EP0420103A2 - Closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine - Google Patents
Closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0420103A2 EP0420103A2 EP90118310A EP90118310A EP0420103A2 EP 0420103 A2 EP0420103 A2 EP 0420103A2 EP 90118310 A EP90118310 A EP 90118310A EP 90118310 A EP90118310 A EP 90118310A EP 0420103 A2 EP0420103 A2 EP 0420103A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- solvent
- refrigerating fluid
- circuit
- cooling
- duct
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000005108 dry cleaning Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 5
- CYTYCFOTNPOANT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Perchloroethylene Chemical group ClC(Cl)=C(Cl)Cl CYTYCFOTNPOANT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- D06F43/00—Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents
- D06F43/08—Associated apparatus for handling and recovering the solvents
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B5/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity
- F25B5/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity arranged in parallel
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B6/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine.
- dry-cleaning machines generally use a solvent such as perchloroethylene for washing.
- a solvent such as perchloroethylene
- the washed fabrics are dried by circulating within the washing container an adequate flow of warm air which causes the evaporation of the solvent.
- the warm drying air is circulated in a closed circuit provided with a cooling device for recovering the solvent.
- said cooling device consists of an evaporator through which there flows a refrigerating fluid fed by a conventional compressor driven refrigeration system.
- a refrigerating fluid fed by a conventional compressor driven refrigeration system.
- the mixture of air and solvent vapors which exits from the washing container is conveyed so as to strike the evaporator of the refrigeration system, so that the solvent condenses and can therefore be collected and reused in other washing cycles.
- the air, purified of the solvent is instead heated and again circulated to the washing container until the drying step is completed.
- the recovered solvent is then subjected to a distillation step so as to separate the impurities surfacing during the washing.
- the dry-cleaning system usually provides the water-cooling of the refrigerating fluid and of the solvent vapors produced by distillation.
- the aim of the present invention is to solve the above described problem by providing a dry-cleaning machine which operates in closed circuit, with recovery of the solvent by means of a refrigeration system which allows to also cool the refrigerating fluid during drying and to cool the solvent vapors during distillation.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a dry-cleaning machine which is simple in concept and is safely reliable in operation.
- the present closed-circuit dry cleaning machine of the kind which comprises a washing container connected to the input and to the output of a closed circuit which is adapted to be traversed by a flow of warm air for the drying of a washing solvent and is provided with a cooling device for recovering the solvent, characterized in that said cooling device consists of a refrigeration circuit having a compressor adapted to circulate a refrigerating fluid drawn from a tank through a duct which branches out into two portions which respectively pass through a drying unit and a unit for cooling said solvent, said units having respective valve means for the expansion of said refrigerating fluid.
- the refrigeration circuit of the dry cleaning machine is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1.
- Said refrigeration circuit has a compressor 2 which is adapted to circulate an appropriate refrigerating fluid, such as freon; the refrigerating fluid is drawn from a tank 3 through a duct 4 and returns to said tank through a duct 5.
- an appropriate refrigerating fluid such as freon
- the drawing duct 4 branches out into two portions 4a, 4b which respectively pass through a drying unit 6 and a unit 7 for cooling the solvent, such as perchloroethylene, used in the machine.
- the drying unit 6 and the cooling unit 7 are provided with respective thermostatic expansion valves 8 and 9 for the expansion of the refrigerating fluid; the units 6 and 7 are furthermore controlled by respective electric valves 10 and 11 arranged on the ducts 4a and 4b.
- the return duct 5 has a heat exchanger 12 which constitutes the condenser of the refrigeration circuit.
- the duct 5 furthermore has a parallel branching 5a, 5b which has a further unit 13 which is intended to act as heat pump and is adapted to preheat the flow of air which is intended to pass through the washing container; a one-way valve 14 is arranged after said unit 13.
- the two branches 5a, 5b of the duct 5 are cutoff by respective electric valves 15 and 16. Downstream of the unit 13 a further solvent heat exchanger 21 is provided.
- the refrigeration circuit is furthermore provided with a low-pressure switch 17 and with a high-pressure switch 18 which are respectively arranged on the ducts 4 and 5, and with a further electric valve 19 arranged upstream of the heat exchanger 12.
- a filter 20 for the refrigerating fluid is provided downstream of the tank 3 .
- the operation of the described machine is as follows. When the dry-cleaning machine is not washing, the electric valves 11 and 19 are opened. The refrigerating fluid therefore passes through the cooling unit 7 and cools the solvent, whereas the heat produced by the refrigeration system is dispersed by means of the heat exchanger 12.
- the electric valves 10 and 16 are opened so that the refrigerating fluid circulates through the units 6 and 13.
- the cooled solvent removes from the refrigerating fluid the excess heat, which has not been used in the heat pump.
- the electric valve remains open and the electric valve 15 is opened, while the electric valve 16 is instead closed.
- the refrigerating fluid exiting from the compressor 2 is sent to the solvent heat exchanger 21.
- the described refrigeration system has a solvent cooling circuit which replaces the conventional water-based cooling of the refrigerating fluid and the equally water-based cooling of the solvent vapors in distillation.
- the materials employed, as well as the shape and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine.
- As is known, dry-cleaning machines generally use a solvent such as perchloroethylene for washing. At the end of the washing step, the washed fabrics are dried by circulating within the washing container an adequate flow of warm air which causes the evaporation of the solvent. The warm drying air is circulated in a closed circuit provided with a cooling device for recovering the solvent.
- In conventional dry-cleaning machines, said cooling device consists of an evaporator through which there flows a refrigerating fluid fed by a conventional compressor driven refrigeration system. Essentially, the mixture of air and solvent vapors which exits from the washing container is conveyed so as to strike the evaporator of the refrigeration system, so that the solvent condenses and can therefore be collected and reused in other washing cycles. The air, purified of the solvent, is instead heated and again circulated to the washing container until the drying step is completed.
- The recovered solvent is then subjected to a distillation step so as to separate the impurities surfacing during the washing.
- It has been furthermore proposed to use the condenser of the refrigeration system to perform at least a partial heating of the drying air. This naturally affords an energy saving.
- However, known dry-cleaning machines still have significant limitations from the economy point of view. In particular, the dry-cleaning system usually provides the water-cooling of the refrigerating fluid and of the solvent vapors produced by distillation.
- The aim of the present invention is to solve the above described problem by providing a dry-cleaning machine which operates in closed circuit, with recovery of the solvent by means of a refrigeration system which allows to also cool the refrigerating fluid during drying and to cool the solvent vapors during distillation.
- Within the scope of this aim, a further object of the present invention is to provide a dry-cleaning machine which is simple in concept and is safely reliable in operation.
- This aim and this object are both achieved, according to the invention, by the present closed-circuit dry cleaning machine, of the kind which comprises a washing container connected to the input and to the output of a closed circuit which is adapted to be traversed by a flow of warm air for the drying of a washing solvent and is provided with a cooling device for recovering the solvent, characterized in that said cooling device consists of a refrigeration circuit having a compressor adapted to circulate a refrigerating fluid drawn from a tank through a duct which branches out into two portions which respectively pass through a drying unit and a unit for cooling said solvent, said units having respective valve means for the expansion of said refrigerating fluid.
- Further characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine, illustrated only by way of non limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
the only figure is a diagram of the refrigeration circuit of the dry-cleaning machine according to the invention. - With reference to the above figure, the refrigeration circuit of the dry cleaning machine is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1. Said refrigeration circuit has a compressor 2 which is adapted to circulate an appropriate refrigerating fluid, such as freon; the refrigerating fluid is drawn from a tank 3 through a
duct 4 and returns to said tank through aduct 5. - The
drawing duct 4 branches out into twoportions 4a, 4b which respectively pass through a drying unit 6 and aunit 7 for cooling the solvent, such as perchloroethylene, used in the machine. The drying unit 6 and thecooling unit 7 are provided with respectivethermostatic expansion valves 8 and 9 for the expansion of the refrigerating fluid; theunits 6 and 7 are furthermore controlled by respectiveelectric valves 10 and 11 arranged on theducts 4a and 4b. - The
return duct 5 has aheat exchanger 12 which constitutes the condenser of the refrigeration circuit. - The
duct 5 furthermore has a parallel branching 5a, 5b which has afurther unit 13 which is intended to act as heat pump and is adapted to preheat the flow of air which is intended to pass through the washing container; a one-way valve 14 is arranged after saidunit 13. The twobranches 5a, 5b of theduct 5 are cutoff by respectiveelectric valves solvent heat exchanger 21 is provided. - The refrigeration circuit is furthermore provided with a low-
pressure switch 17 and with a high-pressure switch 18 which are respectively arranged on theducts electric valve 19 arranged upstream of theheat exchanger 12. Finally, downstream of the tank 3 afilter 20 for the refrigerating fluid is provided. - The operation of the described machine is as follows. When the dry-cleaning machine is not washing, the
electric valves 11 and 19 are opened. The refrigerating fluid therefore passes through thecooling unit 7 and cools the solvent, whereas the heat produced by the refrigeration system is dispersed by means of theheat exchanger 12. - During drying, the
electric valves units 6 and 13. In this case, in thesolvent heat exchanger 21 the cooled solvent removes from the refrigerating fluid the excess heat, which has not been used in the heat pump. During the removal of the solvent, the electric valve remains open and theelectric valve 15 is opened, while theelectric valve 16 is instead closed. The refrigerating fluid exiting from the compressor 2 is sent to thesolvent heat exchanger 21. - Finally, during distillation the previously cooled solvent is used to cool the solvent vapors to be recovered.
- To conclude, the described refrigeration system has a solvent cooling circuit which replaces the conventional water-based cooling of the refrigerating fluid and the equally water-based cooling of the solvent vapors in distillation.
- In the practical execution of the invention, the materials employed, as well as the shape and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
- Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
Claims (4)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT363389 | 1989-09-27 | ||
IT8903633A IT1235608B (en) | 1989-09-27 | 1989-09-27 | CLOSED CIRCUIT DRY CLEANING MACHINE |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0420103A2 true EP0420103A2 (en) | 1991-04-03 |
EP0420103A3 EP0420103A3 (en) | 1992-01-29 |
EP0420103B1 EP0420103B1 (en) | 1996-06-19 |
Family
ID=11110937
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90118310A Expired - Lifetime EP0420103B1 (en) | 1989-09-27 | 1990-09-24 | Closed-circuit dry-cleaning machine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0420103B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69027494T2 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1235608B (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6375686B1 (en) | 2000-05-08 | 2002-04-23 | Su Heon Kim | Method and apparatus for treating spots on a spotting table with a spotting gun |
EP1584731A2 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2005-10-12 | SANYO ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. | Dry cleaner and corresponding drying machine |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3391550A (en) * | 1962-05-28 | 1968-07-09 | L T Ind Inc | Drycleaning machine |
DE2004650A1 (en) * | 1969-02-13 | 1970-09-03 | Apaw S.A., Freiburg (Schweiz) | Machine for dry cleaning of textiles, in particular of clothing |
EP0053727A1 (en) * | 1980-11-25 | 1982-06-16 | Multimatic Maschinen GmbH. & Co. | Dry-cleaning apparatus |
EP0100082A2 (en) * | 1982-07-27 | 1984-02-08 | DONINI INTERNATIONAL S.p.A. | Heat recovery system for a dry cleaner drying and deodorizing circuit |
EP0260333A1 (en) * | 1986-09-16 | 1988-03-23 | Giorgio Luppi | Improvement to a dry cleaning plant |
-
1989
- 1989-09-27 IT IT8903633A patent/IT1235608B/en active
-
1990
- 1990-09-24 EP EP90118310A patent/EP0420103B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-09-24 DE DE69027494T patent/DE69027494T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3391550A (en) * | 1962-05-28 | 1968-07-09 | L T Ind Inc | Drycleaning machine |
DE2004650A1 (en) * | 1969-02-13 | 1970-09-03 | Apaw S.A., Freiburg (Schweiz) | Machine for dry cleaning of textiles, in particular of clothing |
EP0053727A1 (en) * | 1980-11-25 | 1982-06-16 | Multimatic Maschinen GmbH. & Co. | Dry-cleaning apparatus |
EP0100082A2 (en) * | 1982-07-27 | 1984-02-08 | DONINI INTERNATIONAL S.p.A. | Heat recovery system for a dry cleaner drying and deodorizing circuit |
EP0260333A1 (en) * | 1986-09-16 | 1988-03-23 | Giorgio Luppi | Improvement to a dry cleaning plant |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6375686B1 (en) | 2000-05-08 | 2002-04-23 | Su Heon Kim | Method and apparatus for treating spots on a spotting table with a spotting gun |
EP1584731A2 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2005-10-12 | SANYO ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. | Dry cleaner and corresponding drying machine |
EP1584731A3 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2007-11-14 | SANYO ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. | Dry cleaner and corresponding drying machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69027494D1 (en) | 1996-07-25 |
IT8903633A0 (en) | 1989-09-27 |
IT1235608B (en) | 1992-09-11 |
EP0420103B1 (en) | 1996-06-19 |
EP0420103A3 (en) | 1992-01-29 |
DE69027494T2 (en) | 1996-10-31 |
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