BE1029736B1 - Heat pump dryer with steam generator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance (1) with the following features: a treatment chamber, preferably a drum (3) for receiving laundry, which has an air inlet (6) and an air outlet (7); a unit with - a heat pump (13) - an additional heating element (23) located in the process air duct (8, 8a); - A control device (19) for activating and deactivating the actuators (10, 14, 23) for carrying out an automatic treatment process. The laundry treatment appliance also comprises - a steam generator (20) with - a water tank (4) for receiving or storing water; - A supply line (21) for conducting the water from the water tank (4) into the channel section (8a) in which the heating element (23) is arranged; a dosing element (22) which is connected upstream of the supply line (21) for allowing the water to shower or for blocking the flow of water through the line (21); - A distribution element (24) for distributing the water emerging from the supply line (21).

Description

Description

Heat pump dryer with steam generator

The invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance with the following features: a treatment chamber, preferably a drum, for receiving laundry, which has an air inlet and an air outlet; a unit with - a heat pump with a condenser as a heating device and an evaporator as a

condensation device; - A fan for conveying process air through a circuit leading through the treatment chamber and the heating device; - a process air duct to connect the unit to the air inlet and the

air outlet of the treatment chamber, - an additional heating element located in the process air duct; - A control device for activating and deactivating the actuators for carrying out an automatic treatment process.

Some of the laundry is not visually dirty but is contaminated with odors and pollutants. As a rule, the laundry is therefore washed after a certain time or after a certain amount of stress and then dried in the dryer or on the line. The wash and after

Drying requires a lot of time, energy and manual work on the part of the user.

EP 2 415 926 A2 discloses a tumble dryer with a steam generator

laundry treatment. The heating element is used as a steam generator to heat the process air, with a pipe running from the water tank close to the heating element in order to access a

Sub-area to supply water. The distribution of the water takes place in that the

Pipeline is guided in a zigzag manner over said portion of the heating element.

The approach presented here sets itself the task of providing an improved

Laundry treating appliance with a steam generator to create.

According to the invention, this object is achieved, inter alia, by a laundry treatment appliance having the features of claim 1 . Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The approach presented here provides a simple way of post-treating the laundry to be treated in a targeted manner, for example smoothing it and/or gently removing odorous substances from the items to be treated and transporting them away and/or adding scents.

The laundry treatment device has a steam generator with a water tank for receiving or storing water; - A supply line for directing the water from the water tank in the

channel section in which the heating element is arranged; = a dosing element which is connected upstream of the supply line for

draining the water or shutting off the flow of water through the pipe; - A distribution element for distributing the emerging from the feed line

water up. This means that the additional heating element, which is already present, becomes fast

Heating the process air is used in addition to generating steam.

To do this, the heating element is activated, causing it to heat up, with water from the

Feed line is routed to the heating element. Here the protrudes the end of the

Supply line not directly to the heating element, as it is between the end of the line and the heating element

Distribution element is arranged to direct the water jet onto the front surface of the

to distribute the heating element. The vapor is thus in the channel before entering the

Treatment chamber generates and gets into the flowing process air

treatment chamber. In the treatment chamber, the steam unfolds its effect on the laundry items swirling around there, for example smoothing, odor-removing and/or cleaning and/or disinfecting. With the fanning out of the water jet directed at the heating element, an even distribution is achieved and as a result

Complete evaporation of the supplied water is reliably ensured. Overall, a good vapor quality is achieved, with the formation of water droplets in the

Process air is avoided.

The heating element is preferably designed as a flat component, preferably with cooling ribs, and perpendicular, ie along the direction of flow of the process air flow, in the rear

attached air duct. The supply line protrudes into the air duct section in which the

Heating element is inside, being between the end of the line and the auxiliary heater

Distributing element is arranged in order to distribute the water flowing out of the line end or to fan out the water flow. As a result, the exiting water jet is divided into several

Rays fanned out to cover a larger area of the frontal surface of the

Additional heating to apply water.

The laundry treatment device can, for example, as a dryer or washer-dryer or

Be trained drying cabinet. In the following, the treatment chamber is also called

Drum referred to, the drum is used when this during the

Treatment of the items to be cleaned is rotated to mix the items to be cleaned. In a drying cabinet, the treatment chamber is the treatment space in which the

Items to be cleaned are hung out, in which case the treatment room is not moved during the treatment process. Among the items to be cleaned can, for example

Textiles are understood. The cleaning process can, for example,

Depict a cleaning program that a user of the cleaning device can select and adjust accordingly. The cleaning process can be done using

Facilities of the laundry treatment device are carried out automatically. The drum s can be formed as a rotatable receptacle. The additional heating element can be an electrical heating device which can be activated independently of the heat pump and which, for example, comprises at least one heating resistor. The supply device can be designed, for example, as a controllable valve or as a pump, so that the amount of water to be supplied can be supplied to the auxiliary heater in a controlled manner.

The laundry treatment appliance can, for example, be designed as a household appliance, but also correspondingly in connection with a commercial or professional one

Device. Furthermore, it can be designed as a drum dryer, comprising a housing and a drum which is arranged in the housing, can be driven by a motor and is rotatably mounted about a horizontal or inclined axis, which drum forms the treatment chamber.

In an overall expedient design, the heating element in the duct is located in an at least predominantly vertical section in front of the air inlet of the chamber and the

Distribution element arranged above the heating element. The end of the line is preferably at a distance from the top of the additional heating element or above the

Arranged distribution element. As a result, the piece of line protruding into the duct is not exposed to excessive heat when the additional heating is switched on.

In a further embodiment that is advantageous overall, the heating element comprises heating ribs for transferring the heat to the process air flowing past. The cooling fins are preferably also aligned vertically. As a result, the air flow is not or only slightly affected.

In an embodiment that is expedient overall, the dosing element is a pump or valve, which can be activated by means of the control device in order to convey water to the heating element.

Especially the version with a valve and the arrangement of the water tank above the

The heating element can be designed very easily and reliably, because when the valve is open,

Water reaches the distribution element due to gravity and is divided into several streams there. The use of gravity to provide water flow applies to all designs.

In an overall expedient embodiment, the laundry treatment device is a

Condensation dryer, comprising a collecting tank for condensate, which at

Drying process occurs, with the collection container forming the water tank and the

Condensate can be used to generate steam. This is when

Drying process condensate used to generate steam, so that the

user does not have to add any or only a little water to the tank.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distribution element comprises a base body with a channel-like first channel introduced therein, into which the line opens, with further channels branching off from this first channel in order to fan out the

To effect the water jet supplied to the heating element. This is very easy to manufacture by milling and the open design cannot clog. Furthermore, deposits only occur to a small extent because the channels are open in the air flow and are constantly blown free by this.

In a preferred development, the base body is designed in such a way that at least four further channels branch off from the first channel. Furthermore, from the other

Channels branch off several more channels. Overall, the channels are guided in such a way that they form two opposite ones on the surface of the base body

Extend to the sides and divides the single incoming water jet into several water jets spaced ı5 apart from each other.

In an overall preferred embodiment, the base body is designed as a plate or block, preferably made of a metal such as aluminum or a heat-resistant plastic, and is arranged at an angle in the supply air duct, with the open sides of the

Grooves are arranged on top of the plate.

In an overall expedient embodiment, the plate or block is dimensioned in such a way that the plate or block has a thickness in the range from 2 mm to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 5 mm, the channels have a width in the range from 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, and a depth in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. This provides reliable guidance of the water jet impinging on the plate into the branches. Uncontrolled flow of the water jet into unwanted areas is avoided.

In an overall advantageous embodiment, the base body is provided with a hydrophobic surface on the upper side, in particular the grooves. This ensures that the water drains completely from the distribution element.

In a further embodiment that is advantageous overall, the base body with the channel-like channels is dimensioned in such a way that it covers the front surface of the heating element by 30% to 70%, preferably 40% to 60%. Furthermore, the base body is preferably at an angle in the range from 20° to 60° to the horizontal, preferably 30° to 45° to the horizontal

Horizontally arranged in the supply air duct.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. Show it

Fig. 1: a schematic representation of the components of the heat pump and

Figure 2: a detailed perspective view of the steam generator. 5

Fig. 1 shows the heat pump dryer 1 according to the invention in a schematic

sectional view. Here it can be seen that the heat pump device 13 a

Refrigerant circuit includes, in which refrigerant in a line system with a

Evaporator 15, a compressor 14 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 16 and a throttle 15a circulates, the heat exchanger circulating the evaporator 15 and the

Heating the condenser 16 of the heat pump 13 contains. The evaporator 15 and the

Condenser 16 are arranged in channel 8 such that the moist process air PL from the

Outlet 7 of the treatment chamber 3 in channel 8 first flows through the evaporator 15 so that it is dehumidified due to the cooling and the consequent condensation. ı5 It then flows through the downstream condenser 16, which acts as a heater and heats the process air PL, so that the heated process air PL is admitted through the air inlet 6 into the drum 3 and is thus fed to the textiles to be treated. In the

Collecting pan 18 is collected condensate and pumped by the condensate pump 17 to the collection container 4. In another embodiment, the container 4 can also be designed as a tank for fresh water if steam is to be generated with fresh water. To generate steam, the treatment device 1 includes a steam generator 20, to which the tank 4 can also be assigned. A valve is attached to the tank or in the supply line 21 as a dosing element 22 , which can be opened and closed by the control device 19 in order to allow water to flow through the line 21 to the additional heating element 23 . In order to generate steam, the auxiliary heating element 23 is activated so that the surface is hot and the water flowing on it evaporates. The steam is thus generated in the air duct section 8a in front of the inlet 6 of the air duct 8, which is directly connected to the

Treatment chamber 3 is connected upstream. Above the heating element 23 is a

Distribution element 24 arranged in which a channel system 31, 32, 33 (Fig. 2) for flat

Distribution of the selective inflowing water attached or formed.

The functional module 5 on the bottom also includes the motor 10 which drives the fan 9 and the drum 3 here. The fan 9 is preferably curved as a radial fan

Blades designed so that it causes a higher volume flow in a preferred direction than in the opposite direction of rotation. Designed as a rotatable drum 3

The treatment chamber is mounted in the housing 2 or on a supporting structure by means of a horizontal or inclined axis of rotation 40 .

Fig. 2 shows a perspective interior view of the treatment chamber 3 in

Flow direction upstream channel section 8a, in which the additional heating element 23 is located. The additional heating element 23 comprises a block 23b with an electrically operable resistance heating element. When electrical energy is supplied, this and the surrounding metal block 23b heat up. Cooling fins 23a are attached to the block 23b, preferably along the flow direction of the process air PL in it

Channel section 8a. Above the additional heating element 23 ends inside the

Channel section 8a, the supply line 21 with a nozzle 21a or an open

line end. This is between the end of the line and the upper side of the heating element 23

Distribution element 24 attached. It includes a base body 30 formed as a flat block and mounted in an inclined position. In the block 30 is on the dem

Line end facing side incorporated a trough-like channel system, which includes a selective inlet 31, starting from this two outward channels 32 and starting from these further branching into other channels 33. The others

Channels 33 terminate at edge 34 of block 30, so that flowing in channels 32,33

Water from the block 30 due to gravity drips off or down onto the

Heating element 23 flows. The inclined position of the block 30 causes the water impinging on the selective inlet 31 to flow downwards through the channels 32, 33 due to gravity and can flow off at the open ends 34 of the branches 33. The block 30 is attached at an angle of 20° to 60° to the horizontal, preferably 30° to 45°, in the duct section 8a, also referred to as the supply air duct. The

Distribution element 24 or block 30 is provided with holding means 35 for attachment to or on heating element 23. Block 30 can be made of plastic or metal and preferably has a thickness in the range of 2 mm 10 mm, preferably 4 mm , on. The channels 31, 32, 33 can be milled into the upper side and preferably have a width in the range from 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, and a depth in

Range from 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. The bottom of the grooves 31, 32, 33 can be curved in profile.

All direction and position information relates to the operational set-up position of the treatment device 1.

Claims (15)

patent claims 1. Laundry treatment appliance (1) with the following features: a treatment chamber, preferably a drum (3) for receiving laundry, which has an air inlet (6) and an air outlet (7); a unit with - a heat pump (13) with a compressor (14), condenser (16) as a heating device and an evaporator (15) as a condensation device; - A fan (9, 10) for conveying process air (PL) through a through the treatment chamber (3) and the heating device (16) leading circuit; - A process air duct (8) for connecting the unit (13) to the air inlet (6) and the air outlet (7) of the treatment chamber (3); - An additional heating element (23) located in the process air duct (8, 8a); - A control device (19) for activating and deactivating the actuators (10, 14, 23) for carrying out an automatic treatment process, further comprising - a steam generator (20) with - a water tank (4) for receiving or storing water; - A supply line (21) for conducting the water from the water tank (4) into the channel section (8a) in which the heating element (23) is arranged; - A dosing element (22) which is connected upstream of the supply line (21) for showering the water or for blocking the flow of water through the line (21); - A distribution element (24) for distributing the water emerging from the supply line (21). 2. Laundry treatment appliance according to Claim 1, which is designed as a drum dryer, comprising a housing (2) and a drum (2) which is arranged in the housing (2) and can be driven by a motor (10) and is rotatably mounted about a horizontal or inclined axis (5). 3) forming the treatment chamber. 3. The laundry treatment appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element (23) is arranged in the channel (8a) in an at least predominantly vertical section in front of the air inlet (6) of the chamber (3) and the distribution element (24) is arranged above the heating element (23). is. 4. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating element (23) comprises cooling fins (23a) for transferring the heat to the process air (PL) flowing past. 5. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dosing element (22) is a pump or valve which can be activated by means of the control device (19) in order to convey water to the heating element (23). 6. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a collecting container (4) for condensate which arises during the drying process, wherein the collecting container (4) forms the water tank and the condensate can be used to generate steam. 7. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the distribution element (24) comprises a base body (30) with a channel-like first channel (32) introduced therein, into which the line (21) opens. 8. The laundry treatment appliance as claimed in claim 7, further channels (33) branching off from this first channel (32) in order to cause the water jet fed to the heating element (23) to fan out. 9. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 7 or 8, wherein at least two further channels (33) branch off from the first channel (32). 10. Laundry treatment appliance according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of further channels each branch off from the further channels (33). 11. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the base body is designed as a plate or block (30) and is arranged at an angle in the air inlet duct (8a), the open sides of the channels (31, 32, 33) being on the upper side of the Plate or blocks (30) are arranged. 12. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the plate or block (30) has a thickness in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 5 mm, the channels (31, 32, 33) have a width in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, and a depth in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 2 mm. 13. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the base body (30) on the upper side, in particular the channels (31, 32, 33), is/are provided with a hydrophobic surface. 14. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the base body (30) with the channel-like channels is dimensioned such that it covers the front surface of the heating element (23) by 30% to 70%, preferably 40% to 60% . 15. Laundry treatment appliance according to one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the base body (30) is arranged at an angle in the range of 20° to 60° to the horizontal, preferably 30° to 45° to the horizontal in the air inlet duct (8a).