EP3090091A1 - Household appliance for drying laundry - Google Patents

Household appliance for drying laundry

Info

Publication number
EP3090091A1
EP3090091A1 EP14830656.6A EP14830656A EP3090091A1 EP 3090091 A1 EP3090091 A1 EP 3090091A1 EP 14830656 A EP14830656 A EP 14830656A EP 3090091 A1 EP3090091 A1 EP 3090091A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
working fluid
branch
evaporator
household appliance
drying
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
Application number
EP14830656.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3090091B1 (en
Inventor
Luca Bossi
Aldo Liberatore
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 EP3090091A1 publication Critical patent/EP3090091A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3090091B1 publication Critical patent/EP3090091B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F58/38—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • D06F2103/04—Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/50—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers related to heat pumps, e.g. pressure or flow rate
    • 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
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/26—Heat pumps
    • 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 with a heat pump equipped with a condenser and an evaporator is known.
  • This type of drier comprises a drying compartment in which a rotating drum is located and the drying air is taken from the compartment and treated by the heat pump prior to being re-introduced therein.
  • the evaporator of the heat pump allows for condensation of the moisture present in the air taken from the washing compartment (this is accompanied by the evaporation of a working fluid that circulates in the heat pump) .
  • the condenser of the heat pump brings about the heating of the air extracted from the compartment and previously dehumidified (this is accompanied by the condensation of the working fluid that circulates in the heat pump) .
  • the air extracted from the drying compartment can be re-directed back towards the laundry items to be dried.
  • the working fluid circulating in the heat pump downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the condenser undergoes an increase in pressure in a compressor.
  • variable speed compressor The use of a variable speed compressor is known for the best adaptation of the operation of the heat pump to various operating modes.
  • a compressor such as this makes it possible for example to increase the rotation speed so as to reduce the initial transient.
  • the compressor makes it possible to reduce the rotation speed in a final step of the drying cycle or when operating the drier with a small load of laundry in the drum (thus allowing for lower energy consumption on the part of the compressor) .
  • the technical task underlying the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to make available a household appliance that makes it possible to optimize the operation of the drying cycle.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a household appliance according to the present invention.
  • a household appliance for drying laundry is indicated by the reference number 1.
  • This household appliance 1 can be a washer-drier or a drier, for example.
  • the household appliance 1 comprises:
  • the heat pump 4 comprises a circuit 40 in which the working fluid circulates.
  • This circuit 40 comprises a condenser 44 for condensing the working fluid, said condenser 44 interacting with the drying air flowing in said line 3.
  • the circuit 40 comprises a first and a second evaporator 41, 42 for evaporating the working fluid in thermal contact with the drying air flowing in said line 3; following the direction of flow of the drying air along said line 3, the condenser 44 is downstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42.
  • the first and/or the second evaporator 41, 42 determine (s) the condensation of the moisture present in the drying air.
  • the condenser 44 allows for heating the drying air previously dehumidified by the first and/or second evaporator 41, 42. This heating process takes place prior to the re-introduction of the heating air in the compartment 20.
  • a movement means 6 for moving the drying air along the line 3 is conveniently located along the line 3.
  • the circuit 40 further comprises a working fluid conduit 43 that comprises a zone 430 in which it divides into a first and a second branch 431, 432 comprising a first and a second thermal expansion member 61, 62, respectively.
  • the first branch 431 passes through said first evaporator 41 and the second branch 432 passes through said second evaporator 42.
  • the zone 430 in which the conduit 43 divides is downstream of the condenser 44 and upstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 according to the direction of flow of the working fluid.
  • the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 are arranged in parallel.
  • the circuit 40 further comprises a compressor 46 for compressing the working fluid.
  • the compressor 46 is located downstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 and upstream of the condenser 44 along the direction of flow of the working fluid.
  • the compressor 46 is a fixed speed compressor .
  • the circuit 40 further comprises control means 45 for controlling the supply of working fluid coming from the first and the second branch 431, 432 in said compressor 46.
  • the control means 45 comprises a valve 451 in which the first and the second branch 431, 432 merge.
  • the valve 451 is located in a zone 433 that reconnects the first and the second branch 431, 432.
  • This valve 451 can conveniently take on at least one configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the first branch 431.
  • the valve 451 can take on a configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the second branch 432.
  • the valve 451 can take on a configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming from both the first branch and the second branch 431,432.
  • the valve 451 can conveniently take on a configuration in which it prevents the passage of the working fluid from both the first and the second branch 431, 432.
  • This valve 451 conveniently comprises a casing.
  • the casing is conveniently provided with openings for connection with the first branch 431, the second branch 432 and the compressor 46.
  • a shutter provided with at least one through cavity is present in the casing. Depending on the orientation of the shutter within the casing, this cavity sets the zones upstream and downstream of the valve 451 in fluid communication. 451.
  • This cavity can also have branches, for example for setting a number of input zones upstream of the valve 451 in fluid communication with a single output zone downstream of the valve 451.
  • valve 451 is a three-way ball valve.
  • the first and the second thermal expansion members 61, 62 are capillaries that define a reduction of the section for passage of the first and the second branch 431, 432.
  • the first and/or the second thermal expansion member 61, 62 define (s) a reduction of the passage section.
  • the first thermal expansion member 61 is in series with the first evaporator 41, and the second thermal expansion member 62 is in series with the second evaporator 42.
  • the first thermal expansion member 61 has different geometric characteristics with respect to said second thermal expansion member 62. In this manner, a different head loss is obtained.
  • the first evaporator 41 and the second evaporator 42 have different heat exchange capacities. This allows for even more versatile operation of the household appliance 1.
  • control means 45 comprises an electronic control unit that automatically commands the valve 451 based on pre-established parameters.
  • an object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a household appliance 1 having one or more of the characteristics indicated hereinabove.
  • the method conveniently comprises the steps of:
  • the method further comprises having said fluid flow only in the first or in the second evaporator 41, 42 should said value (of the weight of the laundry) fall short of the pre-established threshold.
  • the command for having the working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator 41, 42, or only in the first or the second evaporator 41, 42, is given by said electronic unit based on pre-established parameters.
  • the steps described above are slightly modified as follows: if the value of the weight of the laundry (either measured or estimated by means of algorithms) exceeds said threshold, the working fluid will be allowed to flow only in the first evaporator 41; if the value falls short of the threshold, the working fluid will be allowed to flow only in the second evaporator 42. Passage into the first evaporator 41 corresponds to passage in the first branch 431 and passage into the second evaporator 42 corresponds to passage in the second branch 432.
  • An object of the present invention is a method of operation of the household appliance 1 that comprises the step of having the fluid flow only in the first evaporator 41 in the case in which a user selects a command that signals the presence of a small load in the drum 2 to the household appliance 1.
  • An object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a household appliance comprising the steps of:
  • the drying air is at ambient temperature and the maximum flow rate of the working fluid may be necessary to facilitate the process of heating the same air in the condenser 44.
  • the invention makes it possible to achieve multiple advantages. First of all, it makes it possible to modulate dehumidification capacity, without the use of a variable speed compressor. In fact, a variable speed compressor entails high costs, for installation and for maintenance.
  • the present invention thus makes it possible to regulate the cooling capacity of the heat pump based on the load and/or the program selected. Furthermore, the positioning of the valve 451 downstream of the first and second thermal expansion member 61, 62 makes it possible to position the valve 451 in a low-pressure zone; as a result, the seals and geometry of the valve 451 will be such as to resist lower pressures (and therefore this component entails lower costs) . Moreover, in this manner, the valve 451 offers a greater degree of reliability.

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 drying compartment (20), in which a rotating drum (2) for housing the laundry to be dried is located, a line (3) for taking drying air from said compartment and for re-introducing the same air in the compartment, and a heat pump (4) for treating the drying air, the heat pump (4) comprising: a condenser (44) interacting with the drying air flowing in said line (3), a compressor (46) for compressing the working fluid circulating in said heat pump, a first and a second evaporator (41, 42) in thermal contact with the drying air, a working fluid conduit (43) that comprises a zone (430) in which it divides into a first and a second branch (431, 432) comprising a first and a second thermal expansion member (61, 62), respectively, said first branch (431) passing through said first evaporator (41), said second branch (432) passing through said second evaporator (42), wherein said zone (430), in which the conduit (43) divides, is downstream of the condenser (44) and upstream of the first and the second evaporator (41, 42) according to the direction of flow of the working fluid, and control means (45) for controlling the supply of working fluid coming from the first and the second branch (431, 432) in said compressor (46).

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE FOR DRYING LAUNDRY
DESCRIPTION
[Technical field]
The object of the present invention is a household appliance for drying laundry.
[State of the art]
A drier with a heat pump equipped with a condenser and an evaporator is known.
This type of drier comprises a drying compartment in which a rotating drum is located and the drying air is taken from the compartment and treated by the heat pump prior to being re-introduced therein.
In particular, the evaporator of the heat pump allows for condensation of the moisture present in the air taken from the washing compartment (this is accompanied by the evaporation of a working fluid that circulates in the heat pump) . The condenser of the heat pump brings about the heating of the air extracted from the compartment and previously dehumidified (this is accompanied by the condensation of the working fluid that circulates in the heat pump) .
At this point, the air extracted from the drying compartment can be re-directed back towards the laundry items to be dried.
The working fluid circulating in the heat pump downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the condenser undergoes an increase in pressure in a compressor.
The use of a variable speed compressor is known for the best adaptation of the operation of the heat pump to various operating modes. A compressor such as this makes it possible for example to increase the rotation speed so as to reduce the initial transient. Likewise, the compressor makes it possible to reduce the rotation speed in a final step of the drying cycle or when operating the drier with a small load of laundry in the drum (thus allowing for lower energy consumption on the part of the compressor) .
One drawback of this design solution relates to the fact that the cost of a variable speed compressor is considerable and this affects the costs of the entire household appliance.
[Aim of the invention]
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to make available a household appliance that makes it possible to optimize the operation of the drying cycle.
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.
[Brief description of the drawings]
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 drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a household appliance according to the present invention. In the accompanying figures, a household appliance for drying laundry is indicated by the reference number 1. This household appliance 1 can be a washer-drier or a drier, for example.
The 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 taking drying air from said compartment 20 and for re-introducing the same air in the compartment 20;
-a heat pump 4 for treating the drying air, in said heat pump 4 circulating a working fluid.
[Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention]
The heat pump 4 comprises a circuit 40 in which the working fluid circulates. This circuit 40, in turn, comprises a condenser 44 for condensing the working fluid, said condenser 44 interacting with the drying air flowing in said line 3.
The circuit 40 comprises a first and a second evaporator 41, 42 for evaporating the working fluid in thermal contact with the drying air flowing in said line 3; following the direction of flow of the drying air along said line 3, the condenser 44 is downstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42. The first and/or the second evaporator 41, 42 determine (s) the condensation of the moisture present in the drying air. The condenser 44 allows for heating the drying air previously dehumidified by the first and/or second evaporator 41, 42. This heating process takes place prior to the re-introduction of the heating air in the compartment 20. A movement means 6 for moving the drying air along the line 3 is conveniently located along the line 3.
The circuit 40 further comprises a working fluid conduit 43 that comprises a zone 430 in which it divides into a first and a second branch 431, 432 comprising a first and a second thermal expansion member 61, 62, respectively. The first branch 431 passes through said first evaporator 41 and the second branch 432 passes through said second evaporator 42. The zone 430 in which the conduit 43 divides is downstream of the condenser 44 and upstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 according to the direction of flow of the working fluid. The first and the second evaporator 41, 42 are arranged in parallel. The circuit 40 further comprises a compressor 46 for compressing the working fluid. The compressor 46 is located downstream of the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 and upstream of the condenser 44 along the direction of flow of the working fluid.
Conveniently, the compressor 46 is a fixed speed compressor .
The circuit 40 further comprises control means 45 for controlling the supply of working fluid coming from the first and the second branch 431, 432 in said compressor 46.
The control means 45 comprises a valve 451 in which the first and the second branch 431, 432 merge. The valve 451 is located in a zone 433 that reconnects the first and the second branch 431, 432. This valve 451 can conveniently take on at least one configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the first branch 431.
The valve 451 can take on a configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the second branch 432.
The valve 451 can take on a configuration in which it enables the passage of the working fluid coming from both the first branch and the second branch 431,432.
The valve 451 can conveniently take on a configuration in which it prevents the passage of the working fluid from both the first and the second branch 431, 432.
This valve 451 conveniently comprises a casing. The casing is conveniently provided with openings for connection with the first branch 431, the second branch 432 and the compressor 46. A shutter provided with at least one through cavity is present in the casing. Depending on the orientation of the shutter within the casing, this cavity sets the zones upstream and downstream of the valve 451 in fluid communication. 451. This cavity can also have branches, for example for setting a number of input zones upstream of the valve 451 in fluid communication with a single output zone downstream of the valve 451.
In the preferred solution, the valve 451 is a three-way ball valve.
The first and the second thermal expansion members 61, 62 are capillaries that define a reduction of the section for passage of the first and the second branch 431, 432. The first and/or the second thermal expansion member 61, 62 define (s) a reduction of the passage section. The first thermal expansion member 61 is in series with the first evaporator 41, and the second thermal expansion member 62 is in series with the second evaporator 42.
The first thermal expansion member 61 has different geometric characteristics with respect to said second thermal expansion member 62. In this manner, a different head loss is obtained.
The first evaporator 41 and the second evaporator 42 have different heat exchange capacities. This allows for even more versatile operation of the household appliance 1.
In fact, the control means 45 comprises an electronic control unit that automatically commands the valve 451 based on pre-established parameters.
In this regard, an object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a household appliance 1 having one or more of the characteristics indicated hereinabove. The method conveniently comprises the steps of:
-determining a value of the weight of the laundry to be dried that has been placed in the drum 2 (for example by measuring the increase in the weight of the drum or by means of specific algorithms for estimating the load inserted in the drier) ;
-having said working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator 41, 42 should said value (of the weight of the laundry) exceed a pre-established threshold. The method further comprises having said fluid flow only in the first or in the second evaporator 41, 42 should said value (of the weight of the laundry) fall short of the pre-established threshold. The command for having the working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator 41, 42, or only in the first or the second evaporator 41, 42, is given by said electronic unit based on pre-established parameters.
In an alternative, not preferred solution, the steps described above are slightly modified as follows: if the value of the weight of the laundry (either measured or estimated by means of algorithms) exceeds said threshold, the working fluid will be allowed to flow only in the first evaporator 41; if the value falls short of the threshold, the working fluid will be allowed to flow only in the second evaporator 42. Passage into the first evaporator 41 corresponds to passage in the first branch 431 and passage into the second evaporator 42 corresponds to passage in the second branch 432.
An object of the present invention is a method of operation of the household appliance 1 that comprises the step of having the fluid flow only in the first evaporator 41 in the case in which a user selects a command that signals the presence of a small load in the drum 2 to the household appliance 1.
As regards the considerations stated above, they are justified by the fact that if the household appliance 1 is operating with a full load, a greater amount of working fluid will be needed for the purpose of enabling more dehumidification of the drying air (and therefore the working fluid needs to flow in both the first and the second evaporator 41, 42) . If instead the household appliance 1 is operating with smaller load, a lower flow rate of the working fluid may be necessary, given that dehumidification is ensured in any case (and operation with a reduced flow rate is advantageous given that it requires lower energy consumption levels on the part of the compressor 46) .
An object of the present invention is also a method of operation of a household appliance comprising the steps of:
-having said working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator 41,42 in a first step upon start¬ up of a drying cycle;
-having said working fluid flow only in the first evaporator 41 in a second step following the first step .
In fact, upon start-up of the household appliance 1, the drying air is at ambient temperature and the maximum flow rate of the working fluid may be necessary to facilitate the process of heating the same air in the condenser 44.
When running, however, the incoming drying air in the line 3 is already at a higher temperature and the moisture level thereof is also lower. Under these conditions, a more limited heat exchange may be sufficient, thus enabling a reduction of the power absorbed by the compressor 46.
The invention makes it possible to achieve multiple advantages. First of all, it makes it possible to modulate dehumidification capacity, without the use of a variable speed compressor. In fact, a variable speed compressor entails high costs, for installation and for maintenance. The present invention thus makes it possible to regulate the cooling capacity of the heat pump based on the load and/or the program selected. Furthermore, the positioning of the valve 451 downstream of the first and second thermal expansion member 61, 62 makes it possible to position the valve 451 in a low-pressure zone; as a result, the seals and geometry of the valve 451 will be such as to resist lower pressures (and therefore this component entails lower costs) . Moreover, in this manner, the valve 451 offers a greater degree of reliability.
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. All 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 re-introducing the same air in the compartment (20) ;
-a heat pump (4) for treating the air for drying, said heat pump (4) comprising a circuit (40) wherein a working fluid circulates, said circuit (40), in turn, comprising :
i) a condenser (44) for condensing the working fluid, said condenser (44) interacting with the drying air flowing in said line (3);
ii) a first and a second evaporator (41, 42) of the working fluid in thermal contact with the drying air flowing in said line (3); following the direction of flow of the drying air along said line (3), the condenser (44) being downstream of the first and the second evaporator (41, 42);
iii) a working fluid conduit (43) that comprises a zone (430) wherein it divides into a first and a second branch (431, 432) comprising a first and a second thermal expansion member (61, 62), respectively, said first branch (431) passing through said first evaporator (41), said second branch (432) passing through said second evaporator (42); said zone (430) wherein the conduit (43) divides is downstream of the condenser (44) and upstream of the first and the second evaporator (41, 42) according to the direction of flow of the working fluid;
iv) a compressor (46) for compressing the working fluid, said compressor (46) being located downstream of the first and the second evaporator (41, 42) and upstream of the condenser (44) along the direction of flow of the working fluid;
v) control means (45) for controlling the supply of working fluid coming from the first and the second branch (431, 432) in said compressor (46) .
2. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (45) comprises a valve (451) wherein the first and the second branch merge (431, 432), said valve (451) being located in a zone (433) that reconnects the first and the second branch (431, 432); said valve (451) taking on at least: -one configuration wherein it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the first branch or from the second branch (431, 432);
-one configuration wherein it enables the passage of the working fluid coming from both the first branch and the second branch (431, 432) .
3. The household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (45) comprises a valve (451) wherein the first and the second branch (431, 432) merge, said valve (451) being located in a zone (433) that reconnects the first and the second branch (431, 432), said valve (451) taking on at least: -one configuration wherein it enables the passage of the working fluid coming only from the first branch (431) ;
-a different configuration wherein it enables the passage of the working fluid only from the second branch ( 432 ) .
4. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said valve (451) is a three-way ball valve.
5. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and said second thermal expansion members (61, 62) are capillaries that define a reduction of the section for passage of the first and the second branch (431, 432) .
6. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first thermal expansion member (61) has different geometric characteristics with respect to said second thermal expansion member (62) so as to determine a different head loss.
7. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first evaporator (41) and said second evaporator (42) have different heat exchange capacities.
8. The household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said compressor (46) is a fixed speed compressor.
9. A method of operation of a household appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: -carrying out an estimate of the laundry to be dried that has been placed in the drum (2) ;
-having said working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator (41, 42) should said estimate exceed a pre-established threshold.
10. The method of operation of a household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
- having said working fluid flow in both the first and the second evaporator (41, 42) in a first step upon the starting of a drying cycle;
-having said working fluid flow only in the first evaporator (41) in a second step following the first step .
EP14830656.6A 2013-12-30 2014-12-15 Method of operating a household appliance for drying laundry Active EP3090091B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000106A ITPR20130106A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2013-12-30 CLOTH DRYING APPLIANCES.
PCT/IB2014/066918 WO2015101860A1 (en) 2013-12-30 2014-12-15 Household appliance for drying laundry

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3090091A1 true EP3090091A1 (en) 2016-11-09
EP3090091B1 EP3090091B1 (en) 2018-06-13

Family

ID=50190583

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14830656.6A Active EP3090091B1 (en) 2013-12-30 2014-12-15 Method of operating a household appliance for drying laundry

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3090091B1 (en)
IT (1) ITPR20130106A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2015101860A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004116899A (en) * 2002-09-26 2004-04-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Heat pump dryer
DE10255575C1 (en) * 2002-11-28 2003-12-11 Miele & Cie Condensation laundry dryer has heat pump device having evaporator incorporated in heat exchanger of warm air process loop
RU2529108C2 (en) * 2010-04-28 2014-09-27 ЭлДжи ЭЛЕКТРОНИКС ИНК. Method of dryer control
EP2489775A1 (en) * 2011-02-18 2012-08-22 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. A heat pump laundry dryer and a method for operating a heat pump laundry dryer
EP2551401A1 (en) * 2011-07-28 2013-01-30 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. A heat pump system for a laundry dryer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITPR20130106A1 (en) 2015-07-01
WO2015101860A1 (en) 2015-07-09
EP3090091B1 (en) 2018-06-13

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