WO2007074106A1

WO2007074106A1 - Domestic appliance comprising an adsorption unit

Info

Publication number: WO2007074106A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/069886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald MOSCHÜTZ; Andreas Stolze
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2005-12-29
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: DE102005062943A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) comprising an adsorption unit (2) that contains a solid adsorbing agent and a volatile adsorptive that can be reversibly adsorbed by the adsorbing agent. Said domestic appliance (1) is designed to adopt an operating mode in which a reversible adsorption process takes place in the adsorption unit (2) between the adsorbing agent and the adsorptive. According to the invention, the domestic appliance (1) is designed to adopt a resting mode alternately with the operating mode. In said resting mode, the adsorption unit (2) adopts a stationary mode allowing the adsorptive to be fully adsorbed by the adsorbing agent. The domestic appliance (1) is in particular a tumble-drier (1).

Description

Domestic appliance comprising an adsorption apparatus

The invention relates to a domestic appliance comprising an adsorption apparatus which contains a solid adsorbent and a volatile adsorbent reversibly adsorbable by the adsorbent, and which domestic appliance is set up to assume an operating condition in which an adsorption process is reversibly operated in the adsorption apparatus between the adsorbent and the adsorptive becomes.

WO 2005/053502 A1 discloses such a domestic appliance. This household appliance is designed as a dishwasher with a device for drying a damp

Ware, which means one equipped with an adsorption apparatus

Heat pump has. The adsorbent, in particular a zeolite, is in a first as

Heat exchanger formed vessel included. The adsorptive, in particular water, can circulate between the first vessel and a second vessel, likewise designed as a heat exchanger, and a connecting line between the vessels.

A first operating state of the adsorption apparatus is that adsorbent adsorbs adsorbing vapor from the second vessel; The adsorbent heats up in the first vessel and the adsorptive in the second vessel cools down. Moist air, which is drawn off in a circuit from a treatment chamber with moist items, cools as it flows past the second vessel, and moisture contained condenses out and is removed from the air flow. This then passes to the first vessel, where it is reheated, and as a dry, hot air stream back into the treatment chamber. In this way, the items to be washed are dried.

A second operating condition of the adsorption apparatus is that the adsorbent loaded with the adsorbent is heated with a heater. As a result, the adsorptive is expelled from the adsorbent and passes through the connecting line in the second vessel, where it condenses. This is supported by the fact that the second vessel is cooled by a circulating in the circulation as just described air flow. The thus heated air flow is used to preheat existing in the treatment chamber dishes and / or rinse water. DE 1 410 206 A shows a washing machine, in which laundry not only washed, but also can be dried. For the additional facilities required for this, the document shows several alternatives; In particular, an electric heating device for heating an air stream used for drying laundry and a simple heat exchanger for cooling the heated air stream after the loading of the laundry may be provided, but the heater and the cooler may also belong to a heat pump.

EP 0 777 998 B1 discloses a household appliance equipped with an adsorption apparatus in the form of a tumble dryer. The adsorption apparatus is intended to support a drying process with the aim of saving energy.

On the Internet, a document was publicly available on 9 December 2005 at http://en.wikjpedia.org/wikj/Zeolith describing the materials used for the generic term "zeolite" Aluminum-silicate substances of complex composition, some of which are naturally available and partly artificially preparable, and in particular are capable of accumulating greater amounts of water, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

The prior art documents relating to a domestic appliance comprising an adsorption apparatus raise the question of how such an adsorption apparatus should function reliably over an indefinite period of time and how it should be shut down outside its intended use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a domestic appliance comprising an adsorption apparatus, in which the question of functionally reliable maintenance and shutdown of the adsorption apparatus is released outside its intended use.

The object is achieved by a domestic appliance comprising an adsorption apparatus according to claim 1. Accordingly, the domestic appliance comprises an adsorption apparatus which contains a solid adsorbent and a volatile adsorbent reversibly adsorbable by the adsorbent, which domestic appliance is arranged to assume an operating condition in which an adsorption process is reversibly operated in the adsorption apparatus between the adsorbent and the adsorbent; According to the invention, the domestic appliance is arranged to assume a resting state as an alternative to the operating state in which idle state the adsorption apparatus assumes a stationary state, wherein the adsorbate is substantially completely adsorbed by the adsorbent.

The invention utilizes that a state of the adsorption apparatus in which the adsorbent is substantially completely adsorbed by the adsorbent has a particularly high thermodynamic stability. "Substantially complete" means that either all adsorbent present is adsorbed to an unavoidable minimum to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium at a given pressure and temperature in the adsorption apparatus, or the adsorbent to one at a given temperature and pressure in the adsorption apparatus In the first case, the adsorption apparatus contains a deficiency in terms of the absorption capacity of the adsorbent, and in the second case correspondingly an excess of adsorptive.

In the sense of a preferred embodiment, the domestic appliance is set up such that when the quiescent state is ended, the adsorption process is conducted in such a way that the adsorptive is desorbed from the adsorbent, and that at the beginning of the quiescent state, the adsorption process is conducted in such a way that the adsorptive gas is removed from the adsorption process Adsorbent is adsorbed. In this way, each operating state sets in such a way that the adsorption without a special conditioning measure, which would have preceded a normal commissioning, out of the preferred rest state and thus is available without delay for the intended use. Likewise, the intended use ends with the fact that the Adsorptionsapparat is put into a stable resting state.

Particularly preferably, the domestic appliance is designed for the treatment of a good with heat, wherein the adsorption apparatus is a component of a device for Rekuperieren of heat, in particular a heat pump is. In this case, the domestic appliance is preferably designed as a dryer for the goods, in particular as a tumble dryer.

Preferably, the adsorption apparatus in the domestic appliance comprises an adsorption vessel in which the adsorbent is located, and a phase transfer vessel in which the adsorbate is condensable and vaporizable, and a connecting line connecting the adsorption vessel to the phase transfer vessel. In this adsorption no moving parts must be present; since the idle state is the thermodynamically most stable state of the adsorption apparatus, in particular no obturator is necessary in order optionally to separate the adsorptive from the adsorbent. State transitions can be effected solely by heating the adsorbent to expel the adsorptive and by the adsorption process, which automatically starts in the absence of appropriate heating.

An alternative preferred embodiment of the domestic appliance is characterized in that the adsorption apparatus is an adsorption vessel in which the adsorbent is located, a condensation vessel in which the adsorptive is condensed and which is connected to the adsorption vessel via a first conduit which can be closed by a first valve. an evaporation vessel in which the adsorptive is evaporated and which is connected via a sealable with a second valve second line with the adsorption vessel, and a condensation vessel with the

Evaporating vessel having connecting third line. This embodiment does not have the advantage, if necessary to make do without moving parts in the adsorption; however, it makes it possible to adapt corresponding components of the adsorption apparatus more precisely to the required functions, in particular those of evaporation or condensation.

It is particularly preferred to use a zeolite as adsorbent and water as adsorptive in the domestic appliance.

Also preferably, the adsorption apparatus in the domestic appliance has at least two components, which are designed as heat exchangers for exchanging heat with an air flow. In addition, the adsorption apparatus may preferably be flowed through by a single air flow guided in a substantially closed circuit. In this embodiment, the corresponding domestic appliance, if it were set up in addition to the drying of laundry, would be referred to as a condensation dryer. For this purpose, it is furthermore preferred for the domestic appliance to have an additional condenser which can be flowed through by the air flow and is preferably arranged on the inflow side of the adsorption apparatus.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Show:

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 embodiments of a household appliance, which is designed as a tumble dryer, each with an adsorption apparatus.

In the figures, each of which is to be understood as a schematic diagram, corresponding components each carry the same reference sign.

FIG. 1 shows a domestic appliance 1 configured as a tumble dryer 1 and comprising an adsorption apparatus 2. This adsorption apparatus 2 comprises an adsorption vessel 3 designed as a heat exchanger, which has a zeolite usable as an adsorbent in an amount of approximately 1 kg. In addition, the adsorption apparatus 2 contains a volatile adsorptive adsorbable by the adsorbent, in this case water, in an amount of about 1 kg. Apart from that, the adsorption apparatus 2 is evacuated; Air or air components are at best in traces, as far as they are unavoidable with regard to use over many years and possibly possible and useful sealing measures in the adsorption apparatus 2. Depending on the operating state of the adsorption apparatus 2, the water is present in liquid or adsorbed form, in addition to the gaseous phase corresponding to the temperature in the adsorption apparatus 2. The adsorption vessel 3 has a heating device 4, by which it can be heated to expel adsorbed water from the adsorbent. For receiving the water in certain operating conditions, a likewise designed as a heat exchanger phase transfer vessel 5 is provided, which is connected via a single connecting line 6 to the adsorption vessel 3 and a transport of water between these two vessels 3 and 5 allowed. This transport is by means of one in the only one Connecting line 6 inserted single valve 7 controllable - but this valve 7 is not required in any case, because the adsorption apparatus 2 can also be controlled solely by the temperatures set in the vessels 3 and 5.

Figure 2 shows a clothes dryer 1 with an adsorption apparatus 2, wherein in the adsorption apparatus 2 instead of a single phase transfer vessel 5 (see Figure 1), a condensation vessel 8, connected to the adsorption vessel 3 via a first

Connecting line 9 with a first valve 10, and an evaporation vessel 1 1, to the

Adsorption vessel 3 connected via a second connecting line 12 with a first valve 13, and in addition the condensation vessel 8 with the evaporation vessel 1 1 connected via a third connecting line 14, are provided. A zeolite in an amount of about 3 kg is provided as an adsorbent, and water in an amount of about 1 kg as an adsorbent. The adsorption apparatus 2 is as well as the

Adsorption apparatus 2 of Figure 1 evacuated. The adsorptive must be in this

Adsorption apparatus 2 cycle through all three vessels 3, 8 and 11, and this cycle is controlled by the valves 10 and 13.

To explain the integration of the adsorption apparatus 2 in the tumble dryer 1, reference will now be made to both figures together.

The tumble dryer 1 contains a duct system 15 for guiding an air flow 15 in a circuit which is driven by a blower 16. The air stream 15 passes at a temperature between 80 ° C and 90 ° C in the treatment chamber 17, namely a rotatable drum 17, with a material to be dried 18, namely laundry 18. In the drum 17, the air flow 15 of the laundry 18 moisture , and is loaded with such moisture out of the drum 17 out. He then passes to a condenser 19, where heat is removed from it, so that it cools and condenses out of the drum 17 entrained moisture. Thus resulting condensate is separated by means not shown from the air stream 15 and discharged. Behind the condenser, the air flow 15 passes into the adsorption apparatus 2, where it flows through the vessels 3 and 5 or 3, 8 and 11 designed as heat exchangers. In these vessels, depending on the operating state of the adsorption apparatus 2, heat is first withdrawn from it and then heat is supplied, or only heat is supplied. In according to the heated state, he then returns via the blower 16 back into the drum 17th

When the clothes dryer 1 according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 is in a quiescent state, the adsorptive is adsorbed as far as possible from the adsorbent. As a result, the adsorption apparatus 2 is in an excellent state by a particularly high stability. If the tumble dryer 1 is put into an operating state from the idle state, the drum 17 is rotated and the air flow 15 is established by the blower 16 and, in addition, the condenser 19, possibly with a time delay, is put into operation - for example by the construction of a cooling air flow 20. In the adsorption apparatus 2, the heater 4 is turned on in the adsorption vessel 3, and the adsorbent is heated to a temperature of about 250 ° C. Thereby, a desorption process is initiated, in which the adsorptive is expelled from the adsorbent; It flows as a vapor to the phase transfer vessel 5 and condensation vessel 8, controlled by the valve 7 and the valves 10 and 13. In the phase transfer vessel 5 and condensation vessel 8, the steam is heat to the air stream 15 and condensed at a temperature in a largely stationary state is about 70 ° C. The air stream 15 passes after this first heating at a temperature of about 65 ° C to the adsorption vessel 3, where it receives more heat and finally reaches the drum 17 at a temperature of about 90 ° C. There it absorbs moisture and reaches the condenser 19, where it is freed of this moisture and cooled to a temperature which is about 60 ° C when a largely stationary state is reached.

The desorption process is time-controlled, temperature-controlled or pressure-controlled by switching off the heating 4, and when the drying of the laundry 18 in the drum 17 continues, an adsorption process begins in the adsorption apparatus 2. The adsorbent cools due to the dissipation of heat from the adsorption vessel 3 through the air flow 15 and is prepared with decreasing temperature for re-adsorbing the adsorptive. Since the adsorption is exothermic, there is a heating effect; the adsorption vessel 3 by flowing air stream 15 is heated, wherein in a largely stationary

State in turn a temperature of 90 ° C is reached. In the tumble dryer according to FIG. 1, the adsorptive can in principle pass back to the adsorbent without being controlled by the single valve 7, but a controlling intervention may be necessary for an optionally desired delay. In any case, with the onset of adsorption, the adsorptive accumulated in the phase transfer vessel 5 in liquid form at a temperature of about 50 ° C for evaporation by absorbing heat, which is withdrawn from the air flow 15 in the phase transfer vessel 5. Thus, 15 more moisture condenses out of the air stream, and it is also cooled further. When a substantially stationary state is reached, the air stream 15 enters the vessel 5 at a temperature of about 60 ° C. and leaves it at a temperature of about 57 ° C. In this state, the adsorption apparatus 2 operates as a heat pump and can recuperate with a thermal pump power to 1200 W heat. The adsorption process ends when all the adsorptive is bound to the adsorbent or the adsorbent has absorbed a maximum possible amount of the adsorptive. Then, initiated by a timing or by a detection of a falling temperature or a decreasing pressure in the adsorption vessel 3, a desorption process is again initiated as described above.

In this way, to dry a post, laundry 18 can be changed or reversed several times between the desorption and adsorption processes, but the process of drying in any case ends with an adsorption process. Thereby, the adsorptive is as far as possible bound to the adsorbent to shut down the clothes dryer 1, whereby the adsorption apparatus 2 is placed in a state of rest of indefinite length as low as possible, because particularly stable state.

The modes of action of the tumble dryer 1 and of the adsorption apparatus 2 according to FIG. 2 largely correspond to those described for FIG. Only the condensation of the adsorptive takes place in a special condensation vessel 8, which is separated from an evaporation vessel 11, in which the evaporation of the adsorptive takes place. Condensation and evaporation of the adsorptive can take place at very different temperatures - condensation at a temperature up to 80 ° C while heating the air flow from 57 ° C to 70 ° C, evaporation at a temperature of about 20 ° C while cooling the air flow of 60 ° C to 57 ° C - and each of the vessels 8 and 11 can be adapted to corresponding temperature conditions and differences. It should be understood that controlling interventions by means of valves 10 and 13 are required to establish and maintain the adsorptive cycle.

The control of the clothes dryer 1 and the adsorption apparatus 2 takes place in each embodiment by means of a control unit 21, with all controllable components 7 and 10 and 13 and 16 and according to necessity with each other component, not shown (for example, cooling air flow 20 or sensor) via Control lines 22 is connected. For clarity, a single control line 22, which ends at the adsorption apparatus 2, drawn; it is to be understood as a symbol for any control line 22 to a component in the adsorption apparatus 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 domestic appliance, tumble dryer

2 adsorption apparatus

3 adsorption vessel 4 heating device

5 phase transfer vessel

6 only connection line

7 only valve

8 Condensation vessel 9 First connection line

10 First valve

1 1 evaporation vessel

12 Second connection line

13 Second valve 14 Third connection line

15 duct system, airflow

16 blowers

17 treatment chamber, drum

18 Good, wash 19 condenser

20 cooling air flow

21 Control unit Control line

Claims

claims

A domestic appliance (1) comprising an adsorption apparatus (2) containing a solid adsorbent and a volatile adsorbent reversibly adsorbable by the adsorbent, and which domestic appliance (1) is arranged to accept an operating condition in which adsorption apparatus (2) between the adsorbent and the adsorbent, an adsorption process is reversibly operated, characterized in that the domestic appliance (1) is arranged to assume a resting state as an alternative to the operating state in which quiescent state the adsorption apparatus (2) assumes a steady state, the adsorbent being substantially completely adsorbed by the adsorbent.

2. domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is set up such that at a termination of the idle state of the adsorption process is conducted so that the adsorptive is desorbed from the adsorbent, and that is performed at a start of the idle state of the adsorption process in that the adsorptive is adsorbed by the adsorbent.

3. domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is adapted for the treatment of a good (18) with heat, and wherein the adsorption apparatus (2) comprises means (2) for recuperating heat, in particular a heat pump

(2), is.

4. domestic appliance (1) according to claim 3, which is designed as a dryer for the good (18), in particular as a tumble dryer (1).

5. domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adsorption apparatus (2) is an adsorption vessel (3) in which the adsorbent is located, and a phase transfer vessel (5) in which the adsorptive is condensable and vaporizable, and a Having the adsorption vessel (3) with the phase transfer vessel (5) connecting single connection line (6).

6. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adsorption apparatus (2) is an adsorption vessel (3) in which the adsorbent is a condensation vessel (8) in which the adsorptive is condensed and that via a a first valve (10) closable first connecting line (9) with the adsorption vessel (3) is connected, an evaporation vessel (11) in which the Adsorptiv is vaporized and via a with a second valve (13) closable second connecting line (12 ) is connected to the adsorption vessel (3), and a the condensation vessel (8) with the evaporation vessel (1 1) connecting third connecting line (14).

7. domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adsorbent is a zeolite and the adsorptive water.

8. domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adsorption apparatus (2) at least two components (3, 5, 8, 1 1), which are formed as heat exchangers for exchanging heat with an air stream.

9. domestic appliance according to claim 8, wherein the adsorption apparatus (2) of a single, guided in a substantially closed circuit air flow (15) can be flowed through.

10. Domestic appliance according to claim 9, which has an additional, from the air flow through ble capacitor (19).

1 1. Household appliance according to claim 10, wherein the capacitor (19) upstream of the adsorption apparatus (2) is arranged.