EP3617393B1 - Wäschetrockner mit einem wärmepumpensystem - Google Patents

Wäschetrockner mit einem wärmepumpensystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3617393B1
EP3617393B1 EP18191847.5A EP18191847A EP3617393B1 EP 3617393 B1 EP3617393 B1 EP 3617393B1 EP 18191847 A EP18191847 A EP 18191847A EP 3617393 B1 EP3617393 B1 EP 3617393B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
dryer
refrigerant
process air
tube
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.)
Active
Application number
EP18191847.5A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3617393A1 (de
Inventor
Francesco Cavarretta
Fabio GAMBARRO
Gianni GOBBO
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Electrolux Appliances AB
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Electrolux Appliances AB
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux Appliances AB filed Critical Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority to EP18191847.5A priority Critical patent/EP3617393B1/de
Priority to PL18191847T priority patent/PL3617393T3/pl
Priority to AU2019208188A priority patent/AU2019208188A1/en
Priority to CN201910801465.XA priority patent/CN110872782B/zh
Publication of EP3617393A1 publication Critical patent/EP3617393A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3617393B1 publication Critical patent/EP3617393B1/de
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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements
    • 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 
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
    • F28D1/047—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F28D1/0477—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
    • F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
    • F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
    • F28F1/24—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely
    • F28F1/32—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
    • 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
    • F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
    • 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
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/12—Inflammable refrigerants
    • 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
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/01—Geometry problems, e.g. for reducing size
    • 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
    • F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a laundry dryer including a heat pump system, wherein the refrigerant of the heat pump circuit includes a flammable refrigerant.
  • the heat pump technology in a laundry dryer is at present the most efficient way to dry clothes in terms of energy consumption.
  • a process air stream flows in a closed process air stream circuit.
  • the heat pump system includes a closed refrigerant circuit.
  • the process air stream is moved by a main fan, passes through a laundry chamber, which is preferably formed as a rotatable laundry drum, and removes there water from wet clothes. Then, the process air stream is cooled down and dehumidified in an evaporator, heated up in a condenser and re-inserted into the laundry drum again.
  • the refrigerant is compressed by a compressor, condensed in the condenser, expanded in an expansion device and then vaporized in the evaporator.
  • the condenser and the evaporator are components of the process air stream circuit as well as of the refrigerant circuit.
  • the condenser and the evaporator are heat exchangers between the process air stream circuit and the refrigerant circuit.
  • the components of the heat pump system are placed in a basement of the laundry dryer.
  • the basement of a laundry dryer is part of a casing, which includes in addition to the basement also walls, substantially vertically supported from the basement, such as for instance a front wall and a rear wall, and lateral walls.
  • a drum In the casing, a drum, where the laundry is introduced in order to dry the same, is rotatably supported.
  • the compressor, the evaporator and the condenser are arranged in said basement below the laundry drum.
  • Typical refrigerants used in heat pumps are Hydroflorocarbons (HFCs), such as, for example, R134a and R407C.
  • HFCs Hydroflorocarbons
  • R134a and R407C Hydroflorocarbons
  • GWP Global Warming Potential
  • hydrocarbon refrigerants such as for example propane (R-290) and propylene (R-1270)
  • R-290 propane
  • R-1270 propylene
  • these natural fluids have ideal thermal and physical properties, besides having a negligible GWP.
  • these alternative refrigerants are flammable and explosive, the existing regulations currently limit the maximum charge of refrigerant in laundry, so as to prevent possible issues due to leakages in the refrigerant circuit.
  • EP2980305A1 discloses a household appliance with a heat pump device, which comprises a refrigerant circuit having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a throttle through which an inflammable refrigerant circulates.
  • EP2881514A1 discloses a tumble dryer equipped with a heat pump device comprising a condenser and an evaporator arranged in a flow channel. Shaped body elements laterally support the condenser and the evaporator.
  • the Applicant has thus realized that, in addition to the choice of refrigerant, also the design of the heat exchangers, i.e. namely of the evaporator and the condenser, can severely affect energy consumption, drying efficiency and time performances.
  • a proper configuration of the heat exchanger(s) allows achieving several benefits, such as maximizing the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the process air, reducing the pressure drop both in the refrigerant and in the process air circuit, and reducing the amount of refrigerant needed for a proper functioning of the heat pump. All these benefits allow saving energy, improve the drying efficiency and, in general, together with the choice of a refrigerant having a low GWP, allow the realization of a more "ecofriendly" dryer.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer with a heat pump system, which allows good performance in terms of efficiency having at the same time a negligible impact on global warming.
  • the invention relates to a dryer including:
  • the dryer includes a "treating chamber”, such as a washing and/or drying chamber (commonly called drum) where the laundry can be located in order to be washed and/or dried; the chamber can be rotated around a chamber axis during the washing and/or drying operations.
  • a "treating chamber” such as a washing and/or drying chamber (commonly called drum) where the laundry can be located in order to be washed and/or dried; the chamber can be rotated around a chamber axis during the washing and/or drying operations.
  • the dryer may be a front-loading dryer, which means that the axis of rotation of the treating chamber is positioned in a horizontal manner or slightly tilted with respect to a horizontal plane, or a top laundry dryer, where the axis of the treating chamber is substantially vertical.
  • the dryer is a front loading laundry dryer.
  • the dryer preferably comprises a casing preferably including a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, top wall and a base section or basement.
  • the front or top wall may comprise a user panel to command the functioning of the dryer by the user.
  • the casing defines the limit between the internal volume of the dryer and the outside to the dryer.
  • the casing includes a door hinged to the casing itself, e.g. to the front wall in case of a front loading dryer, which is openable in order to introduce the laundry in the laundry chamber, or to the top wall in case of a top loading dryer.
  • the basement has, among others, the function of housing several component of the dryer, such as a portion of a drying air conduit, heat exchangers, a motor for rotating the chamber, a fan, etc. Further, it has also the function of supporting some of the walls of the casing.
  • the basement can be realized in any material; preferably it is realized in plastic material. Further, the walls of the casing can also be realized in any material.
  • the basement is generally positioned on a floor and where it rests when the machine is in a standard operating condition.
  • the basement for example may be divided in an upper and a lower shell.
  • the upper and lower shells define the outer boundaries of the basement, dividing a volume "inside” of the basement and an "outside" to the basement.
  • the treating chamber is part of a process air circuit, in particular for example a closed-loop air circuit in case of a condensed dryer or an open air circuit in case of a vented dryer, which in both cases includes an air duct for channelling a stream of air to dry the load.
  • the process air circuit is connected with its two opposite ends to the treating chamber. Hot dehumidified air is fed into the treating chamber, flowing over the laundry, and the resulting humid cool air exits the same. The humid air stream rich in water vapor is then fed into an evaporator of the heat pump, where the moist warm process air is cooled and the humidity present therein condenses.
  • the resulting cool dehumidified air is then either vented outside the appliance in the ambient where the latter is located or it continues in the closed-loop circuit.
  • the dehumidified air in the process air circuit is then heated up before entering again in the drying chamber by means of a condenser of the heat pump, and the whole loop is repeated till the end of the drying cycle.
  • ambient air enters into the drum from the ambient via an inlet duct and it is heated up by the condenser of the heat pump before entering the drying chamber.
  • Different circuits are known in the art in case of a washer-dryer.
  • the heat pump of the dryer includes a refrigerant circuit in which a refrigerant can flow and which connects via piping a first heat exchanger or evaporator, a second heat exchanger or condenser, a compressor and a pressure-lowering device.
  • the refrigerant is pressurized and circulated through the system by the compressor.
  • the hot and highly pressurized vapor is cooled in the condenser, until it condenses into a high pressure, moderate temperature liquid, heating up the process air before the latter is introduced into the drying chamber.
  • the condensed refrigerant then passes through the pressure-lowering device such as an expansion device, e.g., a choke, a valve or a capillary tube.
  • the low pressure liquid refrigerant then enters the evaporator, in which the fluid absorbs heat and evaporates due to the heat exchange with the warm process air exiting the drying chamber.
  • the refrigerant then returns to the compressor and the cycle is repeated.
  • the compressor In order to compress the refrigerant, the compressor includes an electric motor which is commonly powered by a current, for example a current coming from the mains.
  • the first and second heat exchangers are positioned inside the process air circuit.
  • the process air circuit defines a bottom portion or a bottom part.
  • the second heat exchanger is in abutment to the bottom part or portion of the process air circuit.
  • a "horizontal plane" which is used as a reference plane, is defined as follows.
  • the second heat exchanger touches at least in three points the bottom part of the process air conduit. These three points defines a plane and this plane is a horizontal plane for the reference system of the present description. If there are more than three points of abutment between the second heat exchanger and the bottom part/portion of the process air conduit, then the horizontal plane is the plane that includes the majority of the points of connection.
  • This plane is generally really “horizontal” in the general meaning, that is, it is parallel to the floor where the dryer is put, which is commonly accepted to be “horizontal”.
  • the above-defined plane is not horizontal in the common meaning of the term, for example it is tilted (i.e. it forms an angle) with the floor where the dryer is positioned. This can happen for example because the floor is not flat and the dryer had to be adjusted, for example using standard provided "height-adjustable legs", to be stable on an uneven floor.
  • the heat exchanger can be indeed positioned tilted with respect to the floor.
  • said second heat exchanger is located in the basement of the dryer.
  • the refrigerant used in the heat pump circuit is a flammable refrigerant and preferably a hydrocarbon refrigerant.
  • flammable refrigerant a maximum charge limit is set by current regulations, these refrigerants have ideal thermal and physical properties for use in heat exchangers and, most importantly, they have low GWPs, which means a negligible impact on global warming.
  • the first and second heat exchanger of the invention are finned tube heat exchangers each comprising a tube having multiple sections one above the other and a plurality of fins.
  • a total length of said first and second heat exchanger is defined along a length direction, as well as a thickness of the first and second heat exchanger along a thickness direction, perpendicular to the length direction. Both length and thickness direction are horizontal, i.e. they are parallel to the horizontal plane, and are better defined below.
  • Finned tube heat exchangers are the most commonly used type of heat exchangers to transfer heat between a fluid (the refrigerant that flows inside the tube) and the air (the drying process air that flows through the fins and outside the tubes).
  • Such heat exchangers typically comprise a continuous bent tube having straight portions connected by U-bend sections, along which straight portions fins are transversally mounted.
  • the fins are provided with holes, or apertures, having proper shape and size to allow to be assembled transversally along the continuous bent tube.
  • the fins are suitably designed so that a contact with proper interference is ensured between the tube and the holes of the fins.
  • the contact between tube's portions and fins can be random and/or sporadic, due to mounting process that may alter mechanical tolerances and relative positioning of the tube and fins mounted thereon.
  • such heat exchangers may comprise individual straight tubes inserted in circular holes or apertures of transversal fins, such tubes being then expanded to provide a proper contact with interference between the tubes and the circular holes of the fins. Ends of the straight tubes are then connected in pairs by means of short U-bend sections, in order to ensure the continuity of the refrigerant circuit.
  • the U-bend sections are typically welded or soldered to the straight tubes.
  • tube sections there is a plurality of tube sections, all part either of the same tube or of different separated tubes.
  • tube is used in the following to indicate both a continuous bent tube and an assembly of tubes, the latter comprising multiple straight tubes stacked one above substantially parallel to one another, and connected at their ends by suitable connecting sections, such as the aforementioned U-bend sections welded or soldered to the ends of the straight tubes.
  • these tube sections are all parallel to each other.
  • These tube's sections may correspond to the portions of the tube which are "straight", that is extending substantially along a single direction without bends or curves.
  • these tube's sections are horizontal, that is, they are parallel to the horizontal plane.
  • such finned tube heat exchangers generally comprise a central portion, for example corresponding substantially to the length of the straight tubes' sections. This central part is that part across which process air flows and where therefore heat exchange takes place between the refrigerant flowing in the tubes' sections and the process air.
  • the finned tube exchangers include lateral portions, on the two opposite sides of the central portion, comprising U-bend tube sections connecting the straight tube portions and not involved in the heat exchange (or minimally involved in it), as process air is not made to flow therethrough or only minimally.
  • the minimum length of the lateral portions depends on the minimum bending radius of the tubes, which in turns depends on size and flexibility of the material of the tube(s), and on the space needed for welding or soldering the U-bend sections when multiple individual straight tubes are used.
  • the length of the lateral portions (sum of the two lengths) is between 40 and 60 mm. This length is taken along a length direction, which is a horizontal direction. Further details of the length direction are given below.
  • the whole heat exchanger is filled with refrigerant. Therefore, a fraction of refrigerant not involved in the heat exchange, namely the fraction of refrigerant flowing in the lateral portions, must be taken into account when finned tube heat exchangers are involved. This is of particular concern when flammable and explosive refrigerants such as the aforementioned hydrocarbons are used, due to their limited maximum charge. This maximum charge might for example be fixed in regulations.
  • This maximum charge limit can in turn affect the drying performances of the laundry dryer, as the best performances of a conventional laundry dryer are typically observed for higher values of refrigerant charge.
  • length direction a horizontal direction substantially parallel to a plane containing at least two of the multiple tube sections stacked one above the other is meant to be indicated.
  • This plane is preferably a vertical plane, that is, a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
  • length means a measure taken along the length direction.
  • the “thickness direction” is thus automatically defined, being perpendicular to the length direction (and still horizontal).
  • the first and second heat exchanger of the invention are thus divided in three portions: a central portion wherein said multiple sections of the tube are in contact with said fins, and a first and second end portions where said tube is not in contact with the fins.
  • the lengths in the length direction of the three portions -central portion, first and second end portions- are defined along said length direction of the heat exchanger, and the sum of said three lengths corresponds to the total length of the heat exchanger.
  • the thickness of the first and second heat exchanger refers to the thickness of its respective central portion.
  • the thickness refers substantially to the dimensions of the fin, which are generally the broadest component in the thickness direction. Generally, therefore, the thickness of the first and second heat exchanger corresponds to the distance between the opposite ends of its fins.
  • Heat exchange takes place in the central portion of the first and second heat exchanger between the refrigerant flowing in the multiple tube sections and the process air, flowing transversally across the tubes and substantially parallel to the fins, the end portions being provided only to connect said multiple tube sections of the central portion, so as to ensure continuous flow of the refrigerant in the circuit.
  • Such end portions are not provided with fins since process air is not intended to be flown in these areas, so that no heat exchange between refrigerant and air takes place in end portions.
  • the ratio between the thickness of the central part of the condenser and the thickness of the central part of the evaporator is smaller than 1. This means a "thicker" evaporator than the condenser.
  • the ratio is comprised between 0.25 and 1. More preferably, it is comprised between 0.5 and 1.
  • the thicker the heat exchanger the higher pressure drops on the process air side and therefore the lower the performances.
  • the pressure drops affects the process fan increasing its power consumption and may also decrease the amount of process air in the process air circuit decreasing the drying efficiency.
  • a high total inner volume implies in turn a need for a greater amount of refrigerant, which is not available in case of inflammable refrigerant, the maximum amount of which is often fixed by regulations. This in particular affects the condenser where most of the refrigerant is located.
  • a filter In order to filter this air to remove the undesired material, a filter is generally positioned before the evaporator. More than one filter can be used as well. These filters however cannot remove all the undesired material from the process air and it is not uncommon that some fluff may remain in the process air flow. For this reason, the space between fins, especially at the evaporator, cannot be reduced too much because of risks of clogging due to the fluff not trapped by the air filter. The condenser however is not affected by this risk.
  • said first or second heat exchanger is a coil heat exchanger and the tube in said end portions includes bends.
  • the end portions are particularly shaped as U-bend tube sections.
  • said tube has an external diameter comprised between 4 mm and 10 mm.
  • the upper value of such size interval is advantageously selected to limit the inner volume of the heat exchanger so that, for a same amount of refrigerant, a higher density of refrigerant circulating within the coil is obtained, which in turns increases the cooling capacity of the second heat exchanger and reduces the occurrence of pressure losses when low charges of refrigerator are involved.
  • the lower limit, on the other end, is provided to ensure a minimum acceptable cooling capacity of the heat exchanger.
  • the dryer comprises a process air circuit including said treating chamber, and a basement where said heat pump is located, the process air circuit including a basement portion comprising a process air conduit where the first and second heat exchangers are positioned, wherein said central portion of said first and second heat exchanger is completely contained in said basement process air conduit.
  • the whole central portion of the condenser is thus used for heat exchange, using the maximum available heat exchange surface.
  • said flammable refrigerant preferably includes propane or propylene.
  • Propane and propylene are highly efficient natural refrigerants with the lowest levels of harmful emissions.
  • said thickness direction is substantially parallel to the main direction of flow of said process air when passing through said second heat exchanger.
  • the first and second heat exchanger has therefore a so-called "crossflow configuration", particularly suitable for low-pressure applications such as laundry dryers, and in general when a large volume flow of vapor is involved and a low-pressure drop is required. Moreover, this configuration allows a reduced size of the heat exchanger.
  • the thickness of said central portion of said first and/or second heat exchanger is comprised between 40 mm and 150 mm. After a certain thickness, there are no significant improvement in the overall efficiency of the heat pump. Therefore, the selected range is a compromise between a "small" heat exchanger so that little refrigerant is used, and a good heat exchange.
  • said tube is realized in copper, aluminum or a combination of the two. These materials have excellent thermal conductivity, besides having good properties of thermal expansion, resistance to internal pressure, corrosion resistance and fatigue strength.
  • a length direction is defined, perpendicular to said thickness direction, and wherein said first and/or second heat exchanger have a length of the central portion comprised between 200 mm and 450 mm.
  • the volume of refrigerant flowing in each of the three portions of the first and second heat exchanger is proportional to a length of each portion along said length direction. Therefore, by providing a greater length of the central portion relative to the total length of the heat exchanger, the ratio of the volume of refrigerant flowing in the central portion -actively involved in the heat exchange- to the total volume of refrigerant flowing in the second heat exchanger is also maximized.
  • the length of the central portion Le is comprised between 200 mm and 450 mm, more preferably between 200 mm and 300 mm.
  • the length of the tube's sections is equal to: Le > 280 mm, preferably Le > 300 mm, more preferably Le > 320 mm, even more preferably Le > 350 mm.
  • a pitch of the fins of the first and the second heat exchanger is comprised between 1.8 mm and 3.3 mm and 1.4 mm and 3.3 mm respectively.
  • said basement comprises an upper and a lower shell, said basement process air conduit being formed by said upper and lower shells.
  • a pitch of the tubes of the first and/or the second heat exchanger is comprised between 15 mm and 30 mm.
  • the pitch of the tubes is defined as the distance along a vertical direction (perpendicular to the above defined horizontal plane) between nearest-neighbor tube sections, that is, the distance between one tube section and the one immediately above (or below) it along the vertical direction.
  • a pitch of rows of the tubes of the first and/or the second heat exchanger is comprised between 10 mm and 30 mm.
  • the pitch of rows is defined as the distance along the thickness direction (which is parallel to the horizontal plane) between nearest-neighbor tube sections, that is, the distance between one tube section and the one immediately before or after in the direction of flow of the process air it along the thickness direction.
  • said compressor is a rotary compressor.
  • the amount of inflammable refrigerant contained in said heat pump refrigerant circuit is comprised between 80 g and 300 g. More preferably, the amount of inflammable refrigerant is comprised between 100 g and 250 g. More preferably, the amount is comprised between 120 g and 200 g.
  • said first and/or second heat exchanger defines a total length along a length direction, said end portions being at the opposite side of the central portion along said length direction, the total length being smaller than 550 mm.
  • the total length Lt is equal to the length of the central portion plus the two lateral portions.
  • Dryers have commonly standard accepted dimensions to be respected and this maximum length is optimal to use all the available space. For example, standard maximum dimensions of a dryer are in Europe 60 cm ⁇ 60 cm (length ⁇ thickness), while commonly the basement of the dryer is few cm smaller.
  • a laundry dryer realized according to the present invention is globally indicated with 1.
  • Laundry dryer 1 comprises an outer box or casing 2, preferably but not necessarily parallelepiped-shaped, and a drying chamber, such as a drum 3, for example having the shape of a hollow cylinder, for housing the laundry and in general the clothes and garments to be dried.
  • the drum 3 is preferably rotatably fixed to the casing 2, so that it can rotate around a preferably horizontal axis R (in alternative embodiments, rotation axis may be tilted).
  • Access to the drum 3 is achieved for example via a door 4, preferably hinged to casing 2, which can open and close an opening 4a realized on the cabinet itself.
  • casing 2 generally includes a front wall 20, a rear wall 21 and two lateral walls 25, all mounted on a basement 24.
  • the basement 24 is realized in plastic material.
  • basement 24 is molded via an injection molding process.
  • the door 4 is hinged so as to access the drum.
  • the casing, with its walls 20, 21, 25, defines the volume of the laundry dryer 1.
  • basement 24 includes an upper and a lower shell portion 24a, 24b (visible in Figures 3 - 5 detailed below).
  • the dryer 1, and in particular basement 24 is situated generally on a floor.
  • Laundry dryer 1 also preferably comprises an electrical motor assembly 50 for rotating, on command, revolving drum 3 along its axis inside cabinet 2.
  • Motor 50 includes a shaft 51 which defines a motor axis of rotation M.
  • laundry dryer 1 may include an electronic central control unit (not shown) which controls both the electrical motor assembly 50 and other components of the dryer 1 to perform, on command, one of the user-selectable drying cycles preferably stored in the same central control unit.
  • the programs as well other parameters of the laundry dryer 1, or alarm and warning functions can be set and/or visualized in a control panel 11, preferably realized in a top portion of the dryer 1, such as above door 4.
  • the rotatable drum 3 includes a mantle, having preferably a substantially cylindrical, tubular body, which is preferably made of metal material and is arranged inside the casing 2 and apt to rotate around the general rotational axis R.
  • the mantle defines a first end and a second end and the drum 3 is so arranged that the first end of the mantle is faced to the laundry loading/unloading opening realized on the front wall 20 of the casing 2 and the door 4, while the second end faces the rear wall 21.
  • Drum 3 may be an open drum, i.e. both ends are opened, or it may include a back wall (not shown in the appended drawings) fixedly connected to the mantle and rotating with the latter.
  • support elements for the rotation of the drum are provided as well in the laundry of the invention.
  • Such support elements might include rollers at the front and/or at the back of the drum, as well as or alternatively a drum shaft connected to the rear end of the drum (shaft is not depicted in the appended drawings).
  • a roller 10 connected to the basement via a bracket 101a as well as a roller 10 connected to the rear wall 21 via a boss 101 is depicted.
  • Any support element for the rotation of the drum around axis R is encompassed by the present invention.
  • Dryer 1 additionally includes a process air circuit which comprises the drum 3 and a process air conduit 18, depicted as a plurality of arrows showing the path flow of a process air stream through the dryer 1 (see Figures 3 and 4 ).
  • a portion of the process air conduit 18 is formed by the connection of the upper shell 24a and the lower shell 24b.
  • Process air conduit 18 is preferably connected with its opposite ends to the two opposite sides of drum 3, i.e. first and second rear end of mantle.
  • Process air circuit also includes a fan or blower 12 (shown partially in Fig. 5 ).
  • the dryer 1 of the invention additionally comprises a heat pump system 30 including a second heat exchanger (called also condenser) 31 and a first heat exchanger (called also evaporator) 32 (see figure 3 ).
  • Heat pump 30 also includes a refrigerant closed circuit (partly depicted) in which a refrigerant fluid flows, when the dryer 1 is in operation, cools off and may condense in correspondence of the condenser 31, releasing heat, and warms up, in correspondence of the evaporator 32, absorbing heat.
  • a compressor 33 receives refrigerant in a gaseous state from the evaporator 32 and supplies the condenser 31, thereby closing the refrigerant cycle.
  • the heat pump circuit connects via piping 35 (see Fig. 3 ) the evaporator 32 via the compressor 33 to the condenser 31.
  • the outlet of condenser 31 is connected to the inlet of the evaporator 32 via an expansion device (not visible), such as a choke, a valve or a capillary tube.
  • the refrigerant present in the refrigerant closed circuit of heat pump 30 is in this preferred embodiment propane.
  • the laundry dryer 1 of the invention may include a condensed-water canister (also not visible) which collects the condensed water produced, when the dryer 1 is in operation, inside evaporator 32 by condensation of the surplus moisture in the process air stream arriving from the drying chamber (i.e. drum) 3.
  • the canister is located at the bottom of the evaporator 32.
  • the collected water is sent in a reservoir located in correspondence of the highest portion of the dryer 1 so as to facilitate a comfortable manual discharge of the water by the user of the dryer 1.
  • the condenser 31 and the evaporator 32 of the heat pump 30 are located in correspondence of the process air conduit 18 formed in the basement 24 (see Figure 3 ).
  • the condenser 31 is located downstream of the evaporator 32.
  • the air exiting the drum 3 enters the conduit 18 and reaches the evaporator 32, which cools down and dehumidifies the process air.
  • the dry cool process air continues to flow through the conduit 18 till it enters the condenser 31, where it is warmed up by the heat pump 30 before re-entering the drum 3.
  • an air heater such as an electrical heater
  • heat pump 30 and heater can also work together to speed up the heating process (and thus reducing the drying cycle time).
  • condenser 31 of heat pump 30 is located upstream the heater. Appropriate measures should be provided to avoid the electric heater to fuse plastic components of the dryer 1.
  • the process air conduit 18 includes a duct formed by the upper and the lower shells 24a, 24b, having an inlet 19in from which process air is received from the drum 3 and an outlet 19 to channel process air out of the basement 24.
  • the duct is formed, preferably as two single pieces joined together and belonging to the upper and lower shell 24a, 24b, and including a first and a second portion 28 and 29.
  • seats are formed for locating the first and the second heat exchangers 31, 32.
  • heat exchanger 31, 32 are placed one after the other, the second heat exchanger 31 being downstream in the direction of flow of the process air the first heat exchanger 32.
  • the second portion 28 channels the process air exiting from the second heat exchanger 31 towards the basement outlet 19.
  • the heat exchangers, and in particular the condenser 31 are located.
  • the condenser 31 is in contact with the lower shell 24b of the basement 24, which forms a flat portion 29a for the abutment of the condenser.
  • the points of contact between the basement conduit 18 and the condenser define a plane indicated with P in figure 5 .
  • Plane P is considered the horizontal plane of reference. In this case, considering the dryer 1 positioned on a flat floor and a flat portion 29a of the basement, the horizontal plane P is parallel to the floor and it is defined by the standard (X,Y) coordinates. However plane P can be tilted with respect to the floor.
  • a vertical Z direction can be defined, so that also vertical planes, like plane V of figure 4 , can be defined as well, as planes perpendicular to plane P.
  • the heat exchanger 31, 32 comprises a tube or pipe 40 having an inlet 40a and an outlet 40b and including straight parallel sections, all indicated with 41, and bends, all indicated with 42, connecting the straight parallel sections 41 among each other.
  • the sections 41 are one above the other, that is, some of the sections 41 lie on the same vertical plane.
  • the heat exchanger 31, 32 therefore defines several vertical planes one parallel to the other(s) connecting different groups of sections 41. In the same manner, several sections may lie on the same horizontal plane, i.e. a group of sections lie on a plane parallel to the P plane.
  • the heat exchanger 31, 32 therefore defines several horizontal planes one parallel to the other connecting different groups of sections 41.
  • the distance between two nearest-neighbour sections 41 belonging to the same horizontal plane is called the pitch of the row of sections in the same horizontal plane.
  • the distance between two nearest-neighbour sections belonging to the same vertical plane is called the pitch of the sections in the same vertical plane. This is schematically depicted in figure 10 .
  • pipe or tube 40 is realized in Aluminium.
  • a system of coordinates can be defined using plane P, wherein the straight sections 41 are extending along the X direction. This direction is also called the "length" direction.
  • the Y direction defines a "thickness" direction.
  • the bends 42 may be soldered connecting different sections 41 in different planes.
  • the sections 41 are surrounded by fins 50.
  • the fins 50 are positioned perpendicularly to the straight sections 41, that is, they extend along the Y direction. They also define a pitch, that is, a distance between two nearest-neighbour fins is called the fins' pitch.
  • a pitch of the fins of the first and/or the second heat exchanger is comprised between 1.5 mm and 3 mm.
  • a pitch of the tubes of the first and/or the second heat exchanger is comprised between 15 mm and 30 mm.
  • a pitch of rows of the tubes of the first and/or the second heat exchanger is comprised between 10 mm and 30 mm.
  • Fins have apertures 51 in order to accommodate the sections 41 of the pipe 40. A view of the apertures is given in the side view of figure 9 . The fins 50 then are in contact with the sections 41. There is no need to have a connection between each fin 50 and each section 41.
  • each heat exchanger is therefore divided in three parts: a central part 60 where the fins 50 are present and the tube 40 has the straight portions 41, and two lateral portions 61, 62 at the two lateral ends of the central portion 60 free from the fins and including the bends 42.
  • the central portion 60 has generally the form of a parallelepiped, with a front surface 70 which is generally a vertical surface where the process air impinges and an exit surface 71, also vertical, from where the air exits. These surfaces 70, 71 are preferably perpendicular to the main flow of process air (see for example figure 10 ).
  • the surfaces 70, 71 are preferably rectangular.
  • the heat exchangers 31, 32 defines a thickness tevap and tcondens, which is substantially the extension of the fins 50 (assuming that all fins have the same extension) along the Y direction.
  • the condenser and the evaporator preferably: 40 mm ⁇ tevap and tcondens ⁇ 150 mm.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Trockner (1), der Folgendes umfasst:
    eine Behandlungskammer (3), in die Objekte eingebracht und mit einer Prozessluftströmung behandelt werden; und
    ein Wärmepumpensystem (30), das einen Kühlmittelkreislauf hat, in dem ein Kühlmittel strömen kann, wobei der Kühlmittelkreislauf einen ersten Wärmetauscher (32), bei dem das Kühlmittel erwärmt wird, einen zweiten Wärmetauscher (31), bei dem das Kühlmittel abgekühlt wird, einen Kompressor (33), um das Kühlmittel mit Druck zu beaufschlagen und durch den Kühlmittelkreislauf zirkulieren zu lassen, und eine Druckabbauvorrichtung umfasst; wobei der erste und/oder der zweite Wärmetauscher ausgelegt sind, einen Wärmeaustausch zwischen dem Kühlmittel, das im Kühlmittelkreislauf strömt, und der Prozessluft auszuführen; wobei das Kühlmittel ein entflammbares Kühlmittel ist;
    wobei der erste und der zweite Wärmetauscher (32, 31) :
    mit Lamellen versehene Rohrwärmetauscher sind, die ein Rohr (40) umfassen, das mehrere Teilstücke (41) übereinander und mehrere Lamellen (50) hat;
    in drei Abschnitte unterteilt sind: einen zentralen Abschnitt (60), bei dem mehrere Teilstücke des Rohrs (40) mit den mehreren Lamellen (50) in Kontakt sind, und einen ersten und einen zweiten Endabschnitt, bei denen das Rohr nicht mit den mehreren Lamellen in Kontakt ist; und
    eine Dicke (tevap, tcondens) des zentralen Abschnitts (60) längs einer Dickenrichtung (Y) definieren;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    der Wert des Verhältnisses (tcondens/tevap) zwischen einer Dicke des zentralen Abschnitts (60) des zweiten Wärmetauschers (31) und einer Dicke des zentralen Abschnitts (60) des ersten Wärmetauschers (31) kleiner als 1 ist, und
    ein Abstand der Lamellen (50) des ersten und des zweiten Wärmetauschers jeweils im Bereich zwischen 1,8 mm und 3,3 mm und im Bereich zwischen 1,4 mm und 3,3 mm liegt.
  2. Trockner nach Anspruch 1, wobei der erste und/oder der zweite Wärmetauscher (31, 32) ein Rohrschlangenwärmetauscher sind und wobei das Rohr in den Endabschnitten Biegungen aufweist.
  3. Trockner (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei das Rohr einen Außendurchmesser im Bereich zwischen 4 mm und 10 mm hat.
  4. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der einen Prozessluftkreislauf, der die Behandlungskammer (3) umfasst, und ein Fundament (24), in dem sich die Wärmepumpe (30) befindet, umfasst, wobei der Prozessluftkreislauf einen Fundamentabschnitt aufweist, der eine Prozessluftleitung umfasst, bei der der erste und der zweite Wärmetauscher (31, 32) positioniert sind, wobei der zentrale Abschnitt (60) des ersten und des zweiten Wärmetauschers vollständig in der Fundament-Prozessluftleitung enthalten sind.
  5. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das entflammbare Kühlmittel Propan oder Propylen umfasst.
  6. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Dickenrichtung (Y) im Wesentlichen parallel zur Hauptrichtung der Prozessluftströmung ist, wenn diese durch den ersten oder den zweiten Wärmetauscher gelangt.
  7. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Dicke (tevap, tcondens) des zentralen Abschnitts (60) des ersten und/oder des zweiten Wärmetauschers im Bereich zwischen 40 mm und 150 mm liegt.
  8. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Längsrichtung (X) senkrecht zur Dickenrichtung (Y) definiert ist und wobei der erste und/oder der zweite Wärmetauscher eine Länge (Le) des zentralen Abschnitts (60) haben, die im Bereich von 200 mm bis 450 mm liegt.
  9. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wenn abhängig von Anspruch 4, wobei das Fundament (24) eine obere und eine untere Umhüllung (24a, 24b) umfasst, wobei die Fundament-Prozessluftleitung durch die obere und die untere Umhüllung gebildet ist.
  10. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei ein Abstand der Rohre des ersten und/oder des zweiten Wärmetauschers (31, 32) im Bereich von 15 mm bis 30 mm liegt.
  11. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei ein Abstand von Reihen der Rohre des ersten und/oder des zweiten Wärmetauschers (31, 32) im Bereich von 10 mm bis 30 mm liegt.
  12. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Kompressor (33) ein Rotationskompressor ist.
  13. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Menge an entflammbarem Kühlmittel, das im Wärmepumpen-Kühlmittelkreislauf enthalten ist, im Bereich von 80 g bis 300 g liegt.
  14. Trockner (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der erste und/oder der zweite Wärmetauscher (31, 32) in der Längsrichtung (X) eine Gesamtlänge (Lt) definieren, wobei die Endabschnitte (61, 62) in der Längsrichtung auf den entgegengesetzten Seiten des zentralen Abschnitts liegen, wobei die Gesamtlänge (Lt) kleiner als 550 mm ist.
EP18191847.5A 2018-08-30 2018-08-30 Wäschetrockner mit einem wärmepumpensystem Active EP3617393B1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18191847.5A EP3617393B1 (de) 2018-08-30 2018-08-30 Wäschetrockner mit einem wärmepumpensystem
PL18191847T PL3617393T3 (pl) 2018-08-30 2018-08-30 Suszarka do prania zawierająca układ pompy ciepła
AU2019208188A AU2019208188A1 (en) 2018-08-30 2019-07-23 Laundry Dryer including a Heat Pump System
CN201910801465.XA CN110872782B (zh) 2018-08-30 2019-08-28 包括热泵系统的衣物烘干机

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18191847.5A EP3617393B1 (de) 2018-08-30 2018-08-30 Wäschetrockner mit einem wärmepumpensystem

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EP3617393A1 EP3617393A1 (de) 2020-03-04
EP3617393B1 true EP3617393B1 (de) 2022-03-02

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CN (1) CN110872782B (de)
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Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10907299B1 (en) * 2019-10-09 2021-02-02 Whirlpool Corporation Heater and control scheme for multi-compartment dryer
EP3896210A1 (de) * 2020-04-15 2021-10-20 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Wäschebehandlungsgerät mit wärmepumpensystem
EP3896211A1 (de) * 2020-04-15 2021-10-20 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Wäschebehandlungsgerät mit wärmepumpensystem

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL3066406T3 (pl) 2013-11-06 2018-07-31 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Pompa ciepła do urządzenia gospodarstwa domowego
DE102013113506B4 (de) * 2013-12-05 2018-12-20 Miele & Cie. Kg Haushaltsgeräte wie beispielsweise ein Wäschetrockner, ein Geschirrspüler oder ein Waschtrockner mit einer Wärmepumpeneinheit, sowie Verpackungsmaterial für einen Wärmetauscher einerWärmepumpeneinrichtung
EP2980305B1 (de) * 2014-08-01 2017-01-25 Miele & Cie. KG Haushaltsgerät wie beispielsweise ein wäschetrockner, waschtrockner, eine waschmaschine, ein geschirrspüler mit einer wärmepumpeneinrichtung
PL2990520T3 (pl) * 2014-08-29 2020-08-10 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Suszarka do prania zawierająca system pompy ciepła
CN106337269B (zh) * 2015-06-30 2020-06-09 浙江三花智能控制股份有限公司 烘干系统及衣物干燥装置
CN106319910B (zh) * 2015-06-30 2019-08-20 杭州三花家电热管理系统有限公司 烘干系统及衣物干燥装置

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PL3617393T3 (pl) 2022-06-20
EP3617393A1 (de) 2020-03-04
AU2019208188A1 (en) 2020-03-19
CN110872782B (zh) 2023-08-01
CN110872782A (zh) 2020-03-10

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