WO2010057547A1 - Laundry washing and drying machine - Google Patents
Laundry washing and drying machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2010057547A1 WO2010057547A1 PCT/EP2009/006394 EP2009006394W WO2010057547A1 WO 2010057547 A1 WO2010057547 A1 WO 2010057547A1 EP 2009006394 W EP2009006394 W EP 2009006394W WO 2010057547 A1 WO2010057547 A1 WO 2010057547A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant
- heat exchanger
- water
- air
- laundry
- Prior art date
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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
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/04—Heating arrangements
-
- 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
- D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a laundry washing and drying machine.
- front-loading laundry washing and drying machines generally comprise a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer box casing resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub which is suspended in floating manner inside the casing by means of a number of coil springs and shock-absorber, directly facing a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in the front face of the casing; a door hinged to the front face of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the opening in the front face of the casing to seal the washing tub; a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolving drum for housing the laundry to be washed and dried, and which is housed substantially horizontally inside the washing tub to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and an electric motor for rotating the revolving drum about its longitudinal axis inside the washing tub.
- Front-loading laundry washing and drying machines of the above type also have a water supply and recirculating circuit for supplying a given amount of tap water into the washing tub, and for circulating said water into the washing tub during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and a closed-circuit, hot-air generator designed to circulate inside the washing tub a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through the revolving drum and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- the closed-circuit, hot-air generator comprises an air recirculating conduit having its two ends connected to the washing tub, on opposite sides of the latter; an electric centrifugal fan located along the recirculating conduit to produce, inside the latter, an airflow which flows through the washing tub and the revolving drum; and finally a heat-pump assembly having its two heat exchangers located one after the other, along the air recirculating conduit.
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow; whereas the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the first heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow re-entering into the washing tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the air flowing out of the washing tub.
- the heat-pump assembly of the hot-air generator comprises: a refrigerant reciprocating compressor which subjects a refrigerant in the gaseous state to compression, so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the outlet than at the inlet of the reciprocating compressor; a first air/refrigerant heat exchanger through which the refrigerant coming out from the compressor and the airflow entering into the washing tub flow simultaneously, and which is designed so that the refrigerant releases heat to the airflow entering into the washing tub, while at the same time condensing in the liquid state; - a second air/refrigerant heat exchanger through which the refrigerant flowing to the compressor and the airflow coming out from the washing tub flow simultaneously, and which is designed so that the refrigerant absorbs heat from the airflow arriving from washing tub to cause condensation of the surplus moisture in the airflow, while at the same time completely turning back into the gaseous state; and
- a refrigerant expansion device which subjects the refrigerant flowing from the first to the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger to a rapid expansion, so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger, thus turning the refrigerant back into the gaseous state and completing the closed thermodynamic cycle in opposition to the reciprocating compressor, which provides for rapidly compressing the refrigerant.
- first and second air/refrigerant heat exchangers of the heat-pump assembly are located along the air recirculating conduit, so as that the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly cooling the airflow arriving from the washing tub to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow, and the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger provides for rapidly heating the airflow arriving from the second air/refrigerant heat exchanger and directed back to the washing tub, so that the airflow entering into the tub is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the tub.
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly i.e. the heat exchanger which heats up the airflow directed back to the washing tub
- the first air/refrigerant heat exchanger of the heat-pump assembly is also used for heating up the tap water necessary for performing the washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle.
- This heat exchanger in fact, is structured for performing an optimal heat exchange between two fluids in gaseous state (i.e. the dehumidified air directed back to the washing tub and the refrigerant in the gaseous state) , and therefore it is unable to allow an optimal heat exchange between a fluid in liquid state and a fluid in gaseous state.
- the first heat exchanger of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator is unable to speedy heat up the washing water stored in the washing tub. It is the aim of the present invention to improve energy efficiency of the heat-pump-type, hot-air generator of the above cited home laundry washing and drying machines.
- a laundry washing and drying machine as claimed in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the Claims depending directly or indirectly on
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a front-loading laundry washing and drying machine in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
- FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the Figure 1 laundry washing and drying machine in a first working configuration
- FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the Figure 1 laundry washing and drying machine in a second working configuration
- Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the Figures 1-3 laundry washing and drying machine.
- Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the Figures 1-3 laundry washing and drying machine .
- number 1 indicates as a whole a laundry washing and drying machine comprising a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped outer box casing 2 resting on the floor; a substantially bell-shaped washing tub 3 suspended in floating manner inside casing 2 via a suspension system comprising a number of coil springs 4 (only one shown in Figure 1) preferably, though not necessarily, combined with one or more vibration dampers 5 (only one shown in Figure 1); a substantially bell-shaped cylindrical revolving drum 6 for housing the laundry to be washed and/or dried, and which is fixed in axially rotating manner inside washing tub 3 for rotating about its longitudinal axis L; and an electric motor assembly 7 for rotating, on command, revolving drum 6 about its longitudinal axis L inside washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is a front-loading home washing and drying machine, therefore washing tub 3 is suspended substantially horizontally inside casing 2, with the front opening of washing tub 3 directly faced to a laundry loading and unloading opening formed in a front face 2a of casing 2.
- Revolving drum 6, in turn, is housed into washing tub 3 so that its longitudinal axis L is oriented substantially horizontally, and coincides with the longitudinal axis of washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is also provided with a cylindrical elastic-deformable bellows 8 connecting the front opening of washing tub 3 to the laundry loading and unloading opening formed in front face 2a of casing 2, and with a door (not shown) hinged to front face 2a of casing 2 to rotate to and from a closing position in which the door closes the laundry loading and unloading opening in front face 2a to seal washing tub 3.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is also provided with a water supply and recirculating system 9 for supplying a given amount of tap water into washing tub 3, and for circulating said water into washing tub 3 during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle; and with a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 designed to circulate inside washing tub 3 a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through revolving drum 6 and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- a water supply and recirculating system 9 for supplying a given amount of tap water into washing tub 3, and for circulating said water into washing tub 3 during washing and rinsing phases of the washing cycle
- a closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 designed to circulate inside washing tub 3 a stream of hot air with a low moisture content, and which flows through revolving drum 6 and over the laundry inside the drum to rapidly dry the laundry.
- closed-circuit, hot-air generator 10 provides for gradually drawing air from washing tub 3; extracting surplus moisture from the air drawn from washing tub 3; heating the dehumidified air to a predetermined temperature, normally higher than the temperature of the air from washing tub 3; and feeding the heated, dehumidified air back into washing tub 3, where it flows over, to rapidly dry, the laundry inside the revolving drum 6.
- laundry washing and drying machine 1 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a detergent drawer (not shown) which is removably housed inside a seat on front face 2a of casing 2, and which has at least one compartment for a given amount of detergent and/or softener for use in the washing cycle.
- a detergent drawer (not shown) which is removably housed inside a seat on front face 2a of casing 2, and which has at least one compartment for a given amount of detergent and/or softener for use in the washing cycle.
- the seat communicates directly with washing tub 3, and the water supply and recirculating system 9 consists of a drawer flush circuit 11 which, on command, feeds a given amount of tap water into the compartments of the detergent drawer to flush the detergent and/or softener out of the compartments and down into washing tub 3; and of a washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 which, on command, sucks the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feeds said water back into the revolving drum 6, or alternatively drains the water accumulated into the washing tub 3 into a waste-water exhaust duct (not shown) located out of the laundry washing and drying machine 1.
- a drawer flush circuit 11 which, on command, feeds a given amount of tap water into the compartments of the detergent drawer to flush the detergent and/or softener out of the compartments and down into washing tub 3
- a washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 which, on command, sucks the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feeds said water back into the revolving drum 6,
- the drawer flush circuit 11 comprises at least one water supply pipe 13, which is connected to the external water supply main M of the building in which the washing machine is installed, and terminates directly over the detergent drawer; and at least one electrically controlled on-off valve 14 interposed between water supply pipe 13 and the water supply main M to regulate the pressurized-water flow to the end of water supply pipe 13, so as to sprinkle, on command, the compartment/s of the detergent drawer.
- electrically controlled on-off valve 14 is a conventional controlled-open-close solenoid valve 14.
- the washing water recirculating and draining circuit 12 comprises a water recirculating pipe 15 having a first end in communication with the bottom of washing tub 3, and a second end faced to, or connected in known manner to, the revolving drum 6; an electrically operated water circulating pump 16 located along water recirculating pipe 15 for sucking the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and pumping said water towards revolving drum 6; water filtering means
- hot-air generator 10 is a heat-pump-type, hot-air generator and substantially comprises: - an air recirculating conduit 19, the two ends of which are connected to washing tub 3 preferably, though not necessarily, on opposite sides of the latter;
- an electrically operated centrifugal fan 20, or other type of air circulating pump located along recirculating conduit 19 to produce, inside recirculating conduit 19, an airflow f which flows into washing tub 3 and over the laundry inside the revolving drum 6;
- a heat-pump assembly 21 which is able to rapidly cool the airflow f coming out from washing tub 3 for condensing the surplus moisture in the airflow f, and then to rapidly heat the airflow f returning back into washing tub 3, so that the airflow entering into washing tub 3 is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the washing tub 3.
- Heat-pump assembly 21 operates in the same way as a traditional heat-pump - which is capable of transferring heat from one fluid to another using an intermediate gaseous refrigerant subjected to a closed thermodynamic cycle, the thermodynamic principles of which are widely known and therefore not described in detail - but, differently from known laundry washing and drying machines, heat-pump assembly 21 is a bi-directional device and it comprises:
- bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means able to circulate a gaseous refrigerant in succession through the two refrigerant heat exchangers 23 and 24, while subjecting the gaseous refrigerant in succession to a compression and an expansion in the passing from a heat exchanger 23, 24 to the other, so that alternatively one of the two refrigerant heat exchangers 24 and 24 can receive a high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant while the other refrigerant heat exchanger receives a low-pressure and low- temperature refrigerant.
- refrigerant heat exchanger 23 is located along air recirculating conduit 19, upstream of washing tub 3 - and preferably, thought not necessarily, downstream of centrifugal fan 20 -, and is designed so that the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means and the airflow f directed to washing tub 3 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said airflow f, thus rapidly heating or cooling the airflow f.
- refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is located out of air recirculating conduit 19, and is designed so that the washing water arriving from revolving drum 3 and the refrigerant arriving from the bi-directional closed- circuit refrigerant circulating means flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant to release or absorb heat to/from said washing water, thus rapidly heating or cooling the washing water arriving from revolving drum 3; and hot-air generator 10 is also provided with:
- an air/water heat exchanger 25 which is located along air recirculating conduit 19, upstream of heat exchanger 23, and is designed so that the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3 and the water arriving from washing tub 3 or refrigerant heat exchanger 24 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the water having a temperature lower than that of the airflow f, to absorb heat from the airflow f thus causing condensation of the surplus moisture in the airflow f;
- a water circulation circuit 26 which, on command, circulates the washing water stored into washing tub 3 through, in sequence, the refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- heat-pump assembly 21 comprises:
- an electrically powered refrigerant compressing device 22 which subjects a gaseous refrigerant to compression (e.g. adiabatic compression) so that refrigerant pressure and temperature are much higher at the outlet than at the inlet of compressing device 22;
- a first air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 which is located along air recirculating conduit 19, upstream of washing tub 3 - and preferably, thought not necessarily, downstream of centrifugal fan 20 -, and is designed so that the refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 and the airflow f entering into washing tub 3 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant having a temperature greater than that of the airflow f to release heat to the airflow f, thus rapidly heating the airflow f to a temperature preferably, thought not necessarily, higher or equal to the temperature of the airflow f coming out of washing tub 3; - a second water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 which is located out of air recirculating conduit 19, and is designed so that the water arriving from revolving drum 3 and the refrigerant flowing to the inlet of compressing device 22 flow through it simultaneously, allowing the refrigerant having a temperature lower than that of the water, to absorb heat from the water thus causing the cooling of the water to a temperature preferably
- Heat-pump assembly 21 also comprises a number of suitable connecting pipes which connect refrigerant compressing device 22, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and refrigerant expansion device 27 one to the other, so as to form a closed circuit allowing the refrigerant coming out from the outlet of compressing device 22 to flow through, in sequence, air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, refrigerant expansion device 27 and water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, before returning to the inlet of compressing device 22; and an electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28 which connects compressing device 22 to both the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the four-way hydraulic distributor 28 is structured for selectively putting the outlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 or, alternatively, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the inlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the other refrigerant heat exchanger 23 or 24, so as to select, on command, the flowing direction of the refrigerant through the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the water/ refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the refrigerant expansion device 27.
- hydraulic distributor 28 is able to reverse, on command, the normal flowing direction of the refrigerant along, in sequence, the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the refrigerant expansion device 27 and the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the refrigerant releases heat to the water arriving from washing tub 3 when flowing through water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and absorbs heat from the air circulating into the air recirculating conduit 19 when flowing through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28 are commonly know parts in the heat-pump technical field, and therefore not described in detail.
- the air/water heat exchanger 25 is a commonly know part in the washing machine technical field, and therefore not described in detail.
- the water circulation circuit 26 comprises a first pipe 29 connecting the bottom of washing tub 3 to the inlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; a second pipe 30 connecting the outlet of water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 to the inlet of the air/water heat exchanger 25; a third pipe 31 connecting the outlet of air/water heat exchanger 25 to the bottom of washing tub 3; and an electrically powered water circulating pump 32 which is located along pipe 29
- washing tub 3 (or alternatively along pipe 30 or pipe 31) for sucking, on command, the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and circulating said water through, in sequence, the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and the air/water heat exchanger 25, or vice versa, before feeding said water back into washing tub 3.
- the electrically operated centrifugal fan 20 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and air/water heat exchanger 25; and hot-air generator 10 also comprises electrically controlled air valves, air baffles or similar airflow control means, which are able to put, on command, the air recirculating conduit 19 in direct communication with the outside, for allowing external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- said airflow control means are preferably, though not necessarily, also able to prevent, at the same time, the external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- hot-air generator 10 is provided with two three-way valves 33 and 34, which are located along air recirculating conduit 19, on both sides of air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, so to divide air recirculating conduit 19 into two consecutive segments, each of which crosses a respective heat exchanger 23, 25.
- Both three-way valves 33 and 34 are designed to put the first segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, in direct communication with the outside or, alternatively, in direct communication with the other segment of the air recirculating conduit 19, so to allow external air to circulate through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 while, at the same time, preventing said external air from circulating through the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- three-way valve 33 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/water heat exchanger 25 and centrifugal fan 20, whereas three-way valve 34 is preferably, though not necessarily, located between air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and washing tub 3.
- This arrangement of valves 33 and 34 allows the use of centrifugal fan 20 for generating the airflow f along the whole air recirculating conduit 19, or the airflow f along the segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- central control unit 35 switches on, respectively, centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22, and pump 32 of the water circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to transfer heat from the airflow f circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and arriving from the outside of the household appliance, to the water circulating into water circulation circuit 26 and directed back to washing tub 3.
- the high-temperature and high- pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 passes through hydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the tap water arriving from the bottom of washing tub 3 and directed back to washing tub 3.
- the high- temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressing device 22 heats up the water circulating into water circulation circuit 26.
- the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 then passes through the refrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving from expansion device 27 and flowing back to compressing device 22 absorbs heat from the airflow f circulating through air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23, thus rapidly cooling the airflow f flowing along the segment of air recirculating conduit 19 that crosses the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23. Since no air flows through the air/water heat exchanger 25, the air/water heat exchanger 25 operates like a traditional water conduit, and the temperature of the water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 and directed back to washing tub 3 remains unchanged. In other words, all heat absorbed from the airflow f arriving from the outside is transferred to the tap water circulating into water circulation circuit 26.
- central control unit 35 may either switch off the hot-air generator 10 (i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32) and start washing the laundry placed inside revolving drum 6 with the heated up tap water, or may open again on-off valve 14 to pour some more tap water into washing tub 3 and continue heating the water within the tub.
- the hot-air generator 10 i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32
- central control unit 35 may either switch off the hot-air generator 10 (i.e. centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22 and pump 32) and start washing the laundry placed inside revolving drum 6 with the heated up tap water, or may open again on-off valve 14 to pour some more tap water into washing tub 3 and continue heating the water within the tub.
- central control unit 35 switches again the hydraulic distributor 28 to put the outlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the inlet of compressing device 22 in direct communication with the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24; and switches the three-way valves 33 and 34 back in their first operative configuration to isolate the air recirculating conduit 19 from the outside, and to let the airflow f flow along the whole air recirculating conduit 19.
- central control unit 35 switches on centrifugal fan 20, compressing device 22, and pump 32 of the water circulation circuit 26, to enable heat-pump assembly 21 to rapidly cool the airflow f coming out from washing tub 3 for condensing the surplus moisture in the airflow f, and then to rapidly heat the airflow f returning back into washing tub 3, so that the airflow f entering into washing tub 3 is heated rapidly to a temperature higher than or equal to that of the same air flowing out of the washing tub 3.
- the cold water flowing in the water circulation circuit 26 is used for transferring heat from the airflow f coming out from washing tub 3 to the refrigerant flowing through the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the high temperature and pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 passes through hydraulic distributor 28 and reaches the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23 inside which the refrigerant releases heat to the airflow f flowing into the air recirculating conduit 19, back to washing tub 3.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressing device 22 heats up the airflow f directed back into washing tub 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant coming out from compressing device 22 then passes through the refrigerant expansion device 27, wherein the refrigerant is rapidly expanded so that pressure and temperature of the refrigerant entering in the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 are much lower than pressure and temperature of the refrigerant coming out from the air/refrigerant heat exchanger 23.
- the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant arriving from expansion device 27 and flowing back to compressing device 22 absorbs heat from the water arriving from the bottom of washing tub 3 and directed back to washing tub 3, thus rapidly cooling the water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 and directed to the air/water heat exchanger 25.
- the cold water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 may consist in a given quantity of the rinsing water previously used in the rinsing phase of the washing and drying cycle, or may consist in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply and recirculating system 9 (namely the drawer flush circuit
- the cold water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 consists preferably, though not necessarily, in a given quantity of fresh water provided by the water supply and recirculating system 9. Since now the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3 flows through the air/water heat exchanger 25, the cold water circulating into the water circulation circuit 26 absorbs heat from the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3, thus rapidly cooling the airflow f to condense the surplus moisture in the airflow.
- the temperature of the washing water leaving the air/water heat exchanger 25 and directed back to the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24 is slightly higher than the temperature of the washing water arriving from the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24, and the increase in the water temperature is due to the heat amount absorbed from the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3. This heat amount is immediately transferred to the refrigerant flowing back to compressing device 22 within the water/refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the water flowing into the water circulation circuit 26 only transfers heat from the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3 to the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flowing back to compressing device 22.
- the bottom of washing tub 3 is structured to contain a sufficient quantity of fresh or rinsing water to be used in the drying cycle, and, at the same time, to prevent said fresh or rinsing water to reach the revolving drum 6 and the laundry stored inside the drum.
- heat-pump assembly 21 has lots of advantages. Firstly the heat exchange taking place in heat exchanger 24 of heat-pump assembly 21 always involves a fluid in gaseous state (i.e. the refrigerant) and a fluid in liquid state (i.e. the washing water stored in washing tub 3), thus heat exchanger 24 assures optimal heat-exchange performances both when laundry is dried, and when washing water is heated up.
- a fluid in gaseous state i.e. the refrigerant
- a fluid in liquid state i.e. the washing water stored in washing tub 3
- the air/water heat exchanger 25 is a water spray condenser 25
- the washing water circulating in water circulation circuit 26 can be used for capturing fluff or lint particles in the airflow f arriving from washing tub 3.
- the water circulation circuit 26 may be integrated in the water recirculating and draining circuit 12, so as to reduce the number of water pumps.
- the tree-way valve 17 instead of selectively channeling into water draining pipe 18 the water flowing along recirculating pipe 15, the tree-way valve 17 channels, on command, the water flowing along recirculating pipe 15 directly into water pipe 29; and the water recirculating and draining circuit 12 is provided with a second electrically controlled tree-way valve 17' which is located along water pipe 29 for channeling, on command, the water flowing along pipe 29 into water draining pipe 18.
- pump 16 can suck the washing water from the bottom of washing tub 3 and feed said either towards revolving drum 6, or towards water/ refrigerant heat exchanger 24.
- the bi-directional closed-circuit refrigerant circulating means of heat-pump assembly 21 may lack the electrically controlled four-way hydraulic distributor 28, and may comprise instead two refrigerant compressing devices 22 which are connected to heat exchanger 23 and heat exchanger 24 via two electrically controlled three- way valves 36.
- the two refrigerant compressing devices 22 are in anti-parallel one to the other, so that each three-way valves 36 communicates with the inlet of a first refrigerant compressing device 22, and with the outlet of a second refrigerant compressing device 22.
- the electronic central control unit 35 of the laundry washing and drying machine 1 controls both three-way valves 36 so to selectively connect only one of the two refrigerant compressing devices 22 to heat exchanger 23 and heat exchanger 24, while keeping the other refrigerant compressing device 22 isolated.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CN2009801532154A CN102272373B (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
US13/130,334 US20120272689A1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry Washing and Drying Machine |
BRPI0920911A BRPI0920911A2 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | washing and drying machine. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20080169589 EP2189568B1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2008-11-21 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
EP08169589.2 | 2008-11-21 |
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WO2010057547A1 true WO2010057547A1 (en) | 2010-05-27 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/EP2009/006394 WO2010057547A1 (en) | 2008-11-21 | 2009-09-03 | Laundry washing and drying machine |
Country Status (6)
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US (1) | US20120272689A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2189568B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102272373B (en) |
AT (1) | ATE540154T1 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0920911A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010057547A1 (en) |
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- 2008-11-21 AT AT08169589T patent/ATE540154T1/en active
-
2009
- 2009-09-03 CN CN2009801532154A patent/CN102272373B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-09-03 WO PCT/EP2009/006394 patent/WO2010057547A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-09-03 BR BRPI0920911A patent/BRPI0920911A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-09-03 US US13/130,334 patent/US20120272689A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102272373B (en) | 2013-03-27 |
BRPI0920911A2 (en) | 2015-12-29 |
US20120272689A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 |
EP2189568B1 (en) | 2012-01-04 |
ATE540154T1 (en) | 2012-01-15 |
CN102272373A (en) | 2011-12-07 |
EP2189568A1 (en) | 2010-05-26 |
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