
The means 51 for generating a fluid flow comprises a fan 510 that draws outside air. This fluid flow therefore consists of outside air (drawn from the exterior of the household appliance). With respect to the direction of advancement of said fluid flow, the heating element 52 is preferably located downstream of said fan 510. The fluid flow comes into contact with the heating element 52, thereby heating the flow. The fan 510 is always operating if the heating element 52 is switched on (thus preventing localized concentrations of heat). However, the fan 510 could also be operating with the heating element 52 switched off. In this situation, the fan 510 would function as a cooling system for cooling the compressor 44 (for example, to avoid overheating of the compressor).
The household appliance 1 conveniently comprises a temperature sensor 6 that provides an indication of the temperature of the environment where the household appliance 1 is located.
The household appliance 1 further comprises control means 7 that activates said heating means 5.
The control means 7 defines means for activating the heating means upon detection, by said sensor 6, of a temperature lower than a pre-established value. In this operating mode (that is, when the household appliance 1 is located in a cold environment), the heating element 52 helps the heat pump 4 to reach a condition close to the condition constituting its optimal operating state in less time. The control means 7 defines means for activating the heating means 5 upon start-up of the drying cycle. In fact, even during the transients, the heating means 5 helps the heat pump 4 to operate in a condition closer to the condition constituting its optimal operating state. An example of such transients consists of the starting of the drying cycle given that in this phase, the household appliance 1 is not fully operational. In particular, upon the starting of the drying cycle, the working fluid should be heated with said means 5 given that this makes it possible to reduce the time needed for the drying air to reach the fully operational condition starting from the ambient temperature. The control means 7 also defines the means for activating the heating means 5 upon detection of an amount of laundry in the drum 2 that is below a pre-established value. In fact, when the household appliance is operating with a half load, there is less moisture in the air drawn from the drum 2, with respect to the situation with a full load. As a result less heat is transferred on the part of the drying air in the evaporator 41 , with respect to the situation of operation with a full load, and therefore the subsequent heating of the same air by the condenser will also be negatively affected. Therefore, upon detection of an operating condition with a half load, the means 5 is of assistance, acting in such a manner that the thermal profile of the working fluid along the circuit 9 will be as close as possible to that of the design solution (above all, enabling adequate heating of the drying air in the condenser).
Detection of the half-load condition is conveniently entrusted to a drum weight sensor or preferably to a calculation algorithm that is a function of the modalities for reaching a condition of full imbibition.
The invention makes it possible to achieve multiple advantages.
First of all, it makes it possible to help the compressor, in some specific situations, to operate in a condition closer to the optimal condition. These specific situations typically include operation in a cold environment, in transients, and with a half load. Moreover, the invention also makes it possible to reduce drying time, in that heating the compressor and the working fluid flowing through it can also contribute to faster heating of the drying air and thus to a reduction of the initial transient (in which rather than eliminating moisture from the laundry, the drying air is more of a factor that causes heating of the laundry). Furthermore, the invention also allows for optimization of the consumption of electricity, in particular drying cycles such as the half-load and rapid drying cycles.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept characterizing the invention. Moreover, all details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type, according to needs.

Claims

1 . A household appliance for drying laundry, comprising:
-a rotating drum (2) designed to house the laundry to be dried;
-a drying compartment (20), wherein the drum is located (2);
-a line (3) for taking air for drying from said compartment (20) and for reintroducing the same air in the compartment (20);
-a heat pump (4) for treating the air for drying, said heat pump (4) comprising a circuit (9) wherein a working fluid circulates, said circuit (9), in turn, comprising:
i) an evaporator (41 ) and a condenser (42) of the working fluid, said evaporator (41 ) and said condenser (42) interacting with the drying air flowing in said line (3);
ii) a thermal expansion member (43) for thermal expansion of the working fluid; with respect to the flow of the working fluid, said thermal expansion member (43) is located downstream of the condenser (42) and upstream of the evaporator (41 );
iii) a compressor (44) for compressing the working fluid;
characterized in that it comprises heating means (5) for heating at least one portion of said circuit (9), said heating means (5) being external to said circuit (9).
2. The household appliance according to claim 1 , characterized in that the heating means (5) comprises:
-means (51 ) for generating a fluid flow, said fluid flow being in thermal contact with at least one section of said circuit (9);
-a heating element (52) for heating said fluid flow.
3. The household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (51 ) for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a fluid flow which flows against said compressor (44).
4. The household appliance according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the means (51 ) for generating a fluid flow is a means that generates a flow that is introduced into a compartment for housing at least one part of said circuit (9).
5. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (51 ) for generating a fluid flow comprises a fan (510) that draws outside air, said fan (510) also defining means for cooling the compressor (44) if the heating element (52) is switched off.
6. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor (6) that provides an indication of the temperature of the environment where the household appliance (1 ) is located.
7. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises control means (7) that activates said heating means (5).
8. The household appliance according to claim 7 when dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 6, characterized in that said control means (7) defines means for activating the heating means upon detection, by said sensor (6), of a temperature lower than a pre-established temperature.
9. The household appliance according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said control means (7) defines means for activating the heating means (5) upon the starting of the drying cycle.
10. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compressor (44) has a pre-established fixed speed of rotation during the drying cycle.
EP14830665.7A 2013-12-30 2014-12-16 Household drying appliance Withdrawn EP3090092A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000107A ITPR20130107A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2013-12-30 DRYING APPLIANCES.
PCT/IB2014/066947 WO2015101864A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2014-12-16 Household drying appliance

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3090092A1 true EP3090092A1 (en) 2016-11-09

Family

ID=50190584

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14830665.7A Withdrawn EP3090092A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2014-12-16 Household drying appliance

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3090092A1 (en)
IT (1) ITPR20130107A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2015101864A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TR201712350A1 (en) * 2017-08-18 2019-03-21 Arcelik As DISHWASHER WITH HEAT PUMP AND COOLANT OVERFLOW PREVENTION METHOD
TR201712321A2 (en) * 2017-08-18 2019-03-21 Arcelik As A DISHWASHER WITH A HEAT PUMP
ES2725686A1 (en) * 2018-03-02 2019-09-26 Bsh Electrodomesticos Espana Sa Household appliance comprising a heater and a heat pump (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
ES2754879A1 (en) * 2018-10-18 2020-04-20 Bsh Electrodomesticos Espana Sa Heating element for the compressor of a heat pump arrangement (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0999302B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2003-08-20 Whirlpool Corporation Tumble dryer with a heat pump
JP4326445B2 (en) * 2004-10-20 2009-09-09 三洋電機株式会社 Washing and drying machine
EP1983095B1 (en) * 2008-08-08 2012-09-05 V-Zug AG Laundry drier with a heating in the heat pump circuit
EP2655726B1 (en) * 2010-12-24 2015-10-14 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi Heat pump laundry dryer
WO2013045363A1 (en) * 2011-09-27 2013-04-04 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi Heat pump laundry dryer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITPR20130107A1 (en) 2015-07-01
WO2015101864A1 (en) 2015-07-09

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