KR20230174405A - Dishwasher including a heat pump apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A dishwasher according to one embodiment may include a tub that forms a washing space and accommodates dishes, and a heat pump device that heats washing water flowing into the tub. The heat pump device includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, refrigerant flows in from the compressor, a condenser that heats water flowing into the tub, refrigerant flows in from the condenser, an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant, and refrigerant flows in from the expansion valve. It includes a first evaporator that absorbs heat from the surrounding room temperature air and evaporates the refrigerant, and a second evaporator that receives refrigerant from the first evaporator, discharges the refrigerant to the compressor, and absorbs heat from stored water to evaporate the refrigerant. can do.

Description

Dishwasher including a heat pump device {DISHWASHER INCLUDING A HEAT PUMP APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a dishwasher including a heat pump device, and more specifically, to a dishwasher including a heat pump device having a structure with improved energy efficiency when heating wash water.

The content described in this section simply provides background information about the present invention and does not constitute prior art.

A dishwasher is a device that sprays washing water to clean dishes and cooking utensils stored inside. At this time, the washing water used for washing may contain detergent.

A dishwasher generally includes a washing tank that forms a washing space, a storage portion that accommodates the washing object within the washing tank, a spray arm that sprays wash water into the storage portion, and a sump that stores the wash water and supplies wash water to the spray arm. .

By using a dishwasher, the time and effort required to wash dishes after a meal can be reduced, contributing to user convenience.

When washing using a dishwasher, the washing water can be heated to increase the washing effect. An electric heater can be used as a heating device for washing water. Meanwhile, in another way, the washing water can be heated using a heat pump device instead of an electric heater.

Since heat pump devices have higher energy efficiency than electric heaters, electricity consumption can be reduced when heating washing water with a heat pump device.

EP 2064982 B1, a prior art, discloses a dishwasher having a structure that heats wash water using a heat pump. 1 is a diagram disclosed in the prior art.

In the prior art, the heat pump is installed at the bottom of the tub 1, where dishes are accommodated and dishes are washed, and includes a condenser 8 that emits heat to heat the bottom of the tub 1, and a condenser 8 that absorbs heat. It includes two evaporators (10a, 10b).

The evaporators 10a and 10b are installed on the side wall of the tub 1 and include a first evaporator 10a that absorbs heat from the tub 1 and a second evaporator 10b that absorbs heat from the drain area 16. do.

The first evaporator 10a absorbs heat from the inside of the tub 1 in an atmosphere higher than the external temperature by heated water or air and evaporates the refrigerant flowing through the first evaporator 10a.

The first evaporator (10a) absorbs heat from the tub (1), and on the other hand, the condenser (8) has a structure that discharges heat to the tub (1), so the inside of the tub (1) contains the heat obtained from the condenser (8). A significant amount of the heat is lost back to the first evaporator (10a).

Therefore, due to this structure, in the prior art, the washing water present inside the tub 1 is heated by the heat remaining after subtracting the heat absorbed by the first evaporator 10a from the heat obtained from the condenser 8, and as a result, the heat pump Energy efficiency is bound to be very low.

This is because in the prior art, the condenser (8) and the first evaporator (10a) are placed in the same tub (1), so that applying heat to the tub (1) and taking heat away from the tub (1) occur simultaneously. ) This is because the amount of heat that heats the washing water inside is very small.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a heat pump device with a structure that can overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and increase energy efficiency.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher with improved energy efficiency by heating wash water using a heat pump device instead of an electric heater.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher that includes a heat pump device that evaporates refrigerant using two types of heating media: air and water.

In addition, the object of the present invention is to evaporate the refrigerant using a plurality of evaporators provided separately from the tub, thereby suppressing heat loss in the tub and heating the washing water, thereby comprising a heat pump device having a structure that significantly improves energy efficiency. To do so, a dishwasher is provided.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects and advantages of the present invention that are not mentioned can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. Additionally, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the patent claims.

One embodiment of the dishwasher may include a heat pump device. The heat pump device is mounted on the dishwasher to heat wash water flowing into the tub, and may include a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporation device. The compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporation device are connected by piping, and refrigerant can flow through the piping.

The compressor can compress the refrigerant and discharge the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure. The condenser receives refrigerant from the compressor and can heat water flowing into the tub. Accordingly, the refrigerant may lose heat while flowing through the condenser and condense from gas to liquid. The expansion valve allows refrigerant to flow in from the condenser and expands the refrigerant. The refrigerant can be cooled by expanding as it passes through the expansion valve.

The evaporation device allows refrigerant to flow in from an expansion valve, discharges the refrigerant to a compressor, and absorbs heat from the surrounding room temperature air and stored water to evaporate the refrigerant. As the refrigerant passes through the evaporation device, it absorbs heat and evaporates to become a gas. The evaporation device may include a first evaporator and a second evaporator.

The refrigerant can release heat from QH as it passes through the condenser. The heat released from the condenser can be used to heat the wash water.

In order to actively transfer heat in the first evaporator of the evaporation device, it is appropriate to allow a large amount of air to flow toward the first evaporator. For this purpose, the heat pump device may be equipped with a blowing fan that blows air toward the first evaporator.

In embodiments, the heat pump device may utilize two evaporators. One evaporator is the first evaporator in which heat transfer occurs by air, and the other is the second evaporator in which heat transfer occurs by water. Accordingly, two small evaporators with relatively small volumes are provided separately from each other, and each evaporator can be distributed and arranged in the space of the dishwasher.

The dishwasher may include a sump provided at the bottom of the tub to store washing water, and a spray arm provided in the tub, connected to the sump, and spraying washing water. The condenser and sump may be connected by piping to allow wash water to circulate.

The dishwasher may include a first water supply passage and a water pump. The first water supply passage connects the sump and the spray arm, and allows washing water to flow. The water pump is disposed in the first water supply passage and can supply washing water from the sump to the spray arm.

The dishwasher may include a circulation passage and a circulation pump. The circulation passage may be connected to the condenser and the sump and may be provided to circulate washing water. The circulation passage is connected to the condenser, and the washing water passes through the condenser through the circulation passage and can be heated by absorbing heat from the refrigerant flowing through the condenser. The refrigerant may condense in the condenser as it loses heat to the wash water.

The circulation pump is disposed in the circulation passage and can circulate the washing water between the condenser and the sump. The washing water flows into the condenser and is heated by the circulation pump, the heated washing water discharged from the condenser flows into the sump through the circulation passage, and the heated washing water flowing into the sump is pumped by the water pump and flows into the spray arm to produce spray. It can be sprayed into the tub through the sandstone.

In a dishwasher according to another embodiment, the washing water may fall downward from the tub, flow into the sump, and then sequentially pass through the sump, condenser, and spray arm to be sprayed onto the tub. That is, all of the washing water flowing into the sump can pass through the condenser and flow into the spray arm.

A dishwasher according to one embodiment may include a tub that forms a washing space and accommodates dishes, and a heat pump device that heats washing water flowing into the tub.

The heat pump device includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, refrigerant flows in from the compressor, a condenser that heats water flowing into the tub, refrigerant flows in from the condenser, an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant, and refrigerant flows in from the expansion valve. It includes a first evaporator that absorbs heat from the surrounding room temperature air and evaporates the refrigerant, and a second evaporator that receives refrigerant from the first evaporator, discharges the refrigerant to the compressor, and absorbs heat from stored water to evaporate the refrigerant. can do.

The dishwasher is disposed to face the first evaporator and may include a blowing fan that blows external air toward the first evaporator.

The dishwasher may include a sump provided at the bottom of the tub to store washing water, and a spray arm provided in the tub, connected to the sump, and spraying washing water.

The dishwasher includes a condenser and a sump connected by a pipe so that washing water circulates, a first water supply passage connecting the sump and the spray arm, and a water pump disposed in the first water supply passage and supplying washing water from the sump to the spray arm. can do.

The dishwasher may include a circulation passage connected to the condenser and the sump and provided to circulate washing water, and a circulation pump disposed in the circulation passage and circulating the washing water between the condenser and the sump.

Washing water may fall downward from the tub, flow into the sump, and then sequentially pass through the sump, condenser, and spray arm to be sprayed onto the tub.

The dishwasher may include a second water supply passage connecting the sump and the condenser, a water pump disposed in the second water supply passage and supplying washing water to the spray arm, and a third water supply passage connecting the condenser and the spray arm.

The blowing fan may be disposed between the sump and the first evaporator, and the wind direction of the blowing fan may be directed in a direction opposite to the direction facing the sump.

The dishwasher is provided at the bottom of the tub and includes a base that supports the tub, and a condenser, a first evaporator, and a blowing fan may be disposed on the base.

A sump is disposed in a portion of the interior of the base, and the condenser, first evaporator, and blower fan may be disposed in a location avoiding the location where the sump is disposed.

The second evaporator may be placed on one side of the tub.

The tub includes a side wall forming one side, the second evaporator is disposed outside the tub to face the side wall, and an insulation member may be disposed between the side wall and the second evaporator.

The second evaporator may include a water tank in which a space for storing water is formed, and a tube disposed in the inner space of the water tank, in which a plurality of bending portions are formed, and through which a refrigerant flows.

The water tank may have a shape corresponding to the side wall of the tub and may be formed to have a predetermined thickness so that a space is formed inside.

The condenser may be equipped with a plate heat exchanger.

In the dishwasher according to the present invention, an evaporation device including a first evaporator in which heat transfer occurs by air and a second evaporator in which heat transfer occurs by water can be used. Accordingly, two small evaporators with relatively small volumes are provided separately from each other, and each evaporator can be distributed and arranged in the space of the dishwasher. Accordingly, an evaporation device with a considerably large capacity can be placed in the limited space of the dishwasher, thereby improving the space efficiency of the dishwasher. Additionally, since the amount of air flow can be reduced, the power consumption of the blower fan can be reduced and the level of noise generated by the operation of the blower fan can be significantly reduced.

Additionally, in the dishwasher according to the present invention, the blowing fan may be disposed between the sump and the first evaporator, and the wind direction of the blowing fan may be provided in a direction opposite to the direction facing the sump. Accordingly, the wind direction of the blowing fan forces air to flow toward the first evaporator, but may not force air to flow toward the sump. Accordingly, cooling of the heated washing water stored in the sump by air forced by the blower fan is effectively suppressed, and thus the energy efficiency of the dishwasher can be improved.

Additionally, in the dishwasher according to the present invention, by arranging the second evaporator on one side of the tub, there is no need to change the size and structure of the second evaporator to fit the space of the base in order to place it in the limited space of the base, thus saving space in the dishwasher. Efficiency can be increased.

Additionally, in the dishwasher according to the present invention, an insulating member is disposed between the second evaporator and the tub to prevent the heated washing water present in the tub from losing heat by the second evaporator, so that the second evaporator is disposed on one side of the tub. Even so, it is possible to effectively prevent the temperature of the heated washing water present in the tub from being lowered by the second evaporator. Accordingly, the energy efficiency of the dishwasher may increase.

Additionally, in the dishwasher according to the present invention, the condenser is manufactured as a plate-type heat exchanger, thereby reducing the overall volume and allowing it to be easily mounted on a base with limited mounting space. Accordingly, the space efficiency of the dishwasher can be improved. Additionally, the heat exchange capacity of the plate heat exchanger can be adjusted by changing the distance between the plates. By constructing a condenser using a plate heat exchanger, it is possible to effectively respond to changes in heat exchange capacity required for the condenser.

In addition to the above-described effects, specific effects of the present invention are described below while explaining specific details for carrying out the invention.

1 is a diagram disclosed in prior art.
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to one embodiment.
Figure 3 is a piping diagram showing a heat pump device according to an embodiment.
Figure 4 is a piping diagram for explaining the piping connection structure between a heat pump device and a tub according to an embodiment.
Figure 5 is a piping diagram for explaining the piping connection structure between a heat pump device and a tub according to another embodiment.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a portion of a dishwasher according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 viewed from another direction.
Figure 8 is a graph derived from the results of an experiment comparing the case of heating washing water using an electric heating device and a heat pump device according to an embodiment.

The above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages will be described in detail later with reference to the attached drawings, so that those skilled in the art will be able to easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technologies related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals are used to indicate identical or similar components.

Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are of course not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component, and unless specifically stated to the contrary, the first component may also be a second component.

Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each element may be singular or plural.

As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, terms such as “consists of” or “comprises” should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or steps described in the specification, and some of the components or steps may include It may not be included, or it should be interpreted as including additional components or steps.

Throughout the specification, when referred to as “A and/or B”, this means A, B or A and B, unless specifically stated to the contrary, and when referred to as “C to D”, this means unless specifically stated to the contrary. Unless there is one, it means that it is C or higher and D or lower.

Throughout the specification, “up and down direction” refers to the up and down direction of the dishwasher when the dishwasher is installed for daily use. “Left-right direction” means a direction perpendicular to the up-and-down direction, and forward-forward direction means a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the left-right direction. “Bilateral direction” or “lateral direction” has the same meaning as left and right direction, and these terms may be used interchangeably in this specification.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the dishwasher includes a housing that forms the exterior, a tub (2) that forms a washing space (21) inside the housing and accommodates dishes that are to be washed, and a base (8) that can be rotated. A door 3 that is coupled and disposed in front of the tub 2 to open and close the tub 2, a sump 4 provided at the bottom of the tub 2 to store washing water, and the inside of the tub 2. It may include a receiving portion 5 for storing the cleaning object, and a spray arm 20 for spraying washing water toward the cleaning object stored in the receiving portion 5. At this time, the tableware may be, for example, a bowl, plate, spoon, chopsticks, or other cooking utensils.

The tub 2 forms a washing space 21 and accommodates dishes, and the washing space 21 may be provided with a storage portion 5 and a spray arm 20. The tub 2 has one side open, and the open side can be opened and closed by the door 3.

The door 3 is rotatably connected to the housing to selectively open and close the washing space 21. For example, the lower part of the door 3 may be hinged to the housing.

In this case, the door 3 can rotate around the hinge to open and close the tub 2. When the door 3 is opened, the storage part 5 can be pulled out to the outside of the dishwasher, and the storage part 5 pulled out to the outside can be supported by the door 3.

The sump (4) includes a storage unit (41) that stores washing water, a sump cover (42) that separates the storage unit (41) from the tub (2), and a water supply unit (43) that supplies washing water to the storage unit (41) from the outside. ), a drain unit 44 for discharging the washing water of the storage unit 41 to the outside, and a water pump 45 and a supply passage 46 for supplying the washing water of the storage unit 41 to the spray arm 20. It can be included.

The sump cover 42 is provided on the top of the sump 4, and can distinguish the tub 2 from the sump 4. Additionally, the sump cover 42 may be provided with a plurality of recovery holes for recovering the washing water sprayed into the washing space 21 through the spraying arm 20.

That is, the washing water sprayed from the spray arm 20 falls to the bottom of the washing space 21 and can be recovered back to the storage part 41 of the sump 4 through the sump cover 42.

The water pump 45 is provided on the side or bottom of the storage unit 41 and can supply washing water to the spray arm 20.

One end of the water pump 45 may be connected to the storage unit 41 and the other end may be connected to the supply passage 46. An impeller 451 and a motor 453 may be provided inside the water pump 45. When power is supplied to the motor 453, the impeller 451 rotates, and the washing water in the storage unit 41 can be supplied to the spray arm 20 through the supply passage 46.

The supply passage 46 can selectively supply the washing water supplied from the water pump 45 to the spray arm 20.

The supply passage 46 includes a first supply passage 461 connected to the lower injection arm 26, a second supply passage 463, 467 connected to the upper injection arm 27 and the top nozzle 29, and a supply passage 467 connected to the lower injection arm 26. It may include a supply flow path switching valve 465 that selectively opens and closes the flow paths 461, 463, and 467. At this time, the supply passage switching valve 465 can control each of the supply passages 461, 463, and 467 to be opened sequentially or simultaneously.

The washing space 21 may be provided with at least one storage unit 5 for storing dishes. Figure 2 shows a dishwasher equipped with two storage units 2, but is not limited thereto.

For example, a dishwasher may include only one storage unit or may include three or more storage units. In this case, the number of spray arms may vary depending on the number of storage parts.

The storage unit 5 may include a lower rack 51 and an upper rack 53 for storing dishes. The lower rack 51 is disposed in the washing space 21 and can store dishes. The upper rack 53 is disposed above the lower rack 51 and can accommodate dishes. Meanwhile, a top rack is disposed in the space between the upper side of the upper rack 53 and the top nozzle 29, and dishes can be stored there.

The lower rack 51 may be located above the sump 4, and the upper rack 53 may be located above the lower rack 51. The lower rack 51, upper rack 53, and top rack can be pulled out to the outside through one open surface of the tub (2).

For this purpose, a rail-shaped holder may be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tub 2, and wheels may be provided on the lower part of the racks 51 and 53. The user can store dishes or take out dishes that have been washed by pulling out the storage unit 5 to the outside.

The spray arm is provided in the tub (2) and can spray washing water toward the dishes in the storage unit (5). The spray arm 20 may include a lower spray arm 26, an upper spray arm 27, and a top nozzle 29.

The lower spray arm 26 is rotatably provided on the lower side of the lower rack 51 and can spray washing water on the dishes. The upper spray arm 27 is rotatably provided between the lower rack 51 and the upper rack 53 and can spray washing water on the dishes.

The lower spray arm 26 is rotatably mounted on the sump cover 42 and can spray washing water toward dishes stored in the lower rack 51. The upper spray arm 27 is located above the lower spray arm 26 and can spray washing water toward dishes stored in the upper rack 53. The top nozzle 29 is provided at the top of the washing space 21 and can spray washing water on the lower rack 51 and the upper rack 53.

As described above, the first supply passage 461 can supply washing water to the lower spray arm 26, and the second supply passages 463 and 467 can supply washing water to the upper spray arm 27 and the top nozzle 29. can be supplied.

Referring to FIG. 2, the dishwasher may include a base 8. The base 8 is disposed below the tub 2, and the tub 2 can be mounted thereon. The base 8 provides a space to accommodate the sump 4, and can provide a space to accommodate a pump, a hot air supply device 100, and other various devices provided in the dishwasher.

Accordingly, the base 8 may be provided with an outer wall to support the entire dishwasher, and to form a space for various devices to be accommodated by the outer wall.

The dishwasher according to the embodiment heats the washing water flowing into the tub 2 and sprays high-temperature washing water on the dishes accommodated in the tub 2, thereby increasing the washing efficiency of the dishes and the performance of the dishwasher.

The dishwasher according to the embodiment may include a heat pump device 10 that heats washing water flowing into the tub 2. The heat pump device 10 heats the washing water, allowing dishes to be washed with high-temperature washing water, thereby improving the performance of the dishwasher.

As a device for heating the washing water, an electric heater is generally used, which heats the washing water by converting electrical work, that is, electrical energy into heat. There is a coefficient of performance (COP) as a measure of the energy efficiency of the electric heater and heat pump device 10. The larger the coefficient of performance, the greater the energy efficiency of the device.

Electric heaters have a maximum coefficient of performance of only 1. However, in the dishwasher according to the embodiment, the wash water can be heated using the heat pump device 10 instead of the electric heater. The heat pump device 10 can heat the washing water by moving heat from a low-temperature thermal reservoir to a high-temperature thermal reservoir to generate high-temperature heat.

Due to this structure, the coefficient of performance of the heat pump device 10 can exceed 1, and the coefficient of performance of most heat pump devices 10 in actual use exceeds 1. Accordingly, the energy efficiency of the dishwasher according to the embodiment that heats the wash water using the heat pump device 10 can be improved compared to the case where the wash water is heated using an electric heater.

Hereinafter, the heat pump device 10 according to the embodiment will be described in more detail. Figure 3 is a piping diagram showing the heat pump device 10 according to an embodiment. In the drawings below FIG. 3, the flow direction of the refrigerant and washing water is shown by arrows in the pipe, and the flow direction of air is shown by a separate arrow.

The heat pump device 10 is mounted on the dishwasher to heat the washing water flowing into the tub 2, and includes a compressor 100, a condenser 200, an expansion valve 300, and an evaporation device 400 and 500. You can.

The compressor 100, condenser 200, expansion valve 300, and evaporation devices 400 and 500 are connected through pipes, and refrigerant may flow through the pipes. The refrigerant absorbs heat while sequentially circulating through the compressor 100, condenser 200, expansion valve 300, and evaporation device 400 and 500, changing phase from liquid to gas, or conversely from gas to liquid. Alternatively, it can function as a working fluid that releases heat.

The compressor 100 may compress the refrigerant and discharge the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure. The condenser 200 can heat the refrigerant flowing in from the compressor 100 and the water flowing into the tub 2. Accordingly, the refrigerant may lose heat while flowing through the condenser 200 and condense from gas to liquid. The expansion valve 300 allows refrigerant to flow in from the condenser 200 and expands the refrigerant. The refrigerant may expand and cool while passing through the expansion valve 300.

The evaporation devices 400 and 500 allow refrigerant to flow in from the expansion valve 300, discharge the refrigerant to the compressor 100, and absorb heat from the surrounding room temperature air and stored water to evaporate the refrigerant. The refrigerant may absorb heat while passing through the evaporation devices 400 and 500 and evaporate to become a gas.

The evaporation devices 400 and 500 may include a first evaporator 400 and a second evaporator 500. The first evaporator 400 receives refrigerant from the expansion valve 300 and absorbs heat from the surrounding room temperature air to evaporate the refrigerant. That is, the first evaporator 400 has refrigerant flowing inside it, and can evaporate the refrigerant by absorbing heat from the surrounding room temperature air.

The second evaporator 500 receives refrigerant from the first evaporator 400, discharges the refrigerant to the compressor 100, and absorbs heat from the stored water to evaporate the refrigerant. That is, the second evaporator 500 is connected to the first evaporator 400, the refrigerant flows therein, and can evaporate the refrigerant by absorbing heat from the stored water.

The refrigerant may change phase while circulating through the compressor 100, condenser 200, expansion valve 300, first evaporator 400, and second evaporator 500 to absorb or release heat. First, the refrigerant may be compressed while passing through the compressor 100 to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas.

The refrigerant may emit heat of QH while passing through the condenser 200. The heat released from the condenser 200 can be used to heat the wash water. Accordingly, the condenser 200 may be provided with separate flow paths through which the refrigerant and the washing water pass. The refrigerant releases heat as it passes through the condenser 200 and may be condensed from a gas to a liquid state. The refrigerant passing through the condenser 200 may be a mixed gas of liquid and gas with a very small proportion of gas, or may be a subcooled liquid.

The refrigerant leaving the condenser 200 may expand while passing through the expansion valve 300. As a result of the expansion of the refrigerant, the temperature of the refrigerant decreases and it becomes a mixed gas of gas and liquid.

As the refrigerant exiting the expansion valve 300 passes through the first evaporator 400, it absorbs the heat of QL1 from the surrounding room temperature air and evaporates, thereby increasing the proportion of gas in the refrigerant. At this time, the ambient room temperature refers to the temperature of the space where the dishwasher is placed, and may be, for example, about 15°C to 30°C. However, it is not limited to this and the room temperature may vary depending on changes in the surrounding environment and seasons.

As the refrigerant exiting the first evaporator 400 passes through the second evaporator 500, it absorbs the heat of QL2 from the stored water and evaporates, thereby further increasing the proportion of gas in the refrigerant. When leaving the second evaporator 500, the refrigerant may be a mixed gas with a very small proportion of liquid or a superheated gas.

The refrigerant leaving the second evaporator 500 may flow back into the compressor 100 and be compressed to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas. In the above-mentioned order, the refrigerant causes a phase change while circulating through the heat pump device 10, and accordingly, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the first evaporator 400 and the second evaporator 500 and releases heat from the condenser 200. can do. The heat emitted from the condenser 200 may heat the wash water.

Accordingly, the heat pump device 10 can absorb the heat of QL1 + QL2 from the ambient room temperature air and stored water, which is a low-temperature heat storage tank, and release the heat to the wash water, which is a high-temperature heat storage tank, to heat the wash water.

In order to actively transfer heat in the first evaporator 400 among the evaporation devices 400 and 500, it is appropriate to allow a large amount of air to flow toward the first evaporator 400. For this purpose, the heat pump device 10 may be provided with a blowing fan 600 that blows air toward the first evaporator 400.

The blowing fan 600 is arranged to face the evaporation devices 400 and 500 and can blow external air toward the evaporation devices 400 and 500. Specifically, the blowing fan 600 is arranged to face the first evaporator 400 and can blow external air toward the first evaporator 400.

The blower fan 600 blows ambient room temperature air to the first evaporator 400, thereby forcing a large amount of air to flow toward the first evaporator 400, thereby creating a gap between the air and the first evaporator 400. Heat transfer efficiency can be improved.

In embodiments, heat pump device 10 may utilize two evaporators. One evaporator is the first evaporator 400 in which heat transfer occurs by air, and the other is the second evaporator 500 in which heat transfer occurs by water.

The amount of heat transfer between the evaporator and refrigerant required to heat the wash water can be quite large. If a heat pump is constructed using only an evaporator in which heat transfer occurs through water, the volume of the evaporator may become excessively large because the water storage area must be large to allow a significantly large amount of heat transfer to occur between the water and the refrigerant. Since the space that can accommodate the evaporator in a dishwasher is limited, it may be difficult or impossible to provide space to mount such a large volume evaporator.

If a heat pump is constructed using only an evaporator in which heat transfer occurs through air, the amount of heat transfer may be reduced compared to water because air has a lower specific heat than water. Because of this, in order for a significant amount of heat transfer to occur between the air and the refrigerant, the volume of the evaporator must be very large or the air flow rate must be large.

When the volume of the evaporator becomes very large, as in the case of water, it may be difficult or difficult to provide space to install the large volume evaporator. Additionally, when the amount of air flow increases, the power consumption of the fan device that forces the air to flow may become very large, and noise may increase due to the high-speed rotation of the fan device.

In an embodiment, evaporation devices 400 and 500 including a first evaporator 400 in which heat transfer occurs by air and a second evaporator 500 in which heat transfer occurs by water may be used. Accordingly, two small evaporators with relatively small volumes are provided separately from each other, and each evaporator can be distributed and arranged in the space of the dishwasher. Accordingly, the evaporation devices 400 and 500 with considerably large capacities can be placed in the limited space of the dishwasher, thereby improving the space efficiency of the dishwasher. Additionally, since the amount of air flow can be reduced, the power consumption of the blower fan 600 can be reduced and the level of noise generated by the operation of the blower fan 600 can be significantly reduced.

Hereinafter, the structure for heating washing water using the heat pump device 10 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 4 is a piping diagram for explaining the piping connection structure between the heat pump device 10 and the tub 2 according to an embodiment.

The dishwasher may include a sump 4 provided in the lower part of the tub 2 to store washing water, and a spray arm 20 provided in the tub 2, connected to the sump 4, and spraying washing water. You can. The specific structures of the sump (4) and the spray arm (20) have already been described.

The condenser 200 and the sump 4 may be connected by piping to allow washing water to circulate. The dishwasher may include a first water supply passage 31 and a water pump 45. The first water supply passage 31 may be provided in the supply passage 46.

The first water supply passage 31 connects the sump 4 and the spray arm 20, and allows washing water to flow. The water pump 45 is disposed in the first water supply passage 31 and can supply washing water from the sump 4 to the spray arm 20. The specific structure of the water pump 45 has already been described.

The dishwasher may include a circulation passage 50 and a circulation pump 60. The circulation passage 50 may be provided in the supply passage 46. The circulation passage 50 is connected to the condenser 200 and the sump 4 and may be provided to circulate washing water. The circulation passage 50 is connected to the condenser 200, and the washing water passes through the condenser 200 through the circulation passage 50 and can be heated by absorbing heat from the refrigerant flowing through the condenser 200. The refrigerant may be condensed in the condenser 200 by losing heat to the washing water.

The circulation pump 60 is disposed in the circulation passage 50 and can circulate washing water between the condenser 200 and the sump 4. The washing water flows into the condenser 200 and is heated by the circulation pump 60, and the heated washing water discharged from the condenser 200 flows into the sump 4 through the circulation passage 50 and is heated in the sump 4. The introduced heated washing water may be pumped by the water pump 45, flow into the spray arm 20, and be sprayed into the tub 2 through the spray arm 20.

Washing water may fall downward from the tub (2) and flow into the sump (4). The sump (4) may be placed below the tub (2). Therefore, the washing water may fall down the tub (2) by gravity and flow into the sump (4).

Some of the washing water flowing into the sump (4) may flow between the condenser (200) and the sump (4), and the remainder may flow between the sump (4) and the tub (2). At this time, the water pump 45 and the circulation pump 60 operate simultaneously, and in the sump 4, the washing water heated by the condenser 200 and the relatively cold washing water falling from the tub 2 are continuously mixed with each other. The temperature of the wash water in the sump (4) may continue to rise. Accordingly, the washing water that flows from the sump 4 to the spray arm 20 and is sprayed into the tub 2 through the spray arm 20 may be heated.

Figure 5 is a piping diagram for explaining the piping connection structure between the heat pump device 10 and the tub 2 according to another embodiment. Below, descriptions of parts that overlap with the above-described content will be omitted.

In a dishwasher according to another embodiment, the wash water falls downward from the tub 2 and flows into the sump 4, then sequentially passes through the sump 4, the condenser 200, and the spray arm 20 to reach the tub ( 2) It may be provided to be sprayed. That is, all of the washing water flowing into the sump 4 may pass through the condenser 200 and flow into the spray arm 20.

The washing machine of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 may include a second water supply passage 32, a water pump 45, and a third water supply passage 33. The second water supply passage 32 and the third water supply passage 33 may be provided in the supply passage 46. The second water supply passage 32 may be provided to connect the sump 4 and the condenser 200.

The water pump 45 is disposed in the second water supply passage 32 and may be provided to supply washing water to the spray arm 20. The water pump 45 is the same as described above except that it is disposed in the second water supply passage 32. The third water supply passage 33 may be provided to connect the condenser 200 and the spray arm 20.

The washing water flowing into the condenser 200 through the second water supply passage 32 is heated as it passes through the condenser 200, and the heated washing water discharged from the condenser 200 flows through the third water supply passage 33 to separate the water. It may flow into the sandstone 20 and be sprayed into the tub 2.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the tub 2, sump 4, water pump 45, and condenser 200 may form one circular flow system. Accordingly, without the need to add a separate pump, the washing water can be heated by passing through the condenser 200 using only the existing water pump 45, and the heated washing water can be introduced into the spray arm 20.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a portion of a dishwasher according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 viewed from another direction. For clear explanation, in FIG. 6, the bottom plate 2b of the tub 2 is shown transparently so that the inside of the base 8 provided below the bottom plate 2b is visible. Below, the structure of the heat pump device 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

The evaporation devices 400 and 500, including the first evaporator 400 and the second evaporator 500, are devices that absorb heat. Therefore, when heat exchange occurs in the tub 2 through which heated washing water is sprayed with the evaporation devices 400 and 500, the washing water loses heat to the evaporation devices 400 and 500 and may not be heated well, resulting in lower energy efficiency. You can. This problem also applies to the sump 4 through which heated washing water flows.

Accordingly, in the embodiment, the evaporation devices 400 and 500 may be located at a distance from the tub 2 and the sump 4, or may be insulated to suppress heat exchange between the evaporation devices 400 and 500 and the washing water. . This structure is intended to solve the problems of the prior art described above. This will be explained in detail below.

The dishwasher is provided at the lower part of the tub 2 and includes a base 8 that supports the tub 2, and the condenser 200, the first evaporator 400, and the blowing fan 600 are installed on the base 8. can be placed.

The interior of the base 8 may be provided as a space excluding the support structure. Therefore, various parts of the dishwasher can be placed in the space provided in the base 8. For example, a sump 4 can be placed on the base 8.

Additionally, at least a portion of the water supply unit 43 may be disposed on the base 8. A water supply hole 43a may be formed in the water supply unit 43 to discharge washing water into the tub 2. The water supply hole (43a) is formed to penetrate the bottom plate (2b) of the tub (2), so that washing water can flow into the tub (2) through the water supply hole (43a). Additionally, the compressor 100 provided in the heat pump device 10 may be disposed on the base 8.

A sump 4 is partially disposed inside the base 8, and the condenser 200, the first evaporator 400, and the blower fan 600 are disposed at a location avoiding the location of the sump 4. You can. Since the sump (4) requires smooth flow of washing water during the washing process, the condenser (200), first evaporator (400), and blower fan (600), which are obstacles that may impede the flow of washing water in the sump (4), It is appropriate to place it in a location spaced apart from the sump (4). For the same reason, it is appropriate for the compressor 100 to be placed in a location avoiding the location where the sump 4 is placed.

At least some of the heated washing water may be stored in the sump (4) in a state that is exposed when looking inside the tub (2). Therefore, the arrangement position and wind direction of the blower fan 600 need to be adjusted so that the blower fan 600 does not cool the heated wash water.

Therefore, the blowing fan 600 is disposed between the sump 4 and the first evaporator 400, and the wind direction of the blowing fan 600 may be provided to be in the opposite direction to the direction facing the sump 4. . Accordingly, the wind direction of the blowing fan 600 forces air to flow toward the first evaporator 400, but may not force air to flow toward the sump 4.

Accordingly, cooling of the heated washing water stored in the sump 4 by the air forced by the blower fan 600 is effectively suppressed, and thus the energy efficiency of the dishwasher can be improved.

The second evaporator 500 may be placed on one side of the tub 2. The second evaporator 500 may be provided with, for example, a tubular heat exchanger, so that the second evaporator 500 may have a structure with a relatively large area when viewed from one direction. Therefore, considering that the size of space in the base 8 is limited, it may be difficult to place the second evaporator 500 in the base 8.

Therefore, in the embodiment, by placing the second evaporator 500 on one side of the tub 2, the size and structure of the second evaporator 500 are adjusted to the space of the base 8 in order to be placed in the limited space of the base 8. Since there is no need to change it accordingly, space efficiency can be increased in the dishwasher.

Meanwhile, a water jacket 800 may be placed on one side of the tub 2. Water is stored in the water jacket 800, and heat exchange can occur between the water stored in the water jacket 800 and the inside of the tub 2 through the side wall 2a of the tub 2.

Therefore, the water jacket 800 condenses the water vapor generated in the process of drying the dishes contained in the dishwasher tub 2 using high-temperature air and exists in the tub 2, thereby removing the moisture in the tub 2. It can play an effective eliminating role.

When the dishwasher is equipped with a water jacket 800, the second evaporator 500 may be placed on one side of the tub 2 where the water jacket 800 is not disposed. That is, in the case of a dishwasher equipped with both a water jacket 800 and a second evaporator 500, the water jacket 800 will be placed on one side of the tub 2, and the second evaporator 500 will be placed on the other side. You can.

Below, the structure in which the second evaporator 500 and the insulation member 700 are mounted on one side of the tub 2 will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the tub 2 may include a side wall 2a forming one side. The side walls 2a of the tub 2 are provided in pairs, and a water jacket 800 is disposed on one side wall 2a, and a second evaporator 500 is disposed on the other side wall 2a. You can.

The second evaporator 500 may be placed outside the tub 2 to face the side wall 2a. By placing the second evaporator 500 outside the tub 2, heat exchange with the inside of the tub 2 can be significantly suppressed. Accordingly, cooling of the heated washing water present inside the tub 2 due to loss of heat to the second evaporator 500 can be somewhat suppressed.

However, in order to more reliably prevent cooling of the heated wash water in the tub 2, it is necessary to insulate the space between the second evaporator 500 and the tub 2. Accordingly, the insulation member 700 may be disposed between the side wall 2a and the second evaporator 500.

The insulation member 700 is provided in a shape corresponding to the second evaporator 500, and may be formed, for example, in a plate shape with a predetermined thickness. The insulation member 700 is disposed between the second evaporator 500 and the side wall 2a of the tub 2, and thus can insulate the space between the tub 2 and the second evaporator 500 to block heat exchange between them. there is.

In the embodiment, the insulation member 700 is disposed between the second evaporator 500 and the tub 2 to prevent the heated washing water present in the tub 2 from losing heat by the second evaporator 500. , Even if the second evaporator 500 is disposed on one side of the tub 2, a lowering of the temperature of the heated washing water present in the tub 2 by the second evaporator 500 can be effectively suppressed. Accordingly, the energy efficiency of the dishwasher may increase.

The second evaporator 500 may include a water tank 510 and a tube 520. The water tank 510 may have a space inside which water is stored. The water stored in the water tank 510 can supply heat to the refrigerant passing through the second evaporator 500. The refrigerant can absorb heat from stored water and evaporate.

The water tank 510 may have a shape corresponding to the side wall 2a of the tub 2 and may be formed to have a predetermined thickness so that a space is formed therein. Due to this structure, the water tank 510 is mounted on the side wall 2a of the tub 2, which has a relatively large area, so that it can have a considerable volume while occupying a relatively small space, and thus can store a relatively large amount of water. Accordingly, a sufficient amount of water required for heat exchange with the second evaporator 500 can be stored in the water tank 510.

The water initially has room temperature, but as the washing water continues to be heated and heat exchange continues between the water and the refrigerant, heat is released and cooled, causing the temperature to become somewhat lower than room temperature. When the heat pump stops operating and heating of the washing water ends, the water can again absorb heat from the surrounding air and return to room temperature.

Meanwhile, the water tank 510 may be connected to the water supply unit 43 through a pipe, for example. Accordingly, water can be supplied from the water supply unit 43, stored, and water can be discharged to the water supply unit 43 when necessary.

The tube 520 is disposed in the inner space of the water tank 510, and a plurality of bending portions are formed, and refrigerant can flow therein. The tube 520 may be disposed inside the water tank 510 in a structure that repeats a zigzag shape as a whole. In order to increase heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and water, fins for heat transfer may be formed to protrude from the outer surface of the tube 520.

In the embodiment, the condenser 200 disposed on the base 8 may be equipped with a plate-type heat exchanger. The space where the condenser 200 can be placed in the base 8 is limited. Therefore, when the condensing device is manufactured as a tubular heat exchanger, the volume of the condensing device increases due to the tube 520 being quite long, and it may be difficult to place it on the base 8.

On the other hand, a plate heat exchanger has high heat exchange efficiency between two working fluids (here, wash water and refrigerant), so compared to a tube heat exchanger, it can have a smaller volume and have the same heat exchange efficiency as a tube heat exchanger.

Accordingly, in the embodiment, the condenser 200 is manufactured as a plate-type heat exchanger, thereby reducing the overall volume and allowing it to be easily mounted on the base 8, where mounting space is limited. Accordingly, the space efficiency of the dishwasher can be improved.

Additionally, the heat exchange capacity of the plate heat exchanger can be adjusted by changing the distance between the plates. By constructing the condenser 200 using a plate heat exchanger, it is possible to effectively respond to changes in heat exchange capacity required for the condenser 200.

Figure 8 is a graph derived from the results of an experiment comparing the case of heating washing water using an electric heating device and a heat pump device 10 according to an embodiment. The graph shown shows the sump 4 over time in the case of heating the wash water with an electric heater and in the case of heating the wash water using the heat pump device 10 arranged in the structure according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. This shows the temperature change of the washing water.

In the graph, the hidden line (hidden layer) represents the temperature change in the sump 4 of the wash water over time when the wash water is heated using the heat pump device 10. The solid line in the graph represents the temperature change in the sump (4) of the wash water over time when the wash water is heated using an electric heater.

In the experiment, an operation was performed to spray washing water into the tub (2) using the water pump (45). At this time, the power consumption of the water pump 45 was the same in both cases of using an electric heater and a heat pump.

The electrical energy consumed is 420 Wh when using an electric heater, and 139 Wh when using the heat pump device 10. These values exclude the electrical energy consumed in the operation of the water pump 45. When the heat pump device 10 is used, the heat exchange amount in each device is 2000W in the condenser 200, 220W in the first evaporator 400, and 354W in the second evaporator 500.

Looking at the temperature change of the wash water in the sump 4 over time in FIG. 8, the maximum temperature of the wash water at the beginning of heating is about 45°C in both cases where an electric heater is used and when the heat pump device 10 is used.

In the graph, the change trend of washing water with the passage of each operating time in the case of using an electric heater and the case of using the heat pump device 10 can be said to be similar overall, although there are differences in some sections.

In other words, the amount of heating of the washing water can be considered similar in both cases where an electric heater is used and when the heat pump device 10 is used in the experiment. In the end, it can be seen that while the electric heater consumes 420 Wh to produce similar heating results for washing water, the heat pump device consumes only 138 Wh, which is significantly less. As a result of the comparative experiment, it can be seen that heating the washing water using the heat pump device 10 according to the embodiment can significantly improve energy efficiency compared to the electric heater.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrative drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious that transformation can occur. In addition, although the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention were not explicitly described and explained while explaining the embodiments of the present invention above, it is natural that the predictable effects due to the configuration should also be recognized.

100: Compressor
200: Condenser
300: Expansion valve
400: First evaporator
500: Second evaporator
510: Water tank
520: tube
600: blowing fan
700: Insulating member
800: Water jacket

Claims (18)

A tub that forms a washing space and accommodates dishes; and
A heat pump device that heats the washing water flowing into the tub.
Including,
The heat pump device,
A compressor that compresses refrigerant;
a condenser that receives refrigerant from the compressor and heats water flowing into the tub;
An expansion valve through which refrigerant flows from the condenser and expands the refrigerant;
a first evaporator through which refrigerant flows in from the expansion valve and evaporates the refrigerant by absorbing heat from the surrounding room temperature air; and
A second evaporator that receives refrigerant from the first evaporator, discharges the refrigerant to the compressor, and evaporates the refrigerant by absorbing heat from the stored water.
Including,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 1,
A blowing fan disposed to face the first evaporator and blowing external air toward the first evaporator,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 2,
a sump provided at the bottom of the tub to store washing water; and
A spray arm provided in the tub, connected to the sump, and spraying washing water.
Including,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 3,
The condenser and the sump are connected by a pipe to circulate washing water,
A first water supply passage connecting the sump and the spray arm; and
A water pump disposed in the first water supply passage and supplying washing water from the sump to the spray arm.
Including,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 3,
a circulation passage connected to the condenser and the sump and provided to circulate washing water; and
A circulation pump disposed in the circulation passage and circulating washing water between the condenser and the sump.
Including,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 3,
Washing water falls downward from the tub, flows into the sump, and then sequentially passes through the sump, the condenser, and the spray arm to be sprayed onto the tub.
dish wash machine. According to clause 6,
a second water supply passage connecting the sump and the condenser;
a water pump disposed in the second water supply passage and supplying washing water to the spray arm; and
Third water supply passage connecting the condenser and the spray arm
Including,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 3,
The blowing fan is disposed between the sump and the first evaporator, and the wind direction of the blowing fan is provided in a direction opposite to the direction facing the sump.
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 3,
Includes a base provided at the lower part of the tub and supporting the tub,
The condenser, the first evaporator, and the blowing fan are disposed on the base,
dish wash machine. According to clause 9,
The sump is disposed partially inside the base, and the condenser, the first evaporator, and the blower fan are disposed at a location avoiding the location where the sump is disposed.
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 1,
The second evaporator is disposed on one side of the tub,
dish wash machine. According to clause 11,
The tub includes a side wall forming one side,
The second evaporator is disposed outside the tub to face the side wall,
An insulating member is disposed between the side wall and the second evaporator,
dish wash machine. According to clause 12,
The second evaporator,
A water tank with a space inside to store water; and
A tube disposed in the inner space of the water tank, in which a plurality of bending portions are formed and a refrigerant flows inside.
Including,
dish wash machine. According to clause 13,
The water tank is,
It has a shape corresponding to the side wall of the tub and is formed to have a predetermined thickness so that a space is formed inside,
dish wash machine. According to paragraph 1,
The condenser is equipped with a plate heat exchanger,
dish wash machine. In the heat pump device provided in the dishwasher,
The heat pump device,
A compressor that compresses refrigerant;
a condenser that heats the refrigerant flowing from the compressor and the water flowing into the tub of the dishwasher;
An expansion valve through which refrigerant flows from the condenser and expands the refrigerant;
an evaporation device that allows refrigerant to flow in from the expansion valve, discharges the refrigerant to the compressor, and evaporates the refrigerant by absorbing heat from surrounding room temperature air and stored water; and
A blowing fan disposed to face the evaporation device and blowing external air toward the evaporation device,
Including,
Heat pump device. According to clause 16,
The evaporation device is,
A first evaporator in which a refrigerant flows and absorbs heat from the surrounding room temperature air to evaporate the refrigerant; and
A second evaporator is connected to the first evaporator, has refrigerant flowing therein, and absorbs heat from stored water to evaporate the refrigerant.
Including,
Heat pump device. According to clause 17,
The dishwasher includes a base provided at a lower portion of the tub and supporting the tub,
The first evaporator is disposed on the base,
The second evaporator is disposed outside the tub to face the side wall of the tub,
An insulating member is disposed between the side wall and the second evaporator,
Heat pump device.

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