EP3234254B1

EP3234254B1 - Laundry treatment apparatus having a heat exchanger and a condensate collector

Info

Publication number: EP3234254B1
Application number: EP14823949.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicola Reid; Giuseppe Rossi
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2014-12-16
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-16
Also published as: PL3234254T3; CN107109765B; AU2014414434A1; AU2014414434B2; CN107109765A; WO2016095968A1; EP3234254A1

Description

The invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus having a heat exchanger.
US 8,495,822 B2 discloses a laundry drying apparatus comprising a heat pump unit. A water collector tank is provided beneath an evaporator and a condenser of the heat pump unit, wherein the collector tank is covered by a collector cover arranged between the collector tank and the evaporator and condenser. The collector cover comprises supporting portions for supporting the evaporator and condenser, such that in their operational position the evaporator and condenser rest on the collector cover. A filtering portion beneath the evaporator holds back fluff from collector tank. Barrier holes prevent that condensate flows to the condenser.
US 2 742 708 A and US 2 780 008 A disclose an exhaust type laundry dryer comprising a single air-cooled heat exchanger to cool the drying air and to condense humidity from the drying air. A condensate collector with a cover is arranged below the heat exchanger, wherein a clearance is provided between the heat exchanger and the cover.
EP 0 211 418 A2 discloses a condenser laundry dryer comprising a closed loop for circulating drying air and an air cooled condenser unit. A removable condensate collector receptacle is arranged below the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is arranged in a box-shaped container which comprises a lower opening permitting the condensate to flow into a hopper communicating with the receptacle.
US 2010/0107703 A1 discloses a heat pump washer/dryer. An evaporator is supported by a drain receptacle which covers a drain reservoir below the drain receptacle. The drain receptacle is sloped towards a drainage opening to drain condensate into the drain reservoir.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved basement structure for a laundry treatment apparatus.
The invention is defined in claim 1. Particular embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.
According to claim 1, a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a heat pump system, in particular a dryer or a washer dryer, is provided, which comprises an apparatus cabinet or housing, a laundry treatment chamber for treating laundry using drying air and an air channel arranged to guide drying air from at least one outlet of the treatment chamber to at least one inlet of the treatment chamber. A heat exchanger is arranged within the air channel and is adapted to cool the drying air and to condense humidity from the drying air, i.e. an evaporator. A heat pump tumble dryer may be provided comprising a heat pump unit with two heat exchangers (evaporator and condenser), wherein the above mentioned heat exchanger is the evaporator of the heat pump unit.
A base unit or base section is adapted to support the heat exchanger and to receive at least a portion of the air channel. A condensate collector is arranged in the base unit and is adapted to collect the condensate formed at the heat exchanger. A collector cover is arranged between the bottom side of the heat exchanger and the condensate collector. The collector cover is at least covering a portion of the condensate collector. Preferably the collector cover covers all the open upper side of the condensate collector (e.g. except a pumping chamber of the condensate collector where a pump is installed for draining the collected condensate from the condensate collector). The collector cover preferably thereby also forms a separation element separating the condensate collector from the air channel (for example except condensate draining passages or openings from the air channel to the condensate collector).
The base unit comprises supporting elements which are adapted to support the heat exchanger, wherein a clearance or gap is provided between the bottom side of the (supported) heat exchanger and the top surface of the collector cover when these components are in their operational position. When the base unit, the collector cover and the heat exchanger are in their respective operational position, the collector cover does not support the heat exchanger. The top surface of the collector cover can also be denoted as top side or upper surface of the collector cover. The top surface is the surface where the condensate flowing down from the heat exchanger is collected and preferably guided by gravity and inclination of the top surface towards the condensate collector.
In contrast to above US 8,495,822 B2 , the heat exchanger is not supported by the collector cover but by the base unit or basement itself. Thereby, a deformation of the collector cover under the weight of the heat exchanger is prevented. For example, the heat exchanger may be supported by side wall supports which are arranged at the base unit. The gap between the heat exchanger and the collector cover allows condensed water to freely flow below the heat exchanger, in particular accumulation of condensed water between heat exchanger fins is prevented. E.g. accumulated water would deteriorate the performance of the heat exchanger as thereby the heat exchanger surface area which may be exposed to process air would be reduced. Additionally, by the elevated heat exchanger a space is created above the collector cover, which facilitates an easier passage of the condensate from the heat exchanger or evaporator into the condensate collector.
Preferably, the supporting elements are or comprise one or more wall supports which are provided on or at the base unit. For example, the base unit as such is a unitary element (in a single piece construction) and/or is formed monolithic, e.g. injection molded, wherein the one or more wall supports may form a unitary element with the base unit, are injection molded and/or are formed monolithic with (at least a portion of) the base unit.
The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a liquid washing unit, which comprises a nozzle with at least one liquid opening, wherein the nozzle is adapted to direct liquid to a component surface where lint, which is conveyed in the drying air, is deposited. By means of the washing unit, collected lint is washed or rinsed of the respective component surface. Preferably, the condensate collected in the condensate collector tank is used for washing the respective component surface.
The base unit comprises a washing liquid collector, wherein the collector cover further covers at least a portion of the washing liquid collector. The washing liquid collector is adapted to collect the (dirty rinsing) liquid after washing or rinsing a component surface as described above. In this embodiment, two liquid collectors (or tanks) are provided in the base unit, one tank collects the clean condensed water from the heat exchanger (e.g. evaporator or air/air heat exchanger) during the drying process, whilst the other tank collects the water after a washing/rinsing process. For example, the collector cover may have a form so that the condensate coming from the heat exchanger is guided only towards one of the two tanks that are present in the base unit under the collector cover. The flow of the liquid into the target tank may be provided by positioning one or more holes or openings between the heat exchanger (evaporator) and the tank. E.g. the one or more holes/openings are arranged above the tank which collects the condensate (clean water) which may be used to rinse the respective component surface. Thereby only clean water is stored in the tank which feeds the washing unit or nozzle, respectively. According to an embodiment, the collector cover is not arranged below a washing section, i.e. a section which is to be washed/rinsed.
Preferably, the collector cover is at least partially arranged below the component that is to be washed by the washing liquid, wherein the collector cover surface below the component to be washed is sloped towards at least one opening formed between the collector cover top surface and the or a washing liquid collector. Thereby washing water with the washed off lint is reliably guided towards the washing liquid collector. A sloped surface is for example an inclined surface (with respect to the horizontal). In particular, the washing water is driven towards the washing liquid collector even if the treatment apparatus is not in a level or horizontal position. Additionally or alternatively the surface area of the collector cover comprises liquid guiding means to guide washing liquid towards an opening into the washing liquid collector. Liquid guiding means may be formed as ridges or walls or any other shape which allows liquid to be guided towards (an opening to) the washing liquid collector.
When the base unit, the collector cover and the heat exchanger are in their respective operational position, the heat exchanger is resting or supported exclusively directly by the base unit. The collector cover is not in contact with the heat exchanger.
The collector cover may comprise the or a sloped top surface arranged below the heat exchanger and which is adapted to guide the condensate to at least one opening for draining the condensate from the collector cover to the condensate collector. As described above with respect to the washing liquid collector, a sloped surface may refer to an inclined surface, wherein additionally or alternatively the surface area of the collector cover comprises liquid guiding means to guide condensate towards an opening where the liquid can pass through into the condensate collector. Liquid guiding means may be formed as ridges or walls or any other shape which allows liquid to be guided towards (an opening to) the condensate collector. The inclination of the collector cover surface ensures that the condensed water is directed towards the condensate collector, i.e. to the clean water tank. Preferably, the treatment apparatus comprises a heat pump system including the above heat exchanger (evaporator) adapted to heat the refrigerant and a condenser adapted to cool the refrigerant and adapted to heat the drying air. In this embodiment, the collector cover may comprise a or the condensate collection surface arranged below the heat exchanger and a containment wall designed to prevent the condensate flowing from the condensate collection surface to the area below the condenser. The containment wall separates the surface of the collector cover in an evaporator region and a condenser region such as to prevent that liquid flows along in the air flow direction within the air channel and also to prevent air to bypass the heat exchangers by flowing through the gap between the heat exchangers and the collector cover. In particular, no water or liquid should reach the condenser (and a process air fan downstream the condenser), for example in case of liquid overflow or a fault in the discharge line.
Preferably, a clearance is provided between the bottom side of the condenser and the top surface of the collector cover, such as to avoid exertion of load or pressure from the condenser onto the collector cover (and eventually to provide a free flow of liquid below the condenser towards a draining passage draining liquid into the condensate tank).
The collector cover may comprise one or more air guiding elements adapted to guide or deflect the drying air to flow along the intended flow path within the air channel. Additionally or alternatively the collector cover comprises one or more air blocking elements adapted to block or reduce a flow of drying air. The above air guiding elements may reduce turbulences and additionally or alternatively reduce the flow resistance of the process air flow. The air blocking elements may prevent bypass or back flows and additionally or alternatively turbulences of the process air flow. In particular, above described containment wall may form an air guiding and/or blocking element which prevents air to bypass the evaporator flowing through the gap between the heat exchangers and the collector cover.
Reference is made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures, which show:

Fig. 1: a schematic view of components of a laundry dryer,
Fig. 2: a perspective view of a collector cover for a base unit of a laundry dryer,
Fig. 3: a perspective view of a lower shell of a base unit adapted to receive the collector cover of Fig. 2,
Fig. 4: a sectional side view of a portion of the lower shell of the base unit of Fig. 3 with collector cover of Fig. 2 and heat exchangers in operational position,
Fig. 5a-c: a sectional front view (Fig. 5a) and two details (Figs. 5b-c) of the front view of the lower shell of the base unit with the collector cover and the heat exchangers of Fig. 4,
Fig. 6: a perspective view of a collector cover according to an alternative embodiment,
Fig. 7: a perspective view of a lower shell of a base unit according to an alternative embodiment adapted to receive the collector cover of Fig. 6,
Fig. 8: a front-rear sectional view of the basement arrangement of another embodiment, and
Fig. 9: an enlarged view of the circle indicated in Fig. 8 showing a filter cleaning unit in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows a schematically depicted laundry dryer 2, which is not drawn to scale and is provided for illustrative purposes. In a housing 3 or cabinet of the dryer a heat pump system 4 is arranged, including a closed refrigerant loop 6 which comprises in the following order of refrigerant flow B: a first heat exchanger 10 acting as evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant and cooling process air, a compressor 14, a second heat exchanger 12 acting as condenser for cooling the refrigerant and heating the process air, and an expansion device 16 from where the refrigerant is returned to the first heat exchanger 10. Together with the refrigerant pipes connecting the components of the heat pump system 4 in series, the heat pump system 4 forms the refrigerant loop 6 through which the refrigerant is circulated by the compressor 14 as indicated by arrow B.
The process air flow A within the dryer 2 is guided through a laundry storing compartment 17 of the dryer 2, i.e. through a compartment for receiving articles to be treated, e.g. a drum 18. The articles to be treated are textiles, laundry 19, clothes, shoes or the like. The process air flow is indicated by arrows A in Fig. 1 and is driven by a process air blower 8. The process air channel 20 guides the process air flow A outside the drum 18 and includes different sections, including the section forming the battery channel 20a in which the first and second heat exchangers 10, 12 are arranged. The process air exiting the second heat exchanger 12 flows into a rear channel 20b in which the process air blower 8 is arranged. The air conveyed by blower 8 is guided upward in a rising channel 20c to the backside of the drum 18. The air exiting the drum 18 through the drum outlet may be filtered by a fluff filter 22 arranged close to the drum outlet in or at the channel 20. The optional fluff filter 22 is arranged in a front channel 20d forming another section of channel 20 which is arranged behind and adjacent the front cover of the dryer 2.
Condensate formed at the first heat exchanger 10 is collected and guided to the condensate collector 30. The condensate collector 30 may be connected via a drain conduit 36, a drain pump 32 and a drawer pipe 38 to an extractable condensate drawer 34. I.e. the collected condensate can be pumped from the collector 30 to the drawer 36 which is arranged at an upper portion of the dryer 2 from where it can be comfortably withdrawn and emptied by a user. The dryer 2 comprises a control unit for controlling and monitoring the overall operation of the dryer 2. For example, the control unit controls the drain pump 32. Additionally, the control unit is able to control other parts of the dryer 2, like the heat pump unit 4, the fan 8 etc.
A basement or base section 5 of the dryer 2 is formed by an upper shell (not depicted) and a lower shell 40a-b (Figs. 3, 7), which contains or houses amongst others the heat exchangers 10, 12, the fan 8 and the drain pump 32. In particular the upper and lower shell 40a-b provide the air-tight process air channel forming at least the battery channel and 20a. The basement 5 is easy and fast to assemble as the basement is preferably and basically formed by only the two shell elements.
According to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a collector cover 42a adapted to be received in a lower shell 40a of the base section 5 as shown in Fig. 3. The lower shell 40a comprises supporting elements 44a-d for supporting the heat exchangers 10, 12. In this embodiment, the supporting elements 44a-d are formed as raised or elevated wall portions of the lower shell 40a. For example, the lower shell 40a and the supporting elements 44a-d may be formed unitary or in one-piece by injection molding.
A condensate collector 30a or condensate tank is arranged below the heat exchangers 10, 12. The collector cover 42a is arranged between the heat exchangers 10, 12 and the condensate collector 30a, when these components are in their respective operational positions as depicted in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5a-c. In particular, the collector cover 42a does not support the heat exchangers 10, 12. The heat exchangers 10, 12 are supported or carried by the lower shell 40a only. Thereby a deformation of the collector cover 42a due to the weight of the heat exchangers 10, 12 is prevented.
As shown in Fig. 2, the upper surface of the collector cover 42a comprises a containment wall 46a which divides the collector cover 42a in two areas: a front area 64a, above which at least a portion of the first heat exchanger 10 is arranged, and a rear area 66a, above which at least a portion of the second heat exchanger 12 is arranged (Fig. 4). The front area 64a comprises a plurality of drain holes 48 through which condensate generated at the first heat exchanger 10 is drained into the condensate collector 30a below the collector cover 42a. The collector cover 42a comprises two air guiding elements 60a-b which are arranged at a rear end of the collector cover 42a, i.e. downstream the second heat exchanger 12, to guide process air A towards the fan 8.
Optionally, the laundry dryer may comprise a liquid washing unit for washing or rinsing the (front) surface of the first heat exchanger 10 and/or of a filter arranged upstream the first heat exchanger 10. An embodiment for a washing unit 86 for washing a filter unit 70 is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and is described below for the embodiment of filter washing. This is correspondingly applicable for washing the front side of the first heat exchanger, e.g. if no filter is arranged immediately in front of the first heat exchanger. The liquid washing unit respectively washes the front surface of such component arranged in the drying air channel which faces upstream and which is reached first by the process air after being exhausted from the laundry treatment compartment 17. During operation of the dryer 2, lint generated during a drying operation accumulates on this surface which - over time - would deteriorate the performance of the heat exchanger and/or could block the air passage.
Returning to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, where no filter is provided immediately upstream the heat exchanger 10, for removing the accumulated lint, the liquid washing unit comprises a nozzle with at least one liquid opening which directs a liquid spray to the heat exchanger (front) surface. The (dirty) washing liquid flows down the heat exchanger 10 and is guided to and collected in the washing liquid collector 54a. This correspondingly applies to the filter, in case a filter is arranged close to and in front of the first heat exchanger.
The lower shell 40a comprises a washing liquid collector 54a or tank which is arranged below a front portion of the first heat exchanger 10. The washing liquid may be removed from the washing liquid collector 54a via the drain pump 32. The liquid washing unit or nozzle, respectively, may be fed with condensate generated during a drying operation, which has been collected in the condensate collector 30a. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower surface or bottom of the condensate collector 30a is inclined to assist condensate flow towards a rear end of the lower shell 40a from where the condensate may be pumped to the condensate drawer 34 and additionally or alternatively to a nozzle of a washing unit as described above.
Fig. 4 shows a side sectional view of the assembled lower shell 40a and the collector cover 42a of Figs. 2 and 3 with first and second heat exchangers 10, 12 in their operational position. The front edge of the collector cover 42 ends at a front side partition wall 43, which is separating the condensate collector 30a from the washing liquid collector 54a.
As described above, the first heat exchanger 10 is supported by wall supporting elements 44a-b (Fig. 4, 5a-c) and the second heat exchanger 12 is supported by wall supporting elements 44c-d. The supporting elements 44a-d are arranged such that a gap 62 (Figs. 5b-c) is provided between a lower surface of the heat exchangers 10, 12 and an upper surface of the collector cover 42a. The gap 62 provides that condensate generated at the first heat exchanger 10 flows freely towards the drain holes 48 and into the condensate collector 30a. In particular, the collector cover surface in the front area 64a may be inclined towards the drain holes 48 to assist condensate flow into the condensate collector 30a. The above described containment wall 46a prevents that condensate reaches the second heat exchanger 12 and the fan 8 arranged downstream the heat exchanger 12, e.g. due to condensate overflow or a fault in the discharge line. Further, the containment wall 46a prevents that process air bypasses the second heat exchanger 12 by flowing through the gap 62 between heat exchanger 12 and collector cover 42a.
Fig. 5a shows a sectional front view of the first heat exchanger 10 seen from the front side where the drying air flow enters to illustrate how the heat exchangers 10, 12 are supported by the lower shell 40a via the supporting elements 44a-d. Fig. 5b shows in enlarged detail a left side and Fig. 5c shows in enlarged detail a right side of Fig. 5 where the heat exchanger 10 is supported by the supporting elements 44a-b (location of details are indicated by respective circles in Fig. 5a).
As shown in Figs. 5b and 5c, side walls 52a-b or lateral walls of the heat exchanger 10 rest on or are supported by the wall supporting elements 44a-b, such that heat exchanger fins 50a, 50b of the heat exchanger 10 are elevated above the collector cover 42a, i.e. a gap 62 is provided between heat exchanger 10 and cover 42a. The second heat exchanger 12 is correspondingly supported by the supporting elements 44c and 44d. The areas where the heat exchanger 10 is supported by or rests on the lower shell 40a are indicated by circles in Figs. 5b, 5c. No portion of the heat exchangers 10, 12 is supported by the collector cover 42a, i.e. the whole weight of the heat exchangers 10, 12 rests on the lower shell 40a and no load is acting from or imposed by heat exchanges onto the cover 42a.
Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show perspective views of a collector cover 42b and a lower shell 40b according to an alternative embodiment for a base section 5 of a laundry dryer 2. Unless otherwise mentioned, the above described features and functions of the collector cover 42a and lower shell 40a according to the first embodiment correspond to the features and functions of the collector cover 42b and lower shell 40b of the alternative embodiment as described below. Like reference signs are used for like elements.
In contrast to the above described lower shell 40a of the first embodiment, the lower shell 40b as shown in Fig. 7 comprises two collector tanks 30b, 54b arranged below the heat exchangers 10, 12 and the front and rear areas 64b, 66b of the collector cover 42b, respectively. A condensate collector 30b and a washing liquid collector 54b are arranged adjacent or side by side when viewed in direction of process air flow. To provide that generated condensate is only collected in the condensate collector 30b, the collector cover 42b comprises drain holes 48 only in the area above the condensate collector 30b as shown in Fig. 6.
As described above, a washing unit may be provided to wash a front surface of the first heat exchanger 10. As shown in Fig. 7, the washing liquid collector 54b extends to an area in front of the first heat exchanger 10. A washing liquid inlet 58 is provided above the portion of the washing liquid collector 54b which is arranged below the collector cover 42b such that washing liquid that was flown over the front portion of the heat exchanger enters through inlet 58 into the collector 54b. The inlet 58 is an open top side of the front portion of the washing liquid collector 54b which is located in front to the heat exchanger and in front of the collector cover 42b (the latter correspondingly and preferably applies to all embodiments herein).
The bottom surfaces of the condensate collector 30b and the washing liquid collector 54b are inclined towards the rear end of the lower shell 40b, such that the liquid in the collectors 30b and 54b flow towards the rear end of the shell 40b, respectively. From the rear end of the shell 40b condensate may be pumped to the condensate drawer 34 and/or to the washing unit and washing liquid may be drained from the dryer 2.
When the heat exchangers 10, 12 and the collector cover 42b are in their operational position (corresponding to Figs. 5a-5c of the first embodiment), the heat exchangers 10, 12 are supported by the wall supporting elements 44a-d and a gap 62 is provided between the heat exchangers 10, 12 and the collector cover 42b as described above with respect to the first embodiment. Further, the collector cover 42b comprises a containment wall 46b and air guiding elements 60a, 60b with the same functions as described with respect to the first embodiment.
Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the basement arrangement sectioned from front side (right side in figure) to rear side (left side in figure) in a plane where the battery channel 20a is guiding the drying air from front to rear through the first and second heat exchangers 10, 12. In this embodiment a filter unit 70 is arranged in front of the first heat exchanger, i.e. upstream the heat exchanger when considering the air flow direction A.
The filter unit 70 comprises a first lint filter 72 for filtering the bulk fluff load transported by the drying air and a second lint filter 74 which is arranged behind the first filter 72 and which is provided to filter fluff and fine particles that passed the first lint filter. The filter unit 70 is provided as a removable component that can be removed by taking it out of the front channel 20d which has an opening 80. Opening 80 is forming an opening formed in the lower shell 40c of the base unit 5, wherein in turn the lower shell 40c forms part of the front channel 20d. A channel cover 76 for closing the opening 80 is part of the filter unit 70. The channel cover 76 is releasably secured to the lower shell 40a and serves as a handle for the user to extract and insert the filter unit out of and into the front channel 20d.
The filter unit 70 further comprises an air guiding element 78 that deflects the drying air A coming from the drum 18 towards the horizontal direction first through the first and second filters 72, 74 of the filter unit and then through the heat exchangers 10, 12.
This embodiment shows a washing unit 86 for washing fluff from the front surface of the first filter 72. As mentioned above, such washing unit 86 can be correspondingly applied for washing the front surface of the first heat exchanger - e.g. if no filter unit 70 is provided. The washing unit 86 comprises a supply line 8 which supplies the washing liquid to a nozzle 90 of the washing unit from where it is flown or ejected through at least one nozzle outlet 92 towards the front side of the first filter 72. Washing liquid may be pumped by a pump (not shown) from the condensate collector (see e.g. 30a-b, 30) through the supply line 88 which is formed between the upper side of an upper shell 41 of the base unit 5 and a line closure element 89.
During a washing cycle the nozzle 90 directs a washing liquid flow C (Fig. 9) towards the front side of the first filter 72 from where the liquid and the washed-off fluff flows downwards and exits through the washing liquid inlet 58 and into the washing liquid collector 54c. At the outlet 92 a liquid guide element 82 is arranged, which is part of the filter unit 70 and which assists the nozzle 90 in directing the liquid towards the front side of the first filter 72.
In the embodiments elements and components of the dryer having the same function and/or the same effect and/or being the same are indicated by identical or similar reference numerals. What is described for one embodiment is applicable for the other embodiment - unless otherwise specified.

Reference Numeral List

2: laundry dryer
3: housing
4: heat pump system
5: base section
6: refrigerant loop
8: blower
10: first heat exchanger
12: second heat exchanger
14: compressor
16: expansion device
17: laundry storing compartment
18: drum
19: laundry
20: process air channel
20a: battery channel
20b: rear channel
20c: rising channel
20d: front channel
22: fluff filter element
30, 30a-b: condensate collector
32: drain pump
34: condensate drawer
36: drain conduit
38: drawer pipe
40a-c: lower shell of base unit
41: upper shell of base unit
42a-c: collector cover
43: separation wall
44a-d: supporting element / wall
46a-b: containment wall
48: condensate drain hole
50a-b: heat exchanger fin
52a-b: side wall of heat exchanger
54a-c: washing liquid collector
58: washing liquid inlet
60a-b: air guide element
62: gap
64a-b: front area
66a-b: rear area
70: filter unit
72: first lint filter
74: second lint filter
76: channel cover
78: air guide
80: lower shell opening
82: liquid guide element
86: washing unit
88: supply line
89: line closure element
90: nozzle
92: nozzle outlet
A: process air flow
B: refrigerant flow
C: washing liquid flow

Claims

Laundry treatment apparatus (2) comprising a heat pump system (4), in particular dryer or washer dryer, the laundry treatment apparatus (2) further comprising:
an apparatus cabinet (3),

a laundry treatment chamber (17) for treating laundry using drying air,

an air channel (20) arranged to guide drying air from at least one outlet of the treatment chamber (17) to at least one inlet of the treatment chamber (17),

a heat exchanger (10) arranged within the air channel (20) and adapted to cool the drying air and to condense humidity from the drying air,

a base unit (40a-c) adapted to support the heat exchanger (10) and to receive or provide at least a portion of the air channel (20),

a condensate collector (30a-b) arranged in the base unit (40a-b) and adapted to collect the condensate formed at the heat exchanger (10), and

a collector cover (42a-c) arranged between the bottom side of the heat exchanger (10) and the condensate collector (30a-b), wherein the collector cover is at least covering a portion of the condensate collector (30a-b), and wherein a clearance (62) is provided between the bottom side of the heat exchanger (10) and the top surface of the collector cover (42a-c),

characterized in that

the base unit (40a-c) comprises supporting elements (44a-d) adapted to support the heat exchanger (10), and

when the base unit (40a-c), the collector cover (42a-c) and the heat exchanger (10) are in their respective operational position, the collector cover (42a-c) does not support the heat exchanger (10).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting elements (44a-d) are or comprise one or more wall supports provided on or at the base unit (40a-b).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a liquid washing unit (86) comprising a nozzle (90) with at least one liquid opening (92), wherein the nozzle is adapted to direct washing liquid to a surface of a component (10; 70, 72) where lint conveyed in the drying air is deposited, wherein the component (10, 70, 72) is either the heat exchanger (10) or a filter unit (70,72) of the laundry treatment apparatus, wherein the filter unit (70,72) is arranged in front of the heat exchanger (10).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the base unit (40a-b) further comprises a washing liquid collector (54a-c) and the collector cover (42a-c) further covers at least a portion of the washing liquid collector (54a-b).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the collector cover (42a-c) is at least partially arranged below the component that is to be washed by the washing liquid and wherein a collector cover surface below the component to be washed is sloped towards at least one opening formed between the collector cover top surface and the washing liquid collector.
Laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein, when the base unit (40a-c), the collector cover (42a-c) and the heat exchanger (10) are in their respective operational position, the heat exchanger (10) is resting or supported exclusively directly by the base unit (40a-c) or the collector cover (42a-c) is not in contact with the heat exchanger (10).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the previous claims, wherein the collector cover (42a-c) comprises the or a collector cover surface arranged below the heat exchanger (10), wherein the collector cover surface is sloped and adapted to guide condensate to at least one opening (48) for draining the condensate from the collector cover (42a-c) to the condensate collector (30a-b).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a heat pump system (4) including the heat exchanger (10) adapted to heat the refrigerant and a condenser (12) adapted to cool the refrigerant and heat the drying air.
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the collector cover (42a-c) comprises a condensate collection surface (64a-b) arranged below the heat exchanger (10) and a containment wall (46a-b) designed to prevent the condensate flowing from the condensate collection surface (64a-b) to the area (66a-b) below the condenser (12).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a clearance (62) between the bottom side of the condenser (12) and the top surface of the collector cover (42a-b).
Laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the previous claims,
wherein the collector cover (42a-c) comprises one or more air guiding elements adapted to guide or deflect the drying air to flow along the air channel, or

wherein the collector cover (42a-c) comprises one or more air blocking elements adapted to block or reduce a flow of drying air.