WO2007059858A1 - Sèche-linge et procédé de commande pour celui-ci - Google Patents

Sèche-linge et procédé de commande pour celui-ci Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007059858A1
WO2007059858A1 PCT/EP2006/010628 EP2006010628W WO2007059858A1 WO 2007059858 A1 WO2007059858 A1 WO 2007059858A1 EP 2006010628 W EP2006010628 W EP 2006010628W WO 2007059858 A1 WO2007059858 A1 WO 2007059858A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
value
drying
rhi
condenser
temperature
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2006/010628
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Elisabetta Bari
Maurizio Ugel
Alberto Bison
Sandro Marcon
Original Assignee
Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. filed Critical Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
Publication of WO2007059858A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007059858A1/fr

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F58/38—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2101/00—User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2101/20—Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • D06F2103/08—Humidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/28—Air properties
    • D06F2103/32—Temperature
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/28—Air properties
    • D06F2103/34—Humidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/28—Electric heating
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a clothes tumble dryer and a method for controlling the same.
  • An important feature in tumble driers is the ability of the drying process to be stopped as soon as the moisture content of the washload has been brought down ⁇ to the desired value.
  • the drying process be interrupted too early, the resulting moisture content in the washload would be too high and this would again entail a number of obvious disadvantages.
  • interrupting a drying process too late practically means an unnecessarily high energy usage, while the resulting too low a moisture content of the washload causes it to be subject to increased creasing, reduced ironability, increased likelihood for the washload items to suffer shrinking or undergo such other adverse effects as becoming statically charged.
  • Condenser-type tumble dryers are known in the art to comprise a closed-loop drying air circuit adapted to cause heated drying air to circulate through a perforated rotating drum, and a condenser adapted to remove the moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air exiting the drum upon having flown through the drying load contained therein, as well as moisture sensors adapted to detect the moisture content of the air exiting the drum.
  • the drying process is stopped when the moisture content of the drying air leaving the drum is sensed to have reached down to a pre-established value.
  • this method has been unable to provide really satisfactory results, since it has been practically found that the actual moisture content of the drying load upon interruption of the drying process is greatly affected also by such variables as the amount of drying load items in the drum and the type and nature of the fabrics being handled.
  • condenser-type tumble dryers in which electrodes are arranged in the drum for measuring the electrical resistance of the load, based on the fact that such electrical resistance is a parameter that is in direct relation with, i.e. dependent on the moisture content of the drying load items.
  • Other prior-art solutions call for the use of a drum that is comprised of two halves, wherein the conductivity between such halves is then measured to control the drying process. This method, however, is unable to ensure any reliable measurement of the moisture content of the drying load items, mainly owing to conductivity values being affected by such factors as water hardness.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a clothes tumble dryer according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 a flow chart describing a method for controlling a clothes tumble dryer according to the present invention
  • Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view of the course followed versus time by the relative humidity of the drying air entering the condenser during a drying process, along with the threshold values of relative humidity corresponding to a pre-established drying degree;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the course followed versus time by the temperature of the drying air entering the condenser and the temperature of the drying air exiting the condenser during a drying process;
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the temperature difference pattern between the drying air entering the condenser and the drying air exiting the condenser during a drying process, along with the threshold values of such temperature difference corresponding to a pre-established drying degree;
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the pattern of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, as well as the control quantity D in the case of an "Extra Dry" drying cycle,-
  • Figure 7 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the pattern of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, as well as the control quantity D in the case of a "Dry Cottons" drying cycle,-
  • Figure 8 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the pattern of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, as well as the control quantity D in the case of a "Slightly Damp" drying cycle,-
  • Figure 9 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the pattern of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, as well as the control quantity D in the case of an "Iron Dry" drying cycle,-
  • Figure 10 is a diagrammatical view versus time of the pattern of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, as well as the control quantity D in the case of an "Mangle Dry" drying cycle .
  • the clothes tumble dryer according to the present invention - as generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 in the Figures - comprises a closed-loop drying air circuit adapted to cause heated drying air to be circulated through a perforated rotating drum 2 holding the washload to be dried, heating means 3 adapted to heat up said drying air, an air- cooled condenser 4 adapted to remove the moisture from the hot moisture-laden drying air exiting the drum after having flown through the washload to be dried, an open-loop cooling air circuit adapted to cause a stream of cooling air taken in from outside to circulate through and over the condenser 4 to cool it, and be eventually exhausted again into the outside atmosphere .
  • the above-mentioned tumble dryer also calls for temperature sensor means 5, 6 to be provided in correspondence to a drying-air condenser inlet 7, as well as in correspondence to a drying-air condenser outlet 8, in order to detect a temperature difference value ⁇ T between the drying air entering the condenser 4 and the drying air exiting the same condenser 4; it further calls for humidity sensor means 5 to be provided in correspondence to the drying-air condenser inlet 7, in order to detect a relative humidity value RHi n of the drying air entering the condenser.
  • the above-mentioned tumble dryer comprises control means coupled to both the humidity sensor means 5, so as to be able to receive the humidity values RH in , and the temperature sensor means 5, 6 to also receive the temperature difference values ⁇ T during the operation of the tumble drier.
  • the tumble dryer is further provided with memory means for storing a threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH between the drying air entering the condenser 4 and the drying air exiting the same condenser 4, and a threshold humidity value RHinTH for the drying air entering the condenser, which are indicative of a pre-established dryness level, i.e. degree of drying of the items loaded in the drum in accordance with the particular drying cycle selected by the user, wherein said threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH and said threshold humidity value RH inTH are initialized in response to said tumble dryer being started to operate according to the particular drying cycle selected by the user.
  • the control means are adapted to compare the actual humidity- value RHi n with the threshold humidity value RHi nTH , and are also adapted to compare the temperature difference value ⁇ T with the threshold temperature difference value ⁇ T TH , for automatically turning off said heating means 3 when at least the temperature difference value ⁇ T reaches up to or beyond the threshold temperature difference value ⁇ T TH or at least the humidity value RHi n reaches down to or below the humidity threshold value RHi nTH .
  • the hot and moisture-laden drying air is caused to leave the perforated rotating drum 2 and is conveyed towards the air-cooled condenser 4; then, the dehydrated drying air exiting the condenser 4 is sent back into the drum 3, upon having been duly heated up again, so as to remove additional moisture from the clothes being tumbled in the drum 2.
  • the tumble dryer comprises first blower means 11 adapted to cause the drying air to circulate inside and through the closed-loop drying air circuit.
  • a first manifold arrangement 12 is provided to convey the drying air exiting the drum 2 into the drying-air condenser inlet 7, and a second manifold arrangement 13 is provided to convey the drying air exiting the drying-air condenser outlet 8 again into the drum 2.
  • Heating means 3 are provided downstream of the drying-air condenser outlet 8 to heat up the dehydrated drying air due to be sent again into the drum 2.
  • the condenser 4 comprises a plurality of fluid passageways, along which the drying air is able to flow in view of having the moisture condensed and removed therefrom, and these fluid passageways are capable of being invested by, i.e. are exposed to the flow of cooling air flowing through the open-loop cooling air circuit.
  • the condenser 4 comprises a first array of spaced-apart fluid passageways 14 for the drying air, which are fluidly connected with the first manifold arrangement .12 at the drying-air condenser inlet 7, as well as fluidly connected with the second manifold arrangement 13 at the drying-air condenser outlet 8.
  • the condenser 4 further comprises a second array of spaced- apart fluid passageways 15 for the cooling air, which are arranged in an alternating relationship relative to said first array of fluid passageways 14, so that between two such adjacent fluid passageways 14 for the drying air there is provided a fluid passageway 15 for the cooling air.
  • the cooling air that flows along the second array of fluid passageways 15 is adapted to brush, i.e. move in contact with the fluid passageways 14 of the drying air, thereby cooling it down by convection so as to cause water vapour in the hot moisture-laden drying air to precipitate by condensation.
  • the open-loop cooling air circuit comprises second blower means 16 adapted to cause the cooling air to circulate, an air intake aperture 17 and an air exhaust aperture 18 fluidly connected with the second array of fluid passageways 15, through which the cooling air is taken in fron the outside ambient, conveyed to and through the condenser, to be eventually sent back into the outside ambient again.
  • the drying-air condenser inlet 7 substantially represents the zone of the condenser at which the drying air to be dehydrated, and flowing in from the first manifold arrangement, enters the first array of fluid passageways 14, whereas the drying-air condenser outlet 8 represents the zone of the condenser at which the dehydrated drying air exits the first array of fluid passageways 14 to flow into the second manifold arrangement 13.
  • the inlet and the outlet of the second array of fluid passageways 15 are provided in a perpendicular arrangement relative to the drying-air condenser inlet 7 and the drying-air condenser outlet 8, respectively, so that the flows of drying air and the flows of cooling air practically cross each other.
  • the temperature and humidity sensor means 5, 6 comprise a relative humidity sensor, which is also capable of delivering accompanying temperature measurement values, and which is arranged in the vicinity of the drying-air condenser inlet 7, and a temperature sensor, such as for instance a thermocouple, which is situated in the vicinity of the drying-air condenser outlet 8. Both sensors are connected to the control means, which are adapted to receive - during the operation of the dryer - the signals being output by the sensors so as to monitor the pattern of the temperature T in of the drying air entering the condenser, as well as the pattern of the temperature T out of the drying air exiting the same condenser, along with the relative humidity RH in of the drying air entering the condenser .
  • This data acquisition process by said control means may occur either continuously or at discrete intervals, by setting in this case a proper time interval to separate successive data acquisition events during which said control means are able to acquire the temperature values Ti n , T ou t# and the relative humidity values RH in being detected and output by the sensors .
  • the drying load - as removed from the drum at the end of the cycle has a weight ranging from about 6% less than the weight of the above-specified standard load to almost the same weight as the standard load.
  • the drying load - as removed from the drum at the end of the cycle - has a weight ranging from 8% to 16% more than the weight of said standard load.
  • relative humidity value RHi n will be used to univocally mean the value of relative humidity of the drying air as detected by the moisture sensor means 5 at the drying-air condenser inlet 7
  • threshold relative-humidity value RHi n ⁇ H [ED,DC,SD, ID, M] will be used to univocally mean the threshold value of relative humidity of the drying air, which - as detected again by the moisture sensor means 5 at the drying-air condenser inlet 7 - has been found to correspond to the different degrees of drying of the clothes in the cycles ED, DC, SD, ID,M as indicated above.
  • RH 0 is used to indicate the initial value of the relative humidity of the drying air flowing into, i.e. entering the condenser 4 as detected by the moisture sensor means 5 upon starting of the drying cycle selected by the user and, therefore, upon the heating means having been switched on.
  • the control means of the machine do not acquire any of the relative-humidity readings RHi n that they receive from the moisture sensor means 5, since the related data are not representative of the real initial relative-humidity condition RH 0 .
  • control means are programmed to set themselves in a kind of observation state, in which they practically determine whether successive readings flowing in from the moisture sensor means 5 reveal a substantially constant value.
  • control means may also be programmed to simply wait until a certain time interval of a duration corresponding to the aforementioned transient phase elapses, before they start acquiring the data being output by the sensor means. It has been experimentally found that such transient phase has a duration of approx. two minutes.
  • the relative humidity RHi n decreases as the clothes in the drum becomes increasingly dry, until it eventually reaches a respective threshold value corresponding to a certain final drying degree or state reached by the clothes themselves .
  • a respective threshold value corresponding to a certain final drying degree or state reached by the clothes themselves .
  • degree of drying reached by the clothes bneing handled corresponds to a degree of drying that is typical of the Extra Dry (ED) cycle.
  • this relative humidity value of 68% turns out as being the threshold relative-humidity value RHinra [ED] that can be associated to said Extra Dry cycle ED, and - as such - is thereforee stored in the memory means for due reference.
  • the control means automatically retrieve the threshold relative-humidity value RHi nTH [ED] associated to such drying cycle from the memory means and, at the same time, enable the dryer to start operation by energizing the heating means 3, switching on the blower means 11, 16 and enabling the drum 2 to be driven rotatably.
  • control means - upon waiting for the initial transient observation phase to elapse - are enabled to start comparing the relative humidity value RH in with the threshold relative-humidity value RHi nTH [ED] for the Extra Dry [ED] cycle.
  • the control means will then consider the selected drying cycle as being concluded and, as a result, cause the operation of the tumble dryer to stop by de-energizing the heating means 3, switching off the blower means 11, 16 and stopping the rotation of the drum 2.
  • a cold air circulation phase may also be contemplated to take place at the end of the actual drying process in order to cool down the clothes before removing them from the drum 2, when the relative humidity value RHi n is found to have reached down to or below said threshold value RHi nTH [ED] , the control means would in this case simply de-energize the heating means 3, while waiting for this cool air circulation phase to be concluded before stopping the operation of the tumble dryer.
  • This value is therefore stored in the memory means as the threshold relative-humidity value RH inTH [DC] associated to said Dry Cottons [DC] drying cycle.
  • a first initial transient phase which comes immediately after the energization of the heating means 3, and in which both temperatures Ti n , T out and also the evaporation rate increase.
  • the second phase is a saturation one, in which the temperatures Ti n , T out remain almost constant, since the thermal heating energy causes the water contained in the clothes being handled to evaporate, while the condenser is capable of dissipating most of the latent condensation heat.
  • the temperature values detected by the temperature sensor means 5, 6 following the energization of the heating means 3, are extremely variable and are by no means indicative of the actual trend of the temperatures .
  • control means wait for this initial observation or transient phase to be concluded before starting with the acquisition of said values.
  • the degree of drying reached by the clothes in the drum corresponds to the degree of drying due to be reached in the Extra Dry cycle ED.
  • a temperature difference value of 15°C turns therefore out as being the threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH [ED] associable to the Extra Dry cycle ED and, as such, it is stored in the memory means .
  • temperature difference value ⁇ T will be used to univocally mean the value of the difference between the temperature of the drying air as detected by the temperature sensor means 5 at the drying-air condenser inlet 7 and the temperature of the drying air as detected by the temperature sensor means 6 at the drying-air condenser outlet 8
  • threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH will be used to univocally mean the threshold value of the difference between the temperature of the drying air as detected by the temperature sensor means .5 at the drying-air condenser inlet 7 and the temperature of the drying air as detected by the temperature sensor means 6 at the drying-air condenser outlet 8 that has been found to correspond to the different degrees of drying of the clothes in the cycles ED, DC, SD, ID,M in the experimental tests performed to this effect.
  • the control means of the machine start by automatically retrieving the threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH [ED] corresponding to that cycle from the memory means, and start dryer operation by energizing the heating elements 3, switching on the air blower means 11, 16, and enabling the drum 2 to be driven rotatably. Then, upon allowing the initial observation time to elapse, the control means are capable of comparing the value of the temperature difference ⁇ T, as detected by the temperature sensor means 5, 6 with the thershold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH [ED] of the Extra Dry cycle ED.
  • the control means consider the selected drying cyucle as being concluded and stop dryer operation by de-energizing the heating means 3, switching off the air blower means 11, 16, and stopping drum rotation.
  • the control means simply cause the heating means 3 to be de-energized when the temperature difference value ⁇ T reaches said threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH [ED] , while waiting for said cold air circulation phase to be concluded to turn off the tumble dryer and fully stop its operation.
  • the threshold temperature-difference values ⁇ T TH [ED,DC, SD, ID, M] are independent of the initial quantity of water contained in the clothes to be dried. In fact, the transition from the intermediate saturation phase to the final phase of the drying cycle occurs at a given value of residual moisture, i.e. moisture that is still in the clothes being dried, wherein this value solely depends on the design parameters of the condenser .
  • the method for controlling the drying cycles in a tumble dryer calls for the drying cycle selected by the user to be first of all read and the threshold humidity value RHi nTH and the threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH to be then set accordingly, i.e. on the basis of the selected cycle.
  • These threshold values are retrieved from the memory means, in which they are properly stored.
  • Such reading of the cycle being selected and such setting of the corresponding values are performed by the control means, which are connected to the control devices in a control panel provided on the tumble dryer.
  • the selected drying cycle is then immediately started by these control means by starting the operation of the dryer in the way described hereinbefore.
  • the method according to the present invention calls for the relative humidity value RHi n and the temperature value Ti n of the drying air entering the condenser, as well as the temperature value T out of the drying air exiting the condenser to be detected as the drying cycle goes on.
  • the control means acquire the data delivered by the humidity and temperature sensor means 5, 6 so as to monitor the trend of the relative humidity RHi n and the temperature difference value ⁇ T as the drying cycle progresses .
  • the method provides for the so detected relative humidity value RHi n to be compared with the threshold humidity value RHinTH that has been set in accordance with the drying cycle selected by the user, and for the temperature difference value ⁇ T to be compared with the threshold temperature difference value ⁇ T TH that has again been set in accordance with the drying cycle selected by the user.
  • the method then provides for the heating means 3 to be switched off when at least the temperature difference value ⁇ T reaches up to or beyond the threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH or when at least said humidity value RHi n reached down to or below the threshold humidity value RHi nT H-
  • the method may also provide for the tumble dryer to be fully stopped from operating, under de-energization of the air-circulating blower means 11, 16 and the motor means used to rotatably drive the drum.
  • the method preferably also provides for a transient observation phase to be included immediately upon the heating means 3 having been so switchen on, in which the control means just wait for the humidity and temperature data from the sensor means to become steadier before they start acquiring said data.
  • the method for controlling the drying cycles in a clothes tumble dryer according to the present invention is not limited by, i.e. does not necessarily require the use of a condenser that is made and designed as has been described above by way of example .
  • a condenser that is made and designed as has been described above by way of example .
  • the trend of both temperature difference ⁇ T and relative humidity RHi n will in fact be much the same as the trends that have been found in the course of the above-described experimental tests considered herein, since the thermodynamics at the basis of these trends is anyway the same, regardless of the condenser being actually used.
  • drying cycles that are made available to the user may of course be set and fixed according to principles that differ from the afore-described ones based on residual moisture as compared to a same drying load under standard conditions as a control parameter.
  • Such threshold values will then be made available to the control means via the memory means as soon as the operation of the tumble dryer is started, in accordance with the particvular drying cycle selected by the user.
  • control means are adapted to numerically filter the signals they receive from the moisture and temperature sensor means 5,
  • control means are adapted to discard any distorted, altered or perturbed value as may be detected by the moisture and temperature sensors, in such manner as to solely retain the main dynamics of the evolution of relative humidity RHi n and temperature difference ⁇ T with time.
  • Such disturbances in detected values include perturbed measurements that do not correspond to the actual humidity and temperature values and can occur due to such measurements being affected by the dynamic, i.e. flow conditions of the drying air.
  • a further cause of disturbance in detected values may be due to the fact that, for an even and effective drying of the clothes being tumbled in the drum to be ensured, during the drying cycle there are provided reversal periods, in which the heating means 3 are switched off and the drum is rotated in the reverse direction, i.e. counter-rotated so as to allow the clothes held therein to be counter-tumbled and reshuffled.
  • These reversal periods last just a few seconds and are separated from each other by pre-determined intervals of a few minutes each provided therebetween.
  • the control means filter these humidity values RHi n and temperature difference values ⁇ T with the aid of a numeric low-pass filter.
  • control means associate a first numeric low-pass filter to the humidity values RHi n and a second numeric low-pass filter to the temperature difference values ⁇ T, while both filters preferably comprise a numeric unit-gain low-pass filter of the first order according to following formulas :
  • the parameter a of the filters can take a value ranging from 0.9 to 0.99.
  • the value of the parameter a may vary in accordance with the various drying cycles that can be selected by the user, while within a same cycle selected by the user, the value of the parameter a may again differ in the two numeric low-pass filters .
  • the values of the parameter a of the filters are stored in the memory means and are adapted to be retrieved by the control means when the drying cycle selected by the user is started.
  • the control means acquire the relative-humidity values RHi n and the temperature-difference values ⁇ T detected by the corresponding sensor means, and then calculate, i.e. work out the related numeric filters to obtain a corresponding filtered relative-humidity value RH in filtered and a corresponding filtered temperature-difference value ⁇ Tfiltered giving the curves indicated in Figures 3 and 5.
  • the control means are adapted to compare each such filtered relative-humidity value RHi n filtered with the respective threshold relative-humidity value RHi nTH [ED, DC, SD, ID,M] corresponding to the actual drying cycle selected by the user, and are furthermore adapted to compare each such filtered temperature-difference value ⁇ Tfiltered with the respective threshold temperature-difference value ⁇ T TH [ED,DC, SD, ID, M] that corresponds to the actual drying cycle selected by the user.
  • control means are adapted to determine a first end-of-cycle coefficient dH and a second end- ⁇ f-cycle coefficient dT, which represent how close the filtered relative-humidity value RH in filtered has got to the respective threshold value RHi n TH [ED, DC, SD, ID, M] , and how close the filtered temperature-difference value ⁇ Tfiltered has got to the respective threshold value ⁇ T TH [ED,DC,SD, ID, M] , respectively.
  • These coefficients are determined by comparing the filtered values with the respective threshold values, according to following formulas:
  • control means are adapted to compose the end-of- cycle coefficients dH and dT so as to obtain a single control quantity D 1 on the basis of which they therefore decide that the drying cycle is to be caused to stop.
  • This control quantity D is obtained by calculating the weighted average of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT through a weight factor ⁇ that determines the specific contribution of the individual coefficients in accordance with the drying cycle selected, according to following formula:
  • weight factor ⁇ depends on the selected cycle, so as to determine which quantity, between relative humidity RHi n and temperature difference ⁇ T, is more significant in view of identifying the end-of-cycle condition.
  • the weight factor ⁇ is variable between 0 and 100 and depends on the selected cycle.
  • the value of the weight factor ⁇ has been determined experimentally for the different drying cycles provided for selection in a clothes tumble dryer, and is stored in the memory means so as to be made available for retrieval by the control means when the selected drying cycle is started.
  • the end-of-cycle condition occurs when the thus calculated control quantity D turns out to be equal to or in excess of a stop parameter sD that is variable from 85 to 100 in accordance with the cycle selected by the user.
  • this stop parameter sD has been determined experimentally for the different drying cycles provided for selection in a clothes tumble dryer, and is stored in the memory means so as to be made available for retrieval by the control means when the selected drying cycle is started.
  • control means When such end-of-cycle condition is found to exist by the control means, these cause the heating means 3 to be switched off and, if provided or required so, the air-circulating blower means to be de-energized along with the motor means used to rotatably drive the dryer's drum.
  • the method for controlling the operation of a clothes tumble dryer includes an initialization phase, in which the control means read the cycle that has been selected by the user and set the threshold relative-humidity values RHi nTH tED, DC, SD, ID, M] , the threshold temperature-difference values ⁇ T TH [ED,DC,SD, ID, M] , the value of the parameter a of the filters, the values of weight factor ⁇ and the value of the stop parameter sD, which correspond to the selected cycle, by retrieving the related values from the memory means .
  • the control means read the cycle that has been selected by the user and set the threshold relative-humidity values RHi nTH tED, DC, SD, ID, M] , the threshold temperature-difference values ⁇ T TH [ED,DC,SD, ID, M] , the value of the parameter a of the filters, the values of weight factor ⁇ and the value of the stop parameter sD, which correspond to the selected cycle, by retrieving the related values from the memory means
  • control means cause then the heating means 3 to be switched on and the air-circulating blower means 11, 16 to be energized along with the drum rotation driving means.
  • the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT can be determined by comparing the current values of temperature difference ⁇ T and relative humidity RHi n , non filtered, with the respective threshold values.
  • the end-of- cycle coefficients dH and dT are then composed, in the manner above described, to obtain the single control quantity D on the basis of which the control means switch off the heating means 3.
  • the control means are adapted to check the heating means 3 for the on/off state thereof through a proper operation sensor.
  • the method further includes a so-called transient observation phase, in which the control means just wait for the values of relative humidity RH in and the values of temperature difference ⁇ T to stabilize.
  • this transient observation phase there may be provided at least a reversal period, in which the heating means 3 are switched off and the drum 2 driven to rotate in an opposite direction, i.e. counter-rotated.
  • control means check the heating means 3 for the on/off state thereof.
  • the control means do not acquire said values of relative humidity RHi n and said values of temperature difference ⁇ T, and wait for the heating means 3 to switch in the on state thereof .
  • the method calls for an initialization phase to occur, in which the control means acquire the value of relative humidity RHi n and the value of temperature difference ⁇ T detected by the sensor means 5,6 to initialize the related numeric low-pass filters by calculating the corresponding filtered initial value of relative humidity RHi n filtered and the corrisponding filtered initial value of temperature difference ⁇ Tfiltered.
  • control means are adapted to acquire the relative-humidity values RH in and the temperature-difference values ⁇ T detected by the sensor means, and to filter these values with the aid of the numeric low- pass filters at pre-determined successive time intervals; in the described embodiment there is provided a waiting time interval between two successive acquisition events of approx. 5 seconds .
  • the control means wait for such waiting time interval to elapse and, when this runs out, check the heating means 3 to see whether they are on or off .
  • the control means - in a loop-like cyclic manner - wait again for the waiting time interval to elapse and, when this runs out, check again the heating means 3 for the on/off state thereof.
  • control means acquire the value of relative humidity RHi n and the value of temperature difference ⁇ T as detected by the respective sensor means, and calculate the related numeric low-pass filters to determine the corresponding filtered relative-humidity value RHi n filtered and the corresponding filtered temperature-difference value ⁇ Tfiltered, in the same manner as described hereinbefore.
  • control means check whether the end-of-cycle condition has eventually occurred by calculating the values of the end-of-cycle coefficients dH and dT, the value of the control quantity D 1 and comparing the resulting value of the latter with the value of the stop parameter sD.
  • control means switch off the heating means 3 and, if possibly provided or required so by the cycle, cause the operation of the dryer to stop.
  • control means - in a loop-like cyclic manner - wait again for the waiting time interval to elapse and, when this runs out, check the heating means 3 for the on/off state thereof in view of acquiring again the values of relative humidity RHi n and temperature difference ⁇ T, updating the related numeric low-pass filters and checking again whether the end-of-cycle condition has been reached.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un sèche-linge de type « condenseur » comprenant un moyen de détection de température (5, 6) servant à détecter une valeur de différence de température entre l’air de séchage entrant dans le condenseur (4) et l’air de séchage sortant du condenseur (4), un moyen de détection d’humidité (5) servant à détecter une valeur d’humidité de l’air de séchage entrant dans le condenseur, un moyen de commande couplé audit moyen de détection d’humidité (5), un moyen de mémoire servant à mémoriser une valeur seuil de différence de température (ΔTTH) et une valeur seuil d’humidité relative (RHinTH). Les différentes moyens de la présente invention ont pour fonction de représenter un degré prédéterminé de sécheresse du chargement et sont dépendants du cycle de séchage spécifique sélectionné par l’utilisateur. Les moyens de commande sont en outre conçus pour comparer lesdites valeurs afin d’arrêter ledit moyen de chauffage (3) quand au moins ladite valeur de différence de température (ΔT) atteint ladite valeur seuil de différence de température (ΔTTH) ou quand au moins ladite valeur d’humidité relative (RHin) descend à ladite valeur seuil d’humidité relative (RHinTH).
PCT/EP2006/010628 2005-11-23 2006-11-07 Sèche-linge et procédé de commande pour celui-ci WO2007059858A1 (fr)

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EP05111172A EP1790769B1 (fr) 2005-11-23 2005-11-23 Sèche-linge à tambour et procédé pour contrôler celui-ci

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KR20140129819A (ko) * 2013-04-30 2014-11-07 엘지전자 주식회사 폐열 회수수단을 갖는 의류처리장치
CN113832661A (zh) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-24 云米互联科技(广东)有限公司 烘干控制方法、系统、存储介质、衣物处理装置
CN114000329A (zh) * 2021-11-15 2022-02-01 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种智能控制干衣方法及干衣机

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EP2126188A1 (fr) * 2006-12-26 2009-12-02 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi Lave-linge/sèche-linge avec grandeur de sortie provenant du capteur d'humidité entrée sélectivement vers l'unité de commande
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DE102008040946A1 (de) * 2008-08-01 2010-02-04 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kondensationstrockner mit einer Wärmepumpe und Erkennung eines unzulässigen Betriebszustands sowie Verfahren zu seinem Betrieb
CN101684606B (zh) * 2008-09-26 2011-11-09 博西华电器（江苏）有限公司 家用干衣设备
CN101435150B (zh) * 2008-12-15 2010-09-01 北京科力康技贸有限公司 热泵式干衣柜的过载保护控制方法、装置及具备所述装置的干衣柜
NL2003076C2 (nl) 2009-06-23 2010-12-27 Andries Koops Wasdroger.
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EP2434047A3 (fr) * 2011-12-22 2012-06-13 V-Zug AG Appareil ménager, notamment sèche-linge
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ES2489917B1 (es) * 2013-02-25 2016-01-21 Fagor, S.Coop. Método para secar la ropa contenida en una secadora de ropa y secadora de ropa que implementa dicho método
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DE102017204367A1 (de) 2017-03-16 2018-09-20 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Wäschepflegegerät und Verfahren zum Betreiben eines solchen
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US8443527B2 (en) 2009-12-18 2013-05-21 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric temperature estimation for a laundry dryer
KR20140129819A (ko) * 2013-04-30 2014-11-07 엘지전자 주식회사 폐열 회수수단을 갖는 의류처리장치
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CN113832661A (zh) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-24 云米互联科技(广东)有限公司 烘干控制方法、系统、存储介质、衣物处理装置
CN113832661B (zh) * 2020-06-24 2023-06-02 云米互联科技(广东)有限公司 烘干控制方法、系统、存储介质、衣物处理装置
CN114000329A (zh) * 2021-11-15 2022-02-01 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种智能控制干衣方法及干衣机
CN114000329B (zh) * 2021-11-15 2022-09-13 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种智能控制干衣方法及干衣机

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ES2343011T3 (es) 2010-07-21
DE602005020651D1 (de) 2010-05-27
EP1790769A1 (fr) 2007-05-30
ATE464426T1 (de) 2010-04-15
EP1790769B1 (fr) 2010-04-14

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