ES2602183T3 - Procedure for operating a dishwasher with at least one "dry" partial program stage - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for operating a dishwasher with at least one "drying" partial program stage, in which in the "drying" partial program stage, of which there is at least one, air is led from a treatment chamber through a sorption column and is conducted back to the treatment chamber, where the sorption column contains reversibly dehydrable material and moisture is removed from the air during the passage through, in which the sorption column is heated by means of a heater or the air in a pipe towards the sorption column for the desorption of the reversibly dehydratable material, characterized in that for the desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material, air is led from the treatment chamber through the sorption column and then back to the chamber treatment and is heated during the passage through and because the passage of air through is carried out during a stage of the program with treatment liquid to be heated.

Description

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PROCEDURE FOR OPERATING A DISHWASHER WITH AT LEAST ONE PROGRAM STAGE

PARTIAL "DRYING"

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a method for operating a dishwasher with at least a partial "drying" program stage.

For drying, for example, parts to be washed in a dishwasher, different methods are known. For example, the parts to be dried can be dried by internal heat drying, when the washing liquid is heated in a "rinse" partial program stage and with this the clarified hot dishes are dried by themselves during the heat drying process. Internal asf tableware generated. To achieve this drying with internal heat, the washing liquid is heated in the "cleared" partial program stage, for example in a heat exchanger, up to a certain temperature and is conducted by means of spraying devices to the parts to be washed. Due to the relatively high temperature of the washing liquid in the "cleared" partial program stage of usually 65 ° C to 75 ° C, it is possible to transmit a sufficient amount of heat to the parts to be washed, whereby the water that is adheres to the dishes evaporates by the heat accumulated in the parts to be washed.

In other known procedures for drying the parts to be washed in a dishwasher, a separate heat source is used, for example a hot air fan to heat the wet air mixture in the drying process, so that the air in the wash basin can absorb a greater amount of water.

Dishwashers are known in which humid air is blown out. This is inconvenient, since the surrounding kitchen furniture is damaged.

Therefore, other procedures are known in which, before evacuating the humid air, it is conducted through condensation surfaces, in which moisture is condensed. This condensation water is conducted well to the wash basin or to special collection containers.

From DE 20 16 831 A1, a method of the type mentioned at the beginning for dishwashers is known, in which the air from the wash basin is conducted through an opening that can be closed by the wall of the wash basin to a reversibly dehydrated material and from ailf through an opening to the outside. The desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material takes place during the stopping phase of the apparatus, however the water vapor which then forms outwardly through the opening is conducted again. As already described this is an inconvenience, since the surrounding kitchen furniture is damaged.

A drawback of the heating system described above corresponding to the state of the art described above is that the heating of the washing liquid implies a high energy consumption and the necessary caloric energy for each heating phase has to be generated by the electric heating elements. The known heating systems also have the disadvantage that the heating of the washing liquid in the "cleared" partial program stage, as well as the development of the "dried" partial program stage itself, implies a high energy consumption and loses the necessary caloric energy after the drying process.

The laundry and washing treatment apparatus of DE 36 26 887 A1 has an air duct system with air duct control elements, in which a container filled with an adsorptive drying medium can be alternately connected to a process air flow to be dehumidified and a regeneration air flow. In a regeneration phase, air from the relatively dry environment is conducted from outside through an air duct through a fan to the container filled with drying medium. Heat is then conducted for regeneration to the drying medium by means of a heating device located in the air ducting channel, through which the surrounding air is sucked through the fan. After traveling through the adsorptive drying medium, the regeneration air that absorbs moisture from said medium and which is thus humid is sent through an air outlet channel to the outside.

In the dishwasher of document DE 38 30 664 A1, the washing liquid to be heated by means of a pump is driven to carry out a washing process, through a passage heater in a dispensing and spray system and is sprayed in the wash basin . A hollow cylinder is arranged around the passage heater as a drying vessel, which is filled with a drying medium that adsorbs moisture and is in thermal contact with the passage heater. The connection of the inlet side of the drying vessel is connected by an air duct with an outlet of the wash basin on the roof side. In this air duct a fan is inserted. By means of its connection on the outlet side, the drying vessel is connected to an ejection opening that flows into the wash basin. The air duct is provided with a closure, which during the washing interrupts the air circulation. After finishing the washing process based on the spray of the washing liquid, the air that contains a lot of moisture is propelled during a drying process from the wash basin by the fan now connected to the drying vessel. The drying medium stored in the drying vessel absorbs moisture from the air flowing through the drying vessel and the air dried in this manner is blown through the connection of the outlet side of the drying vessel and the ejection opening to the wash basin.

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It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method with which it is possible to operate a dishwasher as economically as possible, to efficiently dry the units placed therein, as well as to keep as low as possible the consumption of the energy that this implies.

This objective is achieved by the method corresponding to the invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous improvements of the present invention are characterized in the secondary claims.

In the procedure corresponding to the invention for operating a dishwasher with at least one "dried" partial program stage, the "dried" partial program stage is conducted, of which there is at least one, air from a treatment chamber through of a sorption column and taken to the treatment chamber, the material sorption column containing reversibly dehydratable material and being extracted from moisture air during the passage through.

In an advantageous variant of this process, the air is heated during passage through the sorption column by means of condensation heat and additionally, if necessary, heated by means of a heater.

By using reversibly dehydratable material with hygroscopic property, for example ceolite, it is normally not necessary to heat the units to be treated in the partial program stage that precedes the partial "dried" program stage, for example in the dishwasher in the "clarified" partial program stage. This enables considerable energy savings. However, heating to low temperatures, for example up to 30 ° C, is still appropriate during "rinsing". By heating the air by means of the sorption column, in which the condensation part of the caloric vapor is released, its moisture absorption capacity is increased at each step through the sorption column, which improves the result of drying and shortens the drying time. An additional heating of the air with an additional heater in the partial "drying" program stage beyond the heating with the sorption column and with it for example also of the dishwasher dishwashing is usually not necessary, because the caloric energy that is released in the sorption column is sufficient to heat the air at elevated temperatures, for example 70 ° C. The sorption column is heated by the heat of condensation at high temperatures, for example 150 ° C.

In the preferably closed air system, an exchange of dirty air from the surroundings is completely excluded, thus preventing the units to be treated from becoming dirty again. With the present invention there is provided a procedure with which it is possible to operate devices of the type mentioned at the beginning in the most economical way possible, to dry the units to be dried efficiently, as well as to maintain the energy consumption that this implies as low as possible.

According to a feature of the invention, air for reversible dehydration of the material is conducted from the treatment chamber through the sorption column and to the treatment chamber and is heated during the passage through.

As is known, the reversibly dehydrated material for desorption is heated to very high temperatures, for which caloric energy is needed. Then the accumulated liquid comes out as hot steam. The water vapor is preferably conducted with an air flow to the treatment chamber of the apparatus and the air in the treatment chamber is thus heated and due to this the treatment liquid is heated, for example the liquid washing and / or the units to be cleaned, for example the dishes. The air conducted through it cools, whereby the water vapor contained is completely or partially condensed. This is preferably done as a closed air circuit. The introduction of hot water vapor and heated air into the treatment chamber during a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated or under certain conditions already heated, is very broadly sufficient to sufficiently heat the treatment liquid. With this, another additional heating can be suppressed to a very large extent and the caloric energy used for desorption can be used almost completely to heat the treatment liquid, for example the washing liquid and / or the parts to be cleaned, for example the dishes, except for a small part of the energy that is needed to overcome the forces of union between water and reversibly dehydrated material. It is also guaranteed, along with energy savings, also an efficient cleaning of the parts to be treated to clean them.

The passage of air through is carried out during a part of the partial program with treatment liquid to be heated.

In another embodiment, for desorption of the reversibly dehydrated material, air is conducted through the sorption column and heated and the air is conducted through a heat accumulator to cool it and then the air is conducted for heating. through the heat accumulator and taken to the treatment chamber, to temporarily accumulate in the heat accumulator the heat used for desorption.

According to the invention, the sorption column or the air in a pipe towards the sorption column is heated by means of a desorption heater.

According to another advantageous variant, the treatment liquid and / or the units to be treated are heated by means of the heated air and at least partially the moisture desorbed from the sorption column in the treatment chamber is transferred.

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In addition, in a stage of the partial program with treatment liquid to be heated, for example "rinsing", air can be drawn from the treatment chamber through the sorption column with the heater disconnected and to the treatment chamber, heating by heat of condensation the air in the sorption column.

The invention will be described below based on an example of executing a procedure in a dishwasher.

The procedure corresponding to the invention for operating an apparatus with at least one "dried" partial program stage is performed in the execution program described in a dishwasher. As it is known, a dishwasher has a washing procedure whose general program sequence consists of at least one "pre-washed" partial program stage, a "washed" partial program stage, at least one "intermediate rinse" partial program stage, a "clarified" partial program stage and a "dried" partial program stage. In the context of the invention, in the example of execution described, in the partial "drying" program stage, of which there is at least one, air is conducted from a treatment chamber through a sorption column and then with preference of return to the treatment chamber.

In this example, the dishwasher treatment chamber - the wash basin - has an outlet in the upper area of the wash basin. From this outlet leads an air pipe to a fan and from the fan to the sorption column.

This sorption column contains reversibly dehydrated material, which extracts moisture from the air during the passage through, then heating and thereby also heats the air conducted through. In addition to this heating effect it is also possible to additionally heat the air with a heater.

In the exemplary embodiment, it conducts another air pipe from the sorption column to an outlet located in the lower area of the wash basin.

The heated air led to the wash basin is completely dry and has a high moisture absorption capacity. It rises in the wash basin upwards and absorbs residual moisture from the parts to be treated, the parts to be washed. It is then conducted, as described above, back to the sorption column.

By using reversibly dehydrated material, heating of the pieces to be treated is preferably not necessary, for example, in a dishwasher in the "cleared" partial program stage. This means considerable energy savings. By heating the air, it increases its moisture absorption capacity at each step through the sorption column, which improves the drying result and shortens the drying time. In the preferably closed air system, an exchange of dirty air coming from the environment is completely excluded, thus preventing the units to be treated from becoming dirty again.

The reversibly dehydrable material has, as is known, a limited liquid absorption capacity. To be able to use it again, a desorption is necessary, in which the reversibly dehydrated material is heated to a high temperature and the liquid then comes out as steam.

In the context of the invention, the desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material is preferably carried out during a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated.

In the exemplary embodiment, the desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material is carried out during a partial "washing" and / or "prewashing" stage, in which in a dishwasher the parts to be washed are subjected to treatment liquid - washing liquid - heated by spray devices. For this, a heater located for example in the sorption column is operated, which heats the reversibly dehydrated material to an elevated temperature.

Within the framework of the invention, reversible dehydration of the material is conducted during desorption of air from a treatment chamber, for example, with an outlet through a sorption column and then returning to the treatment chamber, for example with an inlet, heating by means of a heater the air during the passage through.

In the exemplary embodiment, during a partial "washing" program stage, air from the wash basin is aspirated by means of the aforementioned fan and is driven through the sorption column. The hot water vapor that comes out of the sorption column and the now heated air penetrates the wash basin through the aforementioned inlet and then ailf affects the washing liquid that has circulated and / or the dishes.

The introduction of hot water vapor and hot air into the treatment chamber during a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated or in certain circumstances already heated, is very broadly sufficient to sufficiently heat the washing liquid and / or the dishes. With this, another additional heating can be suppressed to a very large extent and the energy used for desorption can be used almost completely to heat the treatment liquid (washing liquid) and / or the dishes, except for a small part of the energy that is it needs to overcome the forces of union between water and reversibly dehydrated material. It is also guaranteed, along with energy savings, also an efficient cleaning of the parts to be treated.

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In another variant, the desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material is not performed during a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated, but at any other time in which the energy that is free in the desorption is temporarily accumulated in a heat accumulator, for example, with a medium that is liquefied with a large heat of fusion or a latent heat accumulator and is transferred when necessary to a treatment liquid to be heated and / or the dishes. Thus, for example in the case that the amount of heat used for desorption is greater than what is needed in a partial program stage, this excess energy can be used advantageously in a subsequent partial program stage with treatment liquid. to heat up

The sorption column is heated - as already described - preferably during a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated with a heater to a very high temperature, for example 300 ° C, so that the sorption column yields the absorbed water.

Also in the partial "drying" program stage the sorption column is heated at high temperatures, for example 150 ° - 200 ° C, by the heat of condensation of the water vapor or of the humidity.

With this you can reach the dry air introduced in the wash basin or the air, water vapor temperatures that can cause damage to the dishes, for example with plastic parts. The inlet temperature of the air in the washing chamber must therefore be lowered in another embodiment with a cooling such that no damage results.

In the "dried" partial program stage, residual water is conducted to or from the inlet opening and in this way the air flow is cooled. It also absorbs dry and hot air a part of the water, which, due to the cold of vaporization, causes the cooling of the air flow. In a partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated, a heat exchange takes place by means of the injection water and the flow of air with water vapor in the inlet opening. Advantageously, the inlet opening is placed such that the air flow does not directly affect the dishes and sufficient cooling of the air flow is carried out by means of the injection water.

In addition to the heater for heating the sorption column - hereinafter referred to as air heating - it has a dishwasher corresponding to the invention, in an embodiment not shown, of a passage heater for the washing liquid, in the event that in Based on the present invention do not give up on it. If in the partial program stage "rinsing" a heating is required in another embodiment, this can be achieved either with the passage heater known by the state of the art or with the air heater with the fan connected. The advantage when heating with the air heater is that in the next part of the "drying" partial program, the accumulated caloric energy in the sorption column can be used for drying.

In another variant, the fan can be switched on - with the air heating switched off - during the partial program stage with treatment liquid to be heated, for example in "rinse".

In this way, humid air is absorbed through the sorption column, which absorbs moisture and the sorption column is heated by the condensation energy that is released and thereby the air conducted through it is heated. With this, the heat of condensation can be used to heat the washing liquid and / or the dishes. The sorption column has to be designed such that a good drying result can still be achieved in the "dry" partial program stage.

With the present invention there is provided a process with which it is possible to operate apparatus of the type mentioned at the beginning as economically as possible, to efficiently dry the pieces to be dried, as well as to keep as low as possible the energy consumption that implies.

Claims (4)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 1. Procedure for operating a dishwasher with at least a partial "drying" program stage, in which in the "dry" partial program stage, of which there is at least one, air is conducted from a treatment chamber through a sorption column and is returned to the treatment chamber, in which the sorption column contains reversibly dehydrated material and moisture is extracted from the air during passage through, in which, by means of a heater, the sorption column or the air in a pipe is heated towards the sorption column for desorption of the reversibly dehydrated material, characterized in that for desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material, air is conducted from the treatment chamber through the sorption column and then returned to the treatment chamber and is heated during the passage through and because the passage of air through is carried out during a program stage with treatment liquid to be heated. 2. Procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment liquid and / or the dishes to be treated is heated by the heated air conducted through and at least partially the desorbed moisture of the sorption column in the treatment chamber is transferred. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in a stage of the partial program with treatment liquid to be heated, for example "rinsing", air is conducted from the treatment chamber through the sorption column with the heater disconnected and is conducted to the treatment chamber, heating by means of the heat of condensation the air in the sorption column. 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the desorption of the reversibly dehydrable material is carried out during the partial "wash" and / or "prewash" program stage.