JP5075771B2 - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laundry dryer for drying laundry with a heat pump.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a washing / drying machine equipped with a heat pump for drying laundry has been attracting attention as having good drying performance and being effective in saving energy. In the washer / dryer equipped with this heat pump, the air in the drum containing the laundry is circulated through a circulation air passage in which an evaporator and a condenser connected in a cycle with the compressor and squeezer are arranged. , Of which the air is cooled and dehumidified with an evaporator, the air is heated with a condenser, the air is fed into the drum one after another, and the air deprived of moisture is passed through a circulation air passage. The laundry is gradually dried.

  Therefore, the moisture generated when the laundry is dried is collected by the evaporator, the latent heat collected in the folding is converted into a high-temperature refrigerant state by the compressor, and reused as energy for heating the air by the condenser. In this way, the energy can be reused without losing almost any energy except for a slight heat loss outside. Therefore, it is possible to realize efficient drying as compared with a conventional laundry dryer that dries laundry with warm air generated by an electric heater, which is effective in shortening the required time and saving electricity costs.

And in the washing dryer provided with such a heat pump, the further saving of the electricity bill required for drying of the laundry is desired. Here, for example, the device described in Patent Document 1 is designed to reduce the operating frequency of the compressor during the drying process. The operating efficiency of the compressor becomes better as the operating frequency is lower. Further, in the latter half of the drying process, the drying rate of the laundry increases, and the amount of water evaporated from the laundry decreases. Therefore, in such a state, by reducing the operating frequency of the compressor and operating the compressor in a low frequency band with good operating efficiency, it is possible to perform an operation with reduced power consumption, and to dry laundry. It is possible to further save the necessary electricity bill.
JP 2004-358028 A

  For example, the user's request to reduce the electricity bill even when the drying time is long can be met by reducing the operating frequency of the compressor as described above. In addition, since the operating efficiency of the compressor is improved as the operating frequency is lower, the power consumption can be suppressed by reducing the operating frequency of the compressor and operating the compressor in a low frequency band. However, in such an operation for reducing the operating frequency of the compressor, if the operating frequency of the compressor becomes too low, there is a problem that vibration and noise accompanying the operation of the compressor are increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing / drying machine capable of saving electricity costs required for drying laundry without causing an increase in vibration and noise. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the washing and drying machine of the present invention includes a main body that forms an outer shell, a water tank provided in the main body, and a water tank that is rotatably provided in the water tank. A drum used for drying, a circulation air passage connected to the water tub, a circulation fan for circulating air into the drum through the circulation air passage when the laundry in the drum is dried, and the circulation air passage A condenser for heating the air circulating in the interior, an evaporator for cooling and dehumidifying the air circulating in the circulation air passage, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant to be supplied to the condenser, and a discharge from the condenser. A heat pump configured to depressurize the refrigerant, a condenser temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the condenser, and a temperature of the condenser detected by the condenser temperature detecting means. The compressor An operation frequency control means for controlling the operation frequency, and when the operation frequency of the compressor is lowered to a predetermined lower limit value, the operation of the compressor is stopped, and then the intermittent operation is started to start the operation of the compressor again. And a control means.

  According to the washing / drying machine of the present invention, when the operation frequency of the compressor is lowered to the predetermined lower limit value, the operation of the compressor is stopped, and then the intermittent operation is started to start the operation again. In this intermittent operation, in a state where the operation of the compressor is stopped, the laundry in the drum is dried only by the air blowing by the circulation fan using the residual heat of the condenser.

  As a result, when the operation frequency of the compressor becomes too low in the operation for reducing the operation frequency of the compressor (when the operation frequency is below a predetermined lower limit value), the operation of the compressor is stopped and An increase in vibration and noise associated with driving can be suppressed. In addition, the compressor can be operated in a low frequency band (a frequency band between a reduced operating frequency and a predetermined lower limit value) with good operating efficiency without causing an increase in vibration and noise associated with the operation of the compressor. Therefore, the amount of power consumption can be reduced, and the electricity cost required for drying the laundry can be saved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a drum-type washing and drying machine will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing an outline of the overall configuration of the washing and drying machine, and FIG. 3 is an external perspective view. First, the overall configuration of the washing / drying machine will be described with reference to FIGS.
A rectangular box-shaped main body 1 that forms the outline of the washing and drying machine includes a front plate 1a that forms the front, left and right side plates 1b and 1c, a rear plate 1d, an upper top plate 1e, and a base plate 1f that forms the bottom. Are assembled and connected. The front plate 1a has a gentle arcuate shape that is inclined rearward as a whole, and an operation panel 2 is disposed above the front plate 1a, and a door 3 is provided below the operation panel 2. . A lower frame 5 having an outlet 4 is attached and fixed between the front plate 1a and the base plate 1f.

  A water tank 6 having a substantially non-porous shape and a bottomed cylindrical shape is disposed inside the main body 1. Inside the aquarium 6, a bottomed cylindrical drum 7 used for washing, dewatering and drying of laundry is disposed. The drum 7 has a large number of small holes 8 in the peripheral wall and is rotatable around the horizontal axis. Both the water tank 6 and the drum 7 are arranged to face the door 3 with a large opening on the front side (left side in FIG. 2). Further, the water tank 6 is elastically supported on the base plate 1 f of the main body 1 via the elastic support device 9 so as to be pivotally supported in a slightly upwardly inclined state. Between the opening of the door 3 and the front opening of the aquarium 6, the bellows 11 that elastically expands and contracts and functions as an input for laundry (clothing etc.) is watertightly connected. A closed space is formed to prevent leakage of water into the interior.

  The drum 7 is formed with a plurality of baffles 12 for scooping up the laundry, and the drum 7 is driven to rotate to agitate the laundry especially during the washing process and the drying process. To be useful. The drum 7 is directly driven by a washing machine motor 13 provided on the back surface of the water tank 6. The washing machine motor 13 is composed of, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor, and the drum 7 is directly connected to the rotating shaft 14 connected to the rotor 13a through the water tank 6. Further, a drain port 15 is formed at the lowermost rear part of the bottom of the water tank 6 and a drain pipe 17 is connected to the middle through a drain valve 16 in the middle. A drainage means for allowing drainage is configured in a drainage place (not shown).

  The water tank 6 is provided with an air outlet 21 and an inlet 22 at positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction. A circulation air passage 20 is connected to the outflow port 21 and the inflow port 22, and the air in the water tank 6 (drum 7) can be circulated through the circulation air passage 20. The outflow port 21 is formed in the upper part on the front side of the aquarium 6, the inflow port 22 is configured to open in the upper part on the back side of the aquarium 6, and the circulation air passage 20 connected to these is connected to the water tank 6. It is configured to bypass and communicate with the bottom. The circulation air passage 20 is connected to the water tank 6, the annular wind duct 23 connected to the outlet 21 of the water tank 6, the air supply duct 24 connected to the inlet 22 of the water tank 6, and the lower end of the annular wind duct 23. The connected bellows-like expansion joint 25, the bellows-like expansion joint 26 connected to the lower end of the air supply duct 24, the intermediate duct 27 connected to the lower end of the expansion joint 25, and the intermediate duct 27 and the expansion joint. And a heat exchange duct 28 connected between the two.

  Inside the heat exchange duct 28 in the circulation air passage 20, an evaporator 31 that cools and dehumidifies the circulating air on the upstream side of the circulating air that is the front part is provided on the downstream side of the circulating air that is the rear part. A condenser 32 for heating the circulating air is provided for each. In the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, a large number of thin plate-like heat transfer fins 31b and 32b are arranged at fine pitches on the refrigerant circulation pipes 31a and 32a each having a meandering shape. The fin-shaped tube type is excellent in heat exchange, and the air flowing between the heat transfer fins through the heat exchange duct 28 as described later (see solid arrows in FIG. 2) is a refrigerant. It passes through the flow pipes 31a and 32a and the heat transfer fins 31b and 32b while being in contact therewith.

  The evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 include a compressor 33 that compresses a refrigerant (not shown) supplied to the condenser 32, and in particular, an electronic throttle valve or a capillary tube, and refrigerant discharged from the condenser 32. The heat pump 35 is configured together with a diaphragm 34 (corresponding to a decompression means) for decompressing the pressure. In this heat pump 35, the compressor 33, the condenser 32, the constrictor 34, the evaporator 31, and the compressor 33 are cycle-connected in this order by the connection pipe 35a (refrigeration cycle), and the compressor 33 operates. By doing so, the refrigerant is circulated (see solid line arrows in FIG. 4). The compressor 33 is a rotary type, and the compressor 33 and the expander 34 are disposed outside the heat exchange duct 28.

  The compressor 33 is provided with a compressor discharge temperature sensor 36 for detecting the discharge temperature at the discharge portion for discharging the refrigerant, and the condenser 32 detects the temperature of the condenser 32 at the middle portion thereof. A condenser temperature sensor 37 (corresponding to the condenser temperature detecting means) is provided, and the evaporator 31 is also provided with an evaporator temperature sensor 38 for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 31 in the middle part thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a circulation fan 41 is disposed at the lower end of the air supply duct 24 constituting the circulation air passage 20 and at the downstream end of the heat exchange duct 28 (right end in FIG. 2). Yes. The circulation fan 41 is used to circulate and supply air into the water tank 6 (drum 7) through the circulation air path 20 particularly during the drying process, and is directed from the air supply duct 24 toward the water tank 6 (solid arrow in FIG. 2). To generate circulating air.

  The upper side surface of the intermediate duct 27 constituting the circulation air passage 20 is located on the upstream side of the circulation air inlet side in the evaporator 31 and on the downstream side of the filter 54 described later. An air discharge port 42 for discharging a part of the circulating air is formed. Further, the upper surface of the heat exchange duct 28 constituting the circulation air passage 20 is located downstream from the circulating air outlet side in the evaporator 31 and upstream from the circulating air inlet side in the condenser 32. Thus, an air introduction port 43 is formed to allow the air in the main body 1 to be introduced into the circulation air passage 20. A part of the air circulating in the circulation air passage 20 is exhausted from the air discharge port 42 of the intermediate duct 27, and the air in the main body 1 is supplied to the air introduction port so as to supplement the discharge of air from the air discharge port 42. The circulation air passage 20 is replenished from 43.

  The air introduction port 43 is provided with, for example, a PTC heater 44 as a heating means. The PTC heater 44 has a temperature of about 70 ° C. when energized, and has a function of heating the air introduced into the circulation air passage 20 from the air inlet 43 during the heating operation described later to warm the air. In addition, the PTC heater 44 functions to heat and sterilize the air introduced into the circulation air passage 20 from the air introduction port 43, and to improve the drying efficiency by heating the air introduced into the circulation air passage 20. It bears the function to make it.

  A slit-like outside air inlet 45 is formed at the lower part of the lower frame 5 of the main body 1. An outside air introduction fan 46 is disposed at a position facing the outside air introduction port 45 in the main body 1. The outside air introduction fan 46 includes a filter 47 that captures dust and the like contained in outside air. The outside air introduction fan 46 is rotationally driven, so that outside air is introduced into the main body 1 and blown into the space around the heat pump 35 and the heat exchange duct 28 in the main body 1. As a result, the air between the outside of the main body 1 (the room in which the washing / drying machine is installed) and the inside can be exchanged.

  An air duct 48 is formed in the intermediate duct 27 in the circulation air path 20. The air passage 48 is provided in the circulation air passage 20 so as to be branched from the air inlet 43 and the air outlet 42 (in this case, the front end portion of the intermediate duct 27). The air passage 48 is configured to communicate between the intermediate duct 27 and the air outlet 4 through the fan casing 49, and the front end (left end in FIG. 2) of the air passage 48 is connected to the lower frame 5 constituting the main body 1. It communicates with the formed outlet 4.

  In the portion between the air inlet 43 and the air outlet 42 in the circulation air passage 20 (in this case, a communication portion inside the intermediate duct 27 where the circulation air passage 20 and the air passage 48 are branched) A damper 50 is provided. The damper 50 is supported by the support shaft 51 so that the upper end portion thereof can be turned up and down. The damper 50 is driven by a damper switching motor 50a (see FIG. 5) composed of a stepping motor, and the air passage 48 is in communication with the circulation air passage 20 (the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). It has the function to switch to the state (state shown as a continuous line in FIG. 2) which interrupted the ventilation path 48 and the circulation air path 20. FIG.

  A cylindrical blower fan 52 composed of a cross flow fan is disposed inside the blower passage 48. The blower fan 52 allows the air introduced into the circulation air passage 20 from the air introduction port 43 through the blow air passage 48 when the damper 50 is switched to the state where the air passage 48 communicates with the circulation air passage 20. From the main body 1 to the outside of the main body 1 and constitutes a blowing means for cooling air during cooling operation and warm air during heating operation.

  A louver 53 having a semicircular arc shape along the arc-shaped outlet portion (left end portion in FIG. 2) of the fan casing 49 is provided at the outlet portion of the air passage 48. The louver 53 has a lattice-shaped opening 53a in a part of a semicircular arc shape, and air blown by the blower fan 52 is blown out through the opening 53a. The opening 53a is open within a range facing the air outlet 4. A non-hole-shaped shielding portion 53b is formed at the upper end portion of the opening portion 53a, and functions to completely close the outlet portion of the fan casing 49. The louver 53 is rotationally driven by a louver motor 53c (see FIG. 5) formed of a stepping motor.

A filter 54 is provided at a portion upstream of the position where the damper 50 is provided in the intermediate duct 27. The filter 54 is a detachable filter member 55 for capturing lint such as lint from the circulating air in the circulation air passage 20, and a filter panel 56 that is integrally formed by extending one end of the filter member 55. It consists of and. The filter panel 56 is substantially flush with the surface of the lower frame 5, has a configuration in which the filter panel 56 can be easily pulled out by placing a hand on it, and forms the upper side portion of the outlet 4.
In addition, a power supply system control unit 57, a display system control unit 58, a water supply valve 59, a water supply case 60, and a water supply hose 61 are provided in the upper part of the main body 1.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the control system of the washing / drying machine. The control device 62 (corresponding to the operating frequency control means, the control means, the weight detection means, the power consumption amount prediction means, and the power consumption amount calculation means) includes the control units 57 and 58, and is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. It functions as a control means for controlling the overall operation of the washing / drying machine. Various operation signals relating to the operation of the washing / drying machine are input to the control device 62 from an operation input unit 63 including various operation switches provided on the operation panel 2. Further, a water level detection signal is input to the control device 62 from a water level sensor 64 provided to detect the water level in the water tank 6.

  Further, temperature detection signals are respectively input to the control device 62 from the compressor discharge temperature sensor 36, the condenser temperature sensor 37, and the evaporator temperature sensor 38. Further, the control device 62 includes a rotation sensor 65 that detects the rotation speed of the circulation fan 41, a rotation sensor (not shown) that detects the rotation speed of the washing machine motor 13, and a rotation sensor that detects the rotation speed of the compressor 33. A rotation detection signal is input from each (not shown). Further, the control device 62 can detect the outside air temperature of the washing and drying machine based on a signal input from an outside air temperature detection sensor 66 (corresponding to the outside air temperature detecting means) such as a thermistor.

  The control device 62 measures the weight of the laundry stored in the drum 7 (weight detection means), and the weight of the laundry can be detected using various methods. For example, the weight of the laundry may be measured based on the rising speed and the falling speed of the rotation of the drum 7, or the time until the rotation speed of the drum 7 rises to a predetermined speed or the time until it falls The weight of the laundry may be measured based on In this case, the rotation speed of the drum 7 is calculated by the control device 62 dividing the rotation speed of the washing machine motor 13 detected by the rotation sensor, that is, the rotation speed of the drum 7 by the required time.

  Further, the motor current value of the washing machine motor 13 (for example, the q-axis current value in the vector control) is closely related to the weight of the laundry put into the drum 7. Therefore, the weight of the laundry can be detected by detecting such a motor current value when the washing machine motor 13 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, 75 rpm).

  The power supply circuit 67 is connected to a commercial power supply and supplies power to the control device 62, the drive circuit 68, and the like. The power supply circuit 67 is provided with a current detection circuit 69 for detecting the supplied current, and an instantaneous current value I detected by the current detection circuit 69 is read into the control device 62. .

  Accordingly, the control device 62 circulates the water supply valve 59, the washing machine motor 13, the drain valve 16, and the circulation fan motor 41 a for driving the circulation fan 41 based on various input signals and a previously stored control program. The compressor 33, the diaphragm 34, the damper switching motor 50a, and the louver motor 53c are driven and controlled via a drive circuit 68.

  The drive circuit 68 includes inverter devices 70 and 71 that are variable frequency output devices. The inverter device 70 controls the frequency of the washing machine motor 13 and the inverter device 71 controls the compressor 33 (in particular, this). The drive motor is controlled in frequency, and the rotational speed thereof is changed.

The washing and drying machine having the above-described configuration is configured to be capable of performing a cooling operation in which cool air is blown out from the outlet 4 and a heating operation in which hot air is blown out.
That is, in the cooling operation, the control device 62 drives the damper 50 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and switches the air passage 48 to communicate with the circulation air passage 20 side. And the ventilation fan 52 is driven, the air in the main body 1 is introduce | transduced in the circulation air path 20 from the air introduction port 43, and the introduced air is sent in the direction opposite to circulation air (refer the broken-line arrow in the figure). ). The air flow in the direction opposite to the circulating air is cooled by passing through the evaporator 31 of the heat pump 35 in the operating state, and the cold air is controlled to be blown out from the blower outlet 4 to the outside of the main body 1 through the blower passage 48. .

  In the heating operation, the control device 62 drives the damper 50 as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and switches the air passage 48 so as to communicate with the circulation air passage 20 side. Then, the blower fan 52 is driven to introduce the air in the main body 1 from the air introduction port 43, and the introduced air is warmed by the PTC heater 44, and as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 31 (in this case, the evaporator 31 is in a non-operating state and has no cooling effect), and control is performed to blow out the warm air from the outlet 4 through the blower passage 48 to the outside of the main body 1.

  Next, the contents of control when the power saving course is executed by the washing / drying machine having the above configuration will be described. The power saving course is an operation in which the operation frequency of the compressor 33 is reduced in the drying process of the laundry in the drum 7 from the operation frequency in the standard operation course and the compressor 33 is operated in a low frequency band. It is a course. Thereby, the circulation of the refrigerant in the heat pump 35 is suppressed, and thus the laundry is dried with less power consumption.

  In the washing and drying machine having the above configuration, when the power saving course is started, the control device 62 first starts the washing process (washing and rinsing). In this washing process, an operation of supplying water into the water tub 6 is performed by the water supply valve 59, and then the washing machine motor 13 is operated, whereby the drum 7 is alternately rotated in both forward and reverse directions at a low speed.

When the washing process ends, the control device 62 proceeds to the dehydration process. In this dehydration process, after the water in the water tank 6 is discharged, an operation of rotating the drum 7 in one direction at a high speed is performed. Thereby, the laundry in the drum 7 is centrifugally dehydrated.
When the dehydration process is completed, the controller 62 proceeds to the drying process. Prior to the start of the drying process, the control device 62 detects the weight of the laundry in the drum 7. Further, the control device 62 detects the outside air temperature of the washing / drying machine.

  And the control apparatus 62 starts a drying process. In this drying process, the control device 62 rotates the damper 50 so as to shut off the air passage 48 and the circulation air passage 20 as indicated by a solid line in FIG. In this state, the control device 62 operates the circulation fan motor 41 a of the circulation fan 41 while rotating the drum 7 in both forward and reverse directions at a low speed by the washing machine motor 13. Then, due to the air blowing action of the circulation fan 41, the air in the water tank 6 flows from the outlet 21 to the heat exchange duct 28 through the annular air duct 23 and the expansion joint 25 of the circulation air passage 20 as indicated by solid arrows in FIG. Flows in.

  At this time, the operation of the compressor 33 of the heat pump 35 is started. The operation of the compressor 33 compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant (gas), and the high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant flows into the condenser 32 to exchange heat with the air in the heat exchange duct 28. As a result, the air in the heat exchange duct 28 is heated, and conversely, the temperature of the refrigerant is lowered and liquefied. The liquefied refrigerant then passes through the restrictor 34 and is decompressed, and then flows into the evaporator 31 and vaporizes. Thereby, the evaporator 31 cools the air in the heat exchange duct 28. Then, the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 31 returns to the compressor 33.

  As a result, the air flowing into the heat exchange duct 28 from the water tank 6 is cooled by the evaporator 31 and dehumidified, and then heated by the condenser 32 to be warmed. Then, the hot air is supplied from the inlet 22 into the water tank 6 through the expansion joint 26 and the air supply duct 24, and further into the drum 7 from the hot air inlet 7 a (see FIG. 2) on the back surface of the drum 7. Supplied. The hot air supplied into the drum 7 deprives the laundry of moisture, and then flows into the heat exchange duct 28 from the outlet 21 through the annular air duct 23 and the expansion joint 25. In this manner, air circulates between the heat exchange duct 28 in which the evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are disposed and the drum 7, whereby the laundry in the drum 7 is gradually dried. The dehumidified water generated by the cooling action of the evaporator 31 is temporarily stored in a drain tank (not shown) provided in the lower part of the evaporator 31 and discharged outside the apparatus by a drain pump (not shown). The

  Here, the control content of the intermittent operation of the compressor 33 executed in the above-described drying process will be described with reference to FIG. 1, (a) is a change in the operating frequency of the compressor 33, (b) is a change in the temperature of the condenser 32, (c) is a change in the rotational speed of the circulation fan 41, and (d) is a change in the outside air introduction fan 46. A change in the driving state, (e) shows a change in the integrated value of the power consumption during the drying process.

  In the drying process, the control device 62 controls the operating frequency of the compressor 33 based on the temperature of the condenser 32 detected by the condenser temperature sensor 37. Then, at the start of the drying process, the control device 62 sets the operation frequency of the compressor 33 by the inverter device 71 to 50 Hz which is lower than the operation frequency in the standard operation course (in this case, the maximum operation of the compressor 33 is possible). To a frequency lower than 100 Hz, which is the frequency).

  The control device 62 maintains the operating frequency of the compressor 33 at the above-described operating frequency (50 Hz) until the temperature of the condenser 32 detected by the condenser temperature sensor 37 rises to a set temperature A (for example, 50 ° C.). To do. When the temperature of the condenser 32 increases to the set temperature A (see point a shown in FIG. 1B), the control device 62 gradually increases the operating frequency of the compressor 33 (for example, 1 Hz every 30 seconds). ) Reduce. Thereby, the temperature rise of the condenser 32 is suppressed and the temperature of the condenser 32 is kept substantially constant. When the operating frequency of the compressor 33 is lowered to a predetermined lower limit value (in this case, 40 Hz) (see point b shown in FIG. 1A), the control device 62 stops the operation of the compressor 33. At this time, the temperature of the condenser 32 is maintained at a set temperature B (for example, 55 ° C.).

  When the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped, the heating of the condenser 32 is stopped, so that the temperature of the condenser 32 gradually decreases. And if the temperature of the condenser 32 falls to predetermined set temperature C (for example, 40 degreeC) (refer the point c shown in FIG.1 (b)), the control apparatus 62 will start the driving | operation of the compressor 33 again (reactivation). ) At this time, the control device 62 again raises the operating frequency of the compressor 33 to 50 Hz, but the temperature of the condenser 32 temporarily decreases to a temperature lower than the set temperature C until the frequency reaches 50 Hz. Thereafter, as the operating frequency of the compressor 33 reaches 50 Hz, the temperature of the condenser 32 starts to rise.

  When the temperature of the condenser 32 increases to the set temperature A, the control device 62 gradually decreases the operating frequency of the compressor 33, and when the operating frequency of the compressor 33 decreases to a predetermined lower limit (40 Hz), The operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. The control device 62 is configured to repeatedly execute such intermittent operation of the compressor 33. In this intermittent operation of the compressor 33, the drying of the laundry in the drum 7 proceeds with the elapse of the drying time. Therefore, the temperature of the condenser 32 is increased after the operating frequency of the compressor 33 is increased to 50 Hz. The time T until the set temperature A is reached gradually decreases as the drying time elapses.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.1 (c), when the operating frequency of the compressor 33 falls to a predetermined | prescribed lower limit (40Hz) and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped, the control apparatus 62 of the circulation fan 41 is stopped. The rotational speed is increased from 3000 rpm, which is the rotational speed during operation of the compressor 33, to 4000 rpm. When the temperature of the condenser 32 is lowered to the predetermined set temperature C and the compressor 33 is restarted, the control device 62 sets the rotational speed of the circulation fan 41 to 3000 rpm which is the rotational speed during the operation of the compressor 33. return.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1D, the control device 62 causes the outside air introduction fan 46 when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 is lowered to a predetermined lower limit (40 Hz) and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. Is driven (turned on) at a predetermined rotational speed (for example, 2000 rpm). When the temperature of the condenser 32 is lowered to the predetermined set temperature C and the compressor 33 is restarted, the control device 62 turns off the outside air introduction fan 46.

  In addition, the control device 62 controls the damper 50 so that the flow path of the circulation air passage 20 is narrowed when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 is lowered to a predetermined lower limit (40 Hz) and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. The open / close state is controlled. That is, the control device 62 rotates the damper 50 so that the opening amount on the air discharge port 42 side becomes smaller than the opening amount on the air passage 48 side (a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2).

  Further, the control device 62 refers to the power consumption table stored in advance shown in FIG. 6 so as to grasp the predicted value of the power consumption corresponding to the laundry weight and the outside air temperature detected before the drying process. (Power consumption prediction means). For example, when the detected laundry weight is 3 kg and the detected outside air temperature is 20 ° C., the predicted value of the power consumption is 1300 Wh.

  Further, the control device 62 calculates the amount of power consumed in this drying process (power consumption amount Wh) (power consumption amount calculation means). In this case, the control device 62 calculates a power consumption amount Wh by integrating a value obtained by multiplying the current value I detected every t minutes by the voltage V (in this case, 100 V) (Wh = Σ (V × I). X t / 60)).

  Then, the control device 62 repeatedly executes the intermittent operation of the compressor 33 described above until the calculated power consumption amount Wh reaches the predicted value of the power consumption amount (see point d shown in FIG. 1E). It is supposed to be. In addition, after the calculated power consumption amount Wh reaches the predicted value of the power consumption amount, the circulation fan 41 is operated at a predetermined rotational speed (in this case, 4000 rpm) for a predetermined time with the operation of the compressor 33 stopped. While driving (about 2 to 3 minutes), the outside air introduction fan 46 is driven for a predetermined time (about 2 to 3 minutes). Thus, a wind drying operation is performed by circulating air supplied into the drum 7 through the circulation air passage 20 while introducing outside air into the circulation air passage 20.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 decreases to a predetermined lower limit value (in this case, 40 Hz), the control device 62 stops the operation of the compressor 33, and then The intermittent operation for starting the operation of the compressor 33 is executed again. In the intermittent operation, in a state where the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped, the laundry in the drum 7 is dried only by the air blown by the circulation fan 41 using the residual heat of the condenser 32.

  As a result, when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 becomes too low in the operation of reducing the operation frequency of the compressor 33 (when the operation frequency is below a predetermined lower limit value), the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped and the operation is performed. An increase in vibration and noise associated with the operation of the compressor 33 can be suppressed. Further, the compressor 33 is operated in a low frequency band (a frequency band between a reduced operating frequency and a predetermined lower limit value) with good operating efficiency without causing an increase in vibration and noise associated with the operation of the compressor 33. As a result, the amount of power consumption can be reduced, and the electricity bill required for drying the laundry can be saved.

  Further, when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 decreases to a predetermined lower limit value and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped, the control device 62 sets the rotational speed of the circulation fan 41 from the rotational speed during the operation of the compressor 33. Also configured to be higher. As a result, the amount of air flowing into the circulation air passage 20 from the air introduction port 43 increases, so that the replacement of the air containing moisture inside the circulation air passage 20 with the dry air outside the circulation air passage 20 is promoted. The Thereby, the drying efficiency by wind drying using the residual heat of the condenser 32 can be improved.

  Further, the control device 62 is configured to drive the outside air introduction fan 46 when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 decreases to a predetermined lower limit value and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. Therefore, the air between the outside and inside of the main body 1 can be exchanged, and drier air can be introduced into the inside of the main body 1. Thereby, dry air can be mixed into the circulating air in the circulating air passage 20 to reduce the humidity of the circulating air, and the drying effect by wind drying using the residual heat of the condenser 32 can be enhanced.

  Further, the control device 62 opens and closes the damper 50 so that the flow path of the circulation air passage 20 is narrowed when the operation frequency of the compressor 33 is lowered to a predetermined lower limit value and the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. Configured to control. As a result, the circulating air flowing through the annular wind duct 23 and the expansion joint 25 becomes difficult to flow to the heat exchange duct 28 side, and is easily discharged from the air outlet 42 accordingly. The amount of air inside the main body 1 that is introduced into the circulation air passage 20 from the air introduction port 43 is increased by the amount that the circulation air is easily discharged from the air discharge port 42. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly replace the humid air inside the circulation air passage 20 supplied to the drum 7 with the dry air outside the circulation air passage 20, and by wind drying using the residual heat of the condenser 32. The drying effect can be enhanced.

  In this case, the amount of air discharged from the air outlet 42 and the amount of air introduced from the air inlet 43 can be adjusted according to the open / close state of the damper 50. Therefore, by adjusting the open / close state of the damper 50, the efficiency of switching between the air inside the circulation air passage 20 and the air outside the circulation air passage 20, and further drying by wind drying using the residual heat of the condenser 32. The efficiency can be adjusted.

  Further, the control device 62 repeats the intermittent operation of the compressor 33 until the power consumption amount Wh calculated in the drying process reaches the predicted value of the power consumption amount, and the calculated power consumption amount Wh is the power consumption amount. After reaching the predicted value, the air drying operation by the circulation fan 41 is executed while the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped. Thereby, wind drying using the residual heat of the condenser 32 can be performed in the final stage (finishing stage) of the drying process, and the laundry in the drum 7 can be dried more reliably. In addition, drying is not performed exceeding the predicted value of the power consumption corresponding to the laundry weight and the outside air temperature, and wasteful power consumption due to overdrying can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The operation of the compressor 33 may be stopped when the rotational speed of the compressor 33 is reduced to a predetermined lower limit value.

  In the intermittent operation of the compressor 33, the predetermined lower limit value serving as a reference for stopping the operation of the compressor 33 is not limited to 40 Hz, but the performance of the compressor 33, the target power consumption or the power used. It can be set as appropriate according to the unit price of.

  In the intermittent operation of the compressor 33, the condition for starting the operation of the compressor 33 again after stopping the operation of the compressor 33 is not limited to the temperature of the condenser 32 being lowered to a predetermined set temperature C. Absent. For example, the operation of the compressor 33 may be started again when a predetermined time (for example, about 10 minutes) elapses after the operation of the compressor 33 is stopped.

  Instead of introducing outside air from the outside air introduction port 45 by the outside air introduction fan 46, the damper 50 is switched to a state where the air passage 48 communicates with the circulation air passage 20, and in this state, outside air is introduced from the air passage 48. May be.

  In the wind drying operation performed after the calculated power consumption amount Wh reaches the predicted value of the power consumption amount, the PTC heater 44 is turned on as necessary (for example, when the moisture is high or the laundry that is difficult to dry is dried). It may be configured to operate.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to a washing and drying machine having both washing and drying functions, and can also be applied to a drying machine having only a drying function. Moreover, it is not restricted to the horizontal axis | shaft type which arrange | positioned the drum 7 in the shape of a horizontal axis, It can apply also to the vertical axis | shaft type which has a bottomed cylindrical rotating tank in a vertical axis | shaft shape.

The figure for showing one Embodiment of this invention, and explaining the control content of the intermittent operation of the compressor performed in a drying process Longitudinal side view showing the outline of the overall configuration of the drum-type washing and drying machine External perspective view of the washer / dryer Cycle diagram of heat pump Electrical configuration block diagram Diagram showing power consumption table

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a main body, 4 is an outlet, 6 is a water tank, 7 is a drum, 20 is a circulation air passage, 31 is an evaporator, 32 is a condenser, 33 is a compressor, 34 is a throttle (pressure reducing means), 35 is a heat pump, 37 is a condenser temperature sensor (condenser temperature detecting means), 41 is a circulation fan, 42 is an air discharge port, 43 is an air introduction port, 46 is an outside air introduction fan, 48 is an air passage, 50 is a damper, Reference numeral 52 denotes a blower fan, 62 denotes a control device (operation frequency control means, control means, weight detection means, power consumption amount prediction means, power consumption amount calculation means), and 66 denotes an outside air temperature detection sensor (outside air temperature detection means).

Claims (5)

A body forming an outer shell;
A water tank provided in the main body;
A drum that is rotatably provided in the water tank, and is used for washing, dehydrating and drying laundry;
A circulation air passage connected to the water tank;
A circulation fan for circulating air into the drum through the circulation air passage when the laundry in the drum is dried;
A condenser that heats the air circulating in the circulation air passage; an evaporator that cools and dehumidifies the air circulating in the circulation air passage; a compressor that compresses the refrigerant supplied to the condenser; and the condensation A heat pump comprising a decompression means for decompressing the refrigerant discharged from the container;
Condenser temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the condenser;
An operating frequency control means for controlling the operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature of the condenser detected by the condenser temperature detecting means;
When the operating frequency of the compressor is reduced to a predetermined lower limit value, the compressor is provided with a control unit that stops the operation of the compressor and then performs the intermittent operation of starting the operation of the compressor again. Washing and drying machine.   When the operation frequency of the compressor is lowered to the predetermined lower limit value and the operation of the compressor is stopped, the control means determines the number of rotations of the circulation fan during the operation of the compressor. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing / drying machine has a higher rotational speed. An air inlet provided in the circulation air passage, for introducing air into the circulation air passage;
An outside air introduction fan that introduces outside air outside the body and exchanges air between the outside and inside of the body,
The said control means drives the said external air introduction fan, when the operation frequency of the said compressor falls to the said predetermined | prescribed lower limit, and the operation of the said compressor is stopped. Laundry dryer. An air inlet provided in the circulation air passage, for introducing air into the circulation air passage;
An air outlet provided in the circulation air passage, for discharging air in the circulation air passage;
An air passage that is branched from between the air inlet and the air outlet in the circulation air passage, and communicates with an air outlet formed in the main body;
A damper that is provided between the air inlet and the air outlet in the circulation air passage, and the air passage is switched between a state where the air passage communicates with the circulation air passage and a state where the air passage is shut off;
When the damper is switched to the state where the air passage is communicated with the circulation air passage, the air introduced from the air introduction port into the circulation air passage is passed through the air passage from the outlet to the outside of the main body. A blower fan for blowing air,
The control means controls the open / close state of the damper so that the flow path of the circulation air passage is narrowed when the operation frequency of the compressor is lowered to the predetermined lower limit value and the operation of the compressor is stopped. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above. Weight detection means for detecting the weight of the laundry in the drum;
An outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature of the main body;
Based on the weight of the laundry detected by the weight detection means and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection means, a power consumption prediction means for predicting the power consumption required for drying the laundry; ,
Power consumption calculating means for calculating the amount of power consumed in drying the laundry,
The control means is calculated by repeating intermittent operation of the compressor until the power consumption calculated by the power consumption calculation means reaches the power consumption predicted by the power consumption prediction means. 5. The air drying operation by the circulation fan is executed in a state where the operation of the compressor is stopped after the power consumption reaches the predicted power consumption. The washer-dryer according to crab

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