Dishwasher with a heat pump

The dishwasher's insulating and moisture-directing solution addresses wall cooling and mold issues by using a thermally insulating component and condensate system, ensuring efficient operation and hygiene.

DE102024202681B4Active Publication Date: 2026-06-11BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102024202681
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-21
Publication Date
2026-06-11
Estimated Expiration
2044-03-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Heat pumps in dishwashers cool the ambient air, leading to condensation on nearby building walls and increased mold risk due to poor ventilation, particularly when the dishwasher is placed near a wall.

Method used

A dishwasher with a thermally insulating component attached to its outer walls, including a moisture-insulating layer to prevent condensation and a condensate collection system to direct moisture away from the building wall.

Benefits of technology

Prevents wall cooling and mold growth by maintaining wall temperature and directing condensation away from the building, enhancing energy efficiency and hygiene.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump (14) comprising at least one compressor (16), one condenser (18), one expansion element (19) and one evaporator (20), which are connected to each other via conduit sections (21) for conveying a working medium (17) which changes state of matter during operation, wherein the heat pump (14) is assigned at least one supply line (22) and one outlet (23) of washing liquid (24) circulating in the dishwasher (1), characterized in that the dishwasher (1) is assigned at least one substantially planar extending, thermally insulating component (26) outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body (5), which comprises a planar portion (28) with a planar film (29).
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Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is known that, to optimize the energy efficiency of dishwashers, especially household dishwashers, heat pumps are used to at least supplement the heating of the circulating wash water in the dishwasher, or, with appropriate design, to achieve this entirely via the heat pump. Such a heat pump is typically an air-source heat pump that extracts heat from the ambient air. However, this presents the problem that this ambient air (often located beneath kitchen cabinets) is cooled at the heat pump, particularly at the evaporator, due to the extraction of heat energy. The cooled air must then be exhausted from the heat pump.When a dishwasher is placed in front of a building wall, there is a particular risk, especially on the wall behind the dishwasher—and also to the side if the dishwasher is placed in a corner of a living space—that the rear wall, and possibly the side wall as well, will become very cold due to the cooled air. Consequently, incoming room air can condense on the cold surface of the wall obstructed by the dishwasher. Because of the often poor ventilation in this area of ​​the wall where the dishwasher is placed or installed, the risk of mold growth around the back of the dishwasher, and potentially on the dishwasher itself, is high.

[0003] It is known that air guide elements can be used to direct the air flowing behind the dishwasher, but the problem of wall cooling and poor wall ventilation remains unsolved.

[0004] In the arrangement described in DE 10 2019 100 004 A1, comprising a dishwasher with a heat pump circuit including a heat exchanger and a fan for generating an airflow that passes through the heat exchanger, an air outlet for the airflow is arranged in or on a rear wall of the dishwasher. Between the rear wall of the dishwasher and an adjacent wall, at least one sealing element is provided above the air outlet, which prevents the cooled air exiting the air outlet from bypassing it, at least in the area of ​​the rear wall located above the air outlet. Preferably, the sealing element extends at least over the entire width of the dishwasher and fills a gap between the rear wall of the dishwasher and the wall in a direction transverse to the rear wall. It can, in particular, be cuboid in shape.

[0005] The arrangement described in DE 10 2019 100 002 A1 comprises a dishwasher with a heat pump circuit including a heat exchanger and a fan for generating an airflow that passes through the heat exchanger, wherein an air inlet is located in a front area and an air outlet for the airflow is located in a rear area of ​​the dishwasher, and base unit accessories for installing the dishwasher in a kitchen unit. The base unit accessories include an exhaust air duct – such as a rigid air duct or a flexible air hose – that directs exhaust air away from the air outlet to release it from an air outlet that can be positioned remotely from the dishwasher. In a further advantageous embodiment, all parts of the air duct have sufficiently high insulating properties, in particular being made of an insulating material or having an insulating layer.

[0006] DE 10 2018 127 622 A1 is based on the same arrangement as DE 10 2019 100 002 A1, but unlike the latter, it provides substructure accessories with a sealing arrangement that seals an area around the air inlet downwards and laterally. For this purpose, the sealing arrangement can expediently include a compressible bottom seal and / or at least one compressible or plate-shaped side seal.

[0007] The household dishwasher of DE 10 2019 202 618 A1, comprising a heat pump assembly, has a liquid tank outside its dishwashing compartment for receiving dishwashing liquid. When the liquid tank is filled with dishwashing liquid, an outer surface of the evaporator of the heat pump assembly is in contact with this liquid tank. The liquid tank has a wall that defines its interior space and is located on a side facing away from the dishwashing compartment. Between this wall of the liquid tank and an outer side wall of the household dishwasher spaced apart from it, there is a cavity open to the surroundings of the household dishwasher. This cavity allows air from the surroundings to enter, and condensate, which forms in the cavity through condensation of atmospheric moisture from the incoming air, can be drained away via this cavity.

[0008] In the dishwasher of WO 2019 / 132819 A2 with a heat pump arrangement in the machine base below its wash tub, an air duct is provided which directs the air, which a fan blows over the evaporator of the heat pump arrangement and then out into the environment at the rear of the machine base, from the rear of the machine body to the front of the machine base, where it is blown out through an opening in the base panel.

[0009] The invention is based on the problem of improving the protection of a building wall located behind and / or next to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, in the case of a heat pump for a dishwasher.

[0010] The invention solves this problem by means of a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with the features of claim 1 and / or claim 2. Regarding advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention, reference is made to further claims 3 to 17.

[0011] According to the invention, in a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump comprising at least one compressor, a condenser, an expansion element and an evaporator, at least one substantially planar, thermally insulating component is assigned to the dishwasher outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body, thus providing protection for a building wall located behind and / or next to the dishwasher, preventing such a building wall from cooling down.

[0012] If, in addition or alternatively, the dishwasher is equipped with at least one moisture-insulating component extending substantially across its entire surface outside at least one outer wall of its housing, moisture protection is provided for the aforementioned building wall(s). This component separates any condensation from the wall, preventing it from running down the wall and instead causing it to run off the insulating component before reaching the wall.

[0013] Ideally, the building unit should be both moisture-insulating and thermally insulating.

[0014] This component can advantageously be assigned to a rear side of the dishwasher that is diametrically opposite the front, in order to protect the building wall behind the dishwasher.

[0015] Additionally, the insulating unit can also be assigned to a side wall that is perpendicular to the front, in order to provide special protection for the building walls in the case of a dishwasher located in a corner of a living space.

[0016] If the insulating unit includes a flat surface covered with a sheet of foil, it can be manufactured inexpensively and installed easily. Different installation methods are possible depending on the installation conditions in the respective environment.

[0017] In particular, the flat building unit is arranged essentially vertically and parallel to the wall in its operating position in order to protect a large wall area from moisture and / or heat loss.

[0018] Ideally, the insulating unit has a height and width of at least 15 centimeters each, in order to protect a large wall area, especially near the evaporator.

[0019] Ideally, the insulating unit should have a height and a width of at least 25 centimeters each.

[0020] The insulating unit is particularly advantageous when it includes spacers against a building wall. This optimizes thermal insulation. Furthermore, the spacers between the building wall and the back of the unit can create air channels that accelerate rising warm air, thus further counteracting mold growth.

[0021] For optimal insulation, the spacers necessarily maintain a flat portion of the insulating unit at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from a building wall.

[0022] For the air channels already described, the spacers form a plurality of vertically extended struts, so that a plurality of air channels can be formed between them.

[0023] Advantageously, the surface area of ​​the insulating unit comprises a dense film, which can simply be an inexpensive plastic film.

[0024] In particular, the film is moisture- and heat-insulating. However, a significant portion of the heat insulation can be achieved through the air channels behind it, meaning that the film itself only needs to meet minimal requirements in this regard.

[0025] Instead of creating air channels through the spacers, the space around the spacers can also be sealed all around, so that an air cushion is formed behind the foil, which provides thermal insulation against the outer wall.

[0026] The insulating unit is very advantageously positioned between an evaporator of the heat pump located in the dishwasher and a building wall, since the risk of cooling and humidification of the nearby building wall is particularly high at, and especially behind, the evaporator.

[0027] The insulating unit is very easy to handle; it can be held against the dishwasher and moved along with it. Depending on the specific circumstances (left or right corner, niche, or just the back wall), it may also be possible for the installer to adhere it on-site.

[0028] Alternatively, the insulating unit can be mounted or held in place on the building wall. Since the insulating unit can be very lightweight, the mechanical strength of the mounting is not a major concern. Here too, gluing or light nailing may suffice.

[0029] A particularly advantageous feature is the arrangement of a condensate collection device in the lower area of ​​the insulating unit, allowing the condensate to flow downwards along the foil and be collected at the bottom without causing damage.

[0030] A particularly advantageous feature of the collection device is a channel that extends beneath the flat portion of the insulating unit. This channel can cover the entire area of ​​the insulating unit, preventing any water from running off.

[0031] Furthermore, the collection system can be emptied via a condensate pump. This can be directly connected to the trough, or the trough can be equipped with a drain into a condensate collection tray under the evaporator and utilize a condensate pump already provided there.

[0032] The advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention described above and / or described in the dependent claims can be used individually or in any combination with each other, except, for example, in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives.

[0033] The invention and its advantageous developments and refinements, as well as their advantages, are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0034] They show: Fig. 1 A schematic perspective view from a slanted front view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher shown here as an example, with a downward-swinging door and a base for receiving functional elements in the lower area, Fig. 2 an exemplary, highlighted perspective view of a heat pump, in which, in the installed position, the evaporator is located in the immediate vicinity of a rear wall of the dishwasher, Fig. 3. A detailed schematic side view of a dishwasher standing in front of a building wall with an insulating unit mounted on that building wall. Fig. 4 a schematic, rear view of the insulating assembly with webs for forming spacers and intervening air channels, and Fig. 5 the construction unit after Fig. 4 schematic side view.

[0035] Elements with the same function and mode of operation are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0036] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a dishwasher 1, namely a household dishwasher, in a perspective view, without limiting the invention to this. It may be transferable to other household appliances such as a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in which a liquid is to be heated energy-efficiently by means of a heat pump.

[0037] The household dishwasher described below according to Fig. 1, as a component of a partially open or closed appliance body 5, has a wash container 2 for receiving items to be washed or parts of items to be cleaned, such as dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses, cooking utensils, etc. The items to be washed can be arranged, and in particular held, in the wash container 2, for example, in dish racks 11, in particular in a lower dish rack and in an upper dish rack arranged at a height above it, and / or in a cutlery drawer 10. It can be supplied with wash liquid or wash water 24 by means of one or more wash liquid application devices, such as rotating spray arms, rotating or stationary spray nozzles, and / or other liquid distribution units, in one or more partial wash phases of a respective dishwashing program. The wash liquid or wash water 24 consists of...The washing liquid 24 is preferably understood to be fresh water and / or, in particular, water circulating during the washing operation of the household dishwasher 1, with or without added detergent, and / or rinse aid, and / or drying agent, depending on the partial washing phase. The washing liquor or washing liquid 24 may also contain, to a greater or lesser extent, soiling from the ongoing washing operation, which is rinsed off the items to be cleaned during the execution of one or more partial washing phases – such as pre-rinse, wash, intermediate rinse, and final rinse – of a respective dishwashing program. If necessary, washing liquid may also be used for one or more partial washing phases of the respective dishwashing program that is present in at least one partial washing phase, such as...The rinse water from a previous dishwasher program was already used during the rinse cycle, remaining relatively clean, and was then stored in a tank as service water. In particular, the wash liquor supplied to the dishwasher may have passed through an ion exchanger or other softening device before being applied to the dishes.

[0038] The wash container 2 can, as in the exemplary embodiment shown here, have an at least substantially rectangular floor plan with a front loading opening facing the user (in the operating position of the household dishwasher 1), which can be closed by a front door 3. In the Fig. 1 is the front of the household dishwasher facing the user, in particular its wash tub 2, designated by reference numeral V. In this exemplary embodiment, a wash chamber for the items to be cleaned and / or dried is bounded by three vertical walls 13 and two horizontal walls 13 of the wash tub 2, and by the front door 3 in its at least approximately vertically upright closed position. Specifically, the wash tub comprises a top (upper) and a bottom (lower) as horizontal walls. Adjoining the front of the wash tub 2 facing the user, in the transverse direction Q, are a left side wall 13, at least approximately vertically upright, and opposite this, to the right, a right side wall 13, also at least approximately vertically upright. They are connected to each other at the rear by a rear wall 13, which is at least nearly vertically upright.

[0039] The upper end of the front door or flap 3, by means of which the front loading opening of the wash tank 2 can be closed at its front V, is preferably pivotable forwards and downwards about a lower horizontal axis in this exemplary embodiment. This door 3 is in Fig. 1 shown in a partially open position, then at an angle to the vertical. In its closed position, however, it stands at least almost upright and is, according to the Fig. 1. The door can be pivoted forward and downward around a lower horizontal axis in the direction of arrow 4, so that in the fully open position (opening end position) it lies at least nearly horizontal. Other movements of the door are also possible, e.g. via a parallelogram or other multi-joint arrangement.

[0040] The door 3 can be fitted with a decorative panel or door trim on its exterior, i.e., on its user-facing front surface. In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 The front door 3 is provided with a decorative panel 6 on its vertical outer or front side facing the user when closed, in order to achieve an optical and / or haptic enhancement and / or adaptation to surrounding kitchen furniture.

[0041] When the front door 3 is in its closing position, at least almost vertically, the front of the front door 3 of a so-called semi-integrated or fully integrated household dishwasher 1 can form part of a kitchen front made up of adjacent kitchen furniture, or, in the case of a freestanding household dishwasher, it can be without reference to other furniture.

[0042] Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a door hinged to the side of a side wall of the wash tank 2.

[0043] It is also possible to provide a completely enclosed washing container with a loading opening at the top, which can preferably be closed with a door that is essentially horizontal in its closing position.

[0044] The household dishwasher 1 is shown here in the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1. This is shown only as an example of a standalone or freestanding appliance on floor B, or as a so-called semi-integrated appliance installed on floor B within a built-in niche between adjacent kitchen units below a kitchen worktop. In the latter case, the adjacent kitchen units and the kitchen worktop are in the Fig. 1 omitted for the sake of graphic simplicity.

[0045] In the lower section of the household dishwasher 1, in this exemplary embodiment, a base or support 12 is located below its wash tub 2, particularly for accommodating functional elements such as a circulation pump (not shown) for circulating the wash liquid 24 in a circulation circuit and / or a drain pump (not shown) for pumping the wash liquid 24 out of a pump sump (not shown) fluidically connected to the wash tub 2, and in this exemplary embodiment also a heat pump or heat pump assembly 14. This can be conveniently accommodated there in terms of space and connection. Fig. In Figure 1, the placement of the heat pump assembly 14 in the base support or plinth 12 is symbolized only by a dash-dotted rectangle. However, placement of the heat pump assembly in the plinth is not mandatory – depending on the design of the household dishwasher – i.e., it may deviate from the advantageous embodiment shown in Figure 1. Fig. 1 The heat pump arrangement can be partially or completely located outside the base 12, for example on the outside of a side wall and / or rear wall of the wash tank 2.

[0046] The appliance body 5 of the household dishwasher 1 exhibits in this exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1 Two opposing side walls S. A rear wall R is provided at the rear, which may also be perforated and preferably allows access to the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14.

[0047] The movable door 3 is in the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 In its upper area, an outer, front panel 8 extending in the transverse or width direction Q of the household dishwasher 1 is assigned, which can include displays and / or operating elements and then also serves as a display and / or operating panel. Preferably in the area of ​​its lower edge, as in the exemplary embodiment shown here, Fig. 1. It is advantageous to provide an access opening 7, accessible from the front V, for manually opening and / or closing the door 3. This access opening 7 is shown here, by way of example, only in the transverse center of the door 3, but this is not mandatory. An access opening 7 extending at least almost across the entire width of the dishwasher, for example, over 50 to 60 centimeters in the transverse direction Q of a 60 cm wide dishwasher, is also possible. As an alternative to such a semi-integrated or "stand-alone" dishwasher, whose front door has a control panel in its upper edge area with display and / or control elements visible from the front when the door is in the vertically closed position, the entire front of a so-called fully integrated dishwasher can be covered by a cover or front panel, such as...The door panel may be covered by a kitchen cabinet door. With this door variant, operating and / or display elements of a control panel can, for example, be located on the upper outer edge of the front door, so that the operating and / or display elements are only visible and / or accessible to a user when the front door is open. Other door variants are also possible, depending on the type of household dishwasher and / or the installation conditions.

[0048] In the transverse direction Q, the dishwasher often has a dimension of 45, 50, or 60 centimeters. In the depth direction from its front V to its back, its dimension is also often around 60 centimeters. These values ​​are not mandatory. Furthermore, the household dishwasher 1 does not necessarily have to be as described in the Fig. The dishwasher 1 need not stand directly on floor B, but can also be installed higher on the baseboard of a kitchen cabinet or within other kitchen furniture, or placed on a plinth or kitchen worktop at a height difference from floor B. In particular, the height difference can be chosen so that a user, for example when loading or unloading the dish racks, especially the lower dish rack, or when refilling rinse aid and / or detergent into a dispenser unit provided on the inside of the front door 3, only has to bend down slightly or not at all, provided the front door 3 is in its fully open position, at least approximately horizontal. In this elevated position, the lower edge of the dishwasher 1 can then preferably be approximately 40 to 110 centimeters above floor B.The vertical height (extension in the vertical direction H) of the household dishwasher 1 may also vary or be different depending on the type of construction and / or installation conditions.

[0049] A household dishwasher 1 is often positioned a short distance horizontally from a building wall 27, resulting in a narrow gap SF between the rear of the appliance housing 5 and the building wall 27. It may be covered above a worktop – for example, if installed in a recess between adjacent kitchen units such as base cabinets – which further impedes air exchange in this gap SF between the rear of the dishwasher 1 and the rear building wall 27. A building wall may also be located next to or to the side of a side wall S of the appliance housing 5 of the dishwasher 1, for example, if the dishwasher is installed in a corner of a living space, particularly a kitchen, which can further hinder air exchange in the gap SF to the side.Furthermore, air exchange can also be problematic in the gap area between the side wall S of the device body 5 and the adjacent side wall of the building.

[0050] The heat pump or heat pump assembly 14 of the household dishwasher 1 is in the Fig. 2 in an exemplary design with its functional components is presented as a compact unit. With its help, the wash liquid present in the circulation pump circuit or hydraulic circuit of the household dishwasher 1 during at least one liquid-carrying partial wash phase, such as the cleaning phase and / or rinse phase of a dishwashing program, for which heating is required, and / or the wash liquid intended for circulation in the circulation pump circuit, for which heating is required, can be at least partially heated. That is, either the wash liquid for which heating is required in the respective partial wash phase is preheated by the heat pump to a preheating temperature and then subsequently heated by means of a liquid heater such as, for example,The rinsing fluid is heated to its desired target final temperature by an instantaneous water heater, or the rinsing fluid is heated entirely to its desired target final temperature by the heat pump alone, which is particularly energy-efficient when carrying out a so-called Eco program or other energy-saving program.

[0051] In this exemplary embodiment, the heat pump 14 is in particular a compression heat pump or compressor pump, i.e., it comprises a compressor 16 with which mechanical work can be performed on a working medium 17 circulating in the heat pump 14, for example a propane / butane mixture or R600a (isobutane). The compressor 16, in which the mechanical work is performed on the working medium 17, is electrically driven.

[0052] In addition to the compressor 16, the heat pump or heat pump assembly 14 comprises, as functional units—which may also be structural units, but need not be—at least a condenser 18, an expansion device or expansion element 19, for example an expansion valve or a capillary, and an evaporator 20. These functional units 16, 18, 19, 20 are interconnected via pipe sections 21 for conveying the working fluid 17, which changes state of matter during operation. The working fluid 17 flowing through the heat pump assembly 14 during its operation (compressor 16 is switched on) is in the Fig. 2 is symbolized by a separately depicted arrow, which also indicates its direction of flow.

[0053] In addition to the aforementioned components, the heat pump arrangement 14 expediently comprises at least one air conveying device LF, which, viewed in its air conveying direction, is arranged upstream of the evaporator 20 and is specifically associated with it for heat pump operation. The air conveying device LF preferably has a fan or a blower. When the heat pump 14 is in operation, i.e., its compressor 16 is running to heat the wash liquid to a desired setpoint temperature via the condenser 18 for one or during a partial rinse phase, in particular the cleaning phase and / or final rinse phase, of the respective dishwashing program to be carried out, which requires the heating of the wash liquid used or to be used for this purpose in at least one heating phase, the air conveying device LF conveys, in particular blows, ambient air 32 through the structure or...The structure of the evaporator 20, shown here in the exemplary embodiment with a conveyance direction from front to rear towards the rear wall R of the appliance housing 5 of the household dishwasher 1. The structure of the evaporator 20 comprises sections, in particular meanders or loops, extending transversely to the front-to-rear air conveyance direction, i.e., in the depth direction of the household dishwasher, of an evaporator tube VR through which the working medium 17 flows or through. Transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to these sections of the evaporator tube VR, upright, planar heat exchange elements VL, in particular fins, are provided, each of which is thermally connected to the sections of the evaporator tube VR. The upright, planar heat exchange elements VL are arranged at transverse intervals from one another and extend here in the depth direction of the household dishwasher 1, i.e., from front to back.This creates an air channel or passage between each pair of transversely adjacent, upright heat exchanger elements VL, extending in the depth direction of the household dishwasher 1 and being crossed at predetermined intervals in the depth direction, and particularly also in the height direction, by a section of the evaporator tube VR. The heat exchanger elements VL are thus penetrated transversely to their longitudinal extent in the depth direction by the sections of the evaporator tube VR through which the working medium 17 flows. In this way, ambient air 32 can be conveyed, in particular blown, through the channels or passages located between the heat exchanger elements VL from front to back towards the rear wall R of the appliance housing 5 of the household dishwasher 1 by means of the air conveying device LF.In this process, heat is extracted from the ambient air 32 by the sections of the evaporator tube VR and the heat exchange elements VL connected to them by thermal conductivity, and transferred to the working medium 17. In this exemplary embodiment, the air conveying device LF is advantageously arranged such that, during its operation, ambient air 32 from the space surrounding the dishwasher 1 is drawn in through, for example, front ventilation slots and / or through gaps, cracks, recesses and / or openings in the one or more walls of the base support.The air is drawn in through the base of the household dishwasher 1, flows over the compressor 16 located in front of the air supply unit LF, and is preheated by its waste heat. It is then preferably blown rearward (in the depth direction of the dishwasher) to the evaporator 20 and flows along one or more of its pipe sections or pipe segments, preferably meandering, through which the working medium 17 flows, and / or along the heat exchange elements VL projecting from these, in particular fins. In this exemplary embodiment, the air supply unit LF associated with the evaporator 20 is therefore preferably positioned between the compressor 16 and the air inlet of the evaporator 20, considering the airflow path caused by the air supply unit LF.The compressor 16, the downstream air conveying device LF, and the evaporator 20 are arranged in the base support 12, preferably in a straight line extending at least approximately one behind the other in the depth direction of the household dishwasher. After passing through the structure of the evaporator 20, the ambient air 32', cooled by the evaporator 20, is finally blown out through a recess or opening, i.e., through an air outlet LA in the rear wall R of the appliance housing 5, particularly in the rear wall R of the base support 12, of the household dishwasher 1 into the surroundings of the dishwasher, where it flows onto the building wall 27 located behind the dishwasher, particularly in the area of ​​the building wall 27 opposite the air outlet LA (see ). Fig. 3).

[0054] The heat pump 14 is also connected to at least one supply line 22 and one outlet 23 (shown unconnected here) for the washing fluid 24 that circulates or is circulating in the household dishwasher 1. The washing fluid 24 to be heated flows via the supply line 22 – e.g., from a circulation circuit, in particular a circulation pump circuit (not shown) of the household dishwasher 1 – into the inlet of at least one heat transfer zone 50, in this embodiment in particular a pipe section, which is in thermal contact with the condenser 18, in particular its condenser tube, through which the working medium 17 flows, and flows through this heat transfer zone 50. The washing fluid 24, heated by the condenser 18 during heat pump operation, leaves the outlet of the heat transfer zone 50 via the outlet line 23.It is then returned to the circulation circuit, in particular the circulation pump circuit, at an upstream point, such as preferably the flushing chamber belonging to the circulation circuit in the flushing tank 2 and / or a pump sump located on the underside of the flushing tank. The condenser 18 and the heat transfer area 50, in particular a pipe section 50, through which the flushing fluid 24 flows or through which it flows, thus together form a heat exchanger WT, in which, during the operation of the heat pump 14 (with the compressor 16 switched on), heat is transferred from the working medium 17 to the flushing fluid 24 flowing through the heat transfer area 50. The flushing fluid 24 flowing through the heat transfer device WT is in the . Fig. 2 is symbolized by a separately depicted arrow.

[0055] Advantageously, in the heat exchanger WT, the respective flushing fluid 24 to be heated flows through the heat transfer area, in particular the heat transfer line section or pipe section, 50 in counterflow to the working medium 17, which flows through the condenser 18. In this way, efficient, i.e., highly efficient, heat transfer from the working medium 17 to the flushing fluid 24 is ensured in the heat exchanger WT.

[0056] Furthermore, the heat pump 14 is expediently equipped with an electrical connection 25. The electrical connection 25 allows, in particular, the supply of electrical energy to the electric motor of the compressor 16 for its operation and / or to the air conveying device 39 for its operation. In addition to the electrical connection 25 and the connection options 22, 23 for the purge fluid 24, the heat pump assembly 14 may also include various sensors and a connection 25' for a communication interface, in particular for a data bus. The electrical connection 25 can be – as shown in the Fig. Figure 2 shows an example – in particular, it may be part of an electrical / communication module EM, which may also include one or more sensors and the communication interface connection 25', in particular a data bus connection. The operation of the electric drive motor of the compressor 16 and the air delivery unit LF can be monitored, in particular controlled and / or regulated, via the communication interface connection 25'. This communication interface connection 25' can preferably receive and / or send communication signals from a control unit (omitted here for clarity) via one or more signaling connections, in particular a data bus. The control unit can be used to monitor the operation of the heat pump 14, in particular its compressor 16 and / or its air delivery unit LF.The control unit can be directly assigned to the heat pump assembly 14, in particular as part of the electrical / communication module EM, or it can be located separately from the heat pump assembly 14 at another location in the household dishwasher 1, in particular in its base support 12. It can preferably be a component of a higher-level control system that automates the execution of one or more partial wash cycles, such as pre-rinse, cleaning, intermediate rinse, final rinse, and the final drying cycle of a given dishwasher program. The control unit and / or the control system can be implemented using hardware and / or software components.

[0057] This heat pump 14 can - as in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the heat pump 14 forms a modular (installation) unit. At least the essential components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 of the heat pump 14, through which the working medium 17 flows, and in particular the air conveying device LF upstream of the evaporator 20, the heat exchanger WT intended for heating the rinse fluid 24, and / or the electrical / communication module EM, can be mechanically fixed to a support unit 15, such as a support plate, frame, or rack, thus forming a modular and easy-to-assemble unit. The essential functional components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 of the heat pump 14, through which the working medium 17 flows, can be pre-assembled on the support unit 15, filled with working medium 17, and tested for functionality before installation in the dishwasher 1. In particular, the heat pump 14 can be pre-assembled, i.e.,Before being installed in the household dishwasher 1 – here in the base carrier 12 – the components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 that carry the working medium 17 must be tested for leaks. In particular, if the air conveying device LF, the electrical / communication module EM, and / or one or more sensors, such as temperature and / or humidity sensors, are also attached to the carrier unit 15, it may be advantageous to check the functionality of these components associated with the heat pump assembly 14 beforehand.

[0058] During one or more heating phases for the washing liquid, which are carried out by means of the operation of the heat pump, ambient air 32 is drawn in from outside the household dishwasher 1 by means of the air conveying device LF arranged in front of the evaporator 20, blown through the structure of the evaporator 20 to transfer heat to the working medium 17, thereby cooling the air flowing through the structure of the evaporator 20, and then the ambient air 32', cooled by heat extraction from the evaporator 20, is blown out of the air outlet LA provided at the rear of the appliance housing 5, so that it affects the nearby building wall 27 behind the household dishwasher 1. In particular, the cold air 32' blown out of the air outlet LA during heat pump operation can strike a section of the building wall 27 opposite the air outlet LA.This would cause the surface of the building wall 27 to be cooled, particularly in the area where the cold air 32' is blown out; but also in other areas where the cold air 32' passes over the building wall 27, the latter would also be cooled. This creates the risk that the surfaces of these one or more cold zones or areas of the building wall 27 will become damp. This could occur, in particular, after the air supply unit LF is switched off at the end of heat pump operation, if the cold air 32' previously blown into the gap SF by the air supply unit LF during heat pump operation is replaced by warmer air from warmer areas of the gap SF, which has a higher moisture content, and / or by warmer ambient air from outside the gap SF, which has a higher moisture content.From the air standing in front of these one or more cold zones, 27 water droplets could condense due to its cooling on the one or more cold zones of the building wall.

[0059] To prevent cooling and / or any associated dampness of the building wall 27 as far as possible, the dishwasher 1 is assigned at least one substantially surface-extending, thermally insulating and / or moisture-insulating building unit 26 outside of at least one outer wall of the appliance housing 5, which is located in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 is shown as an example.

[0060] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, this insulating component 26 can be assigned to the rear side R of the dishwasher 1, which is diametrically opposite the front side V, corresponding to the most common installation situation in which the dishwasher 1 is located in front of the building wall 27.

[0061] Additionally or alternatively, at least one component 26 can also be assigned to a side wall S perpendicular to the front V, in order to accommodate an installation situation in a corner of a living space. An arrangement of insulating components 26 next to both side walls S of the dishwasher 1 can also be provided for niche installation.

[0062] The insulating component 26, which is particularly in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, which is shown in detail in a possible training, comprises a planar portion 28 with a planar foil 29. This can, for example, be glued onto a rear frame.

[0063] In this case, at least the surface area 28 of the building unit 26 is essentially vertical and parallel to the wall in the operating position in order to protect the building wall 27 behind it from cooling and exposure to moisture.

[0064] To achieve this goal, the construction unit 26 has a minimum height and width of 15 centimeters each. In particular, a height and width of at least 25 centimeters each is very advantageous. Here, in Fig. 4 an approximately square shape of the planar portion 28 is indicated, but this is not mandatory.

[0065] For ventilation, the building unit 26 includes spacers 30 opposite a building wall 27. These are arranged on the back side of the planar portion 28 and are dimensioned in such a way that they necessarily hold the planar portion 28 of the building unit 26 at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from a building wall 27.

[0066] In the advantageous embodiment shown here, the spacers 30 form a plurality of vertically extending webs 31, between which, for example, air channels are formed, so that stagnant air in the immediate vicinity of the building wall 27 is largely avoided during operation of the dishwasher 1. This also contributes to the prevention of mold and mildew. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, approximately ten bridges 31 can be provided side by side as an example.

[0067] Instead of forming air channels through the spacers 30, the space around the spacers 30 can also be sealed all around (not shown here), so that an air cushion is formed behind the foil, which provides thermal insulation against the building wall 27.

[0068] As mentioned above, the surface area 28 of the building unit 26 can have a dense foil 29 on its side facing the dishwasher 1. The foil 29 is particularly effective at insulating against moisture and heat. The air space created by the spacers 30 between the foil 29 and the building wall 27 also contributes to the heat insulation. Therefore, the foil 29 itself does not need to meet any increased requirements regarding thermal tightness.

[0069] At the in Fig. In the heat pump 14 shown in Figure 2, the installation position can be such that the evaporator 20 points towards the rear R of the dishwasher 1. In this case, the insulating unit 26 is located in space SF between the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14 located in the dishwasher 1 and the building wall 27. This is particularly advantageous because the room air 32 passing over the evaporator 20 (here via a fan of the air handling unit LF upstream of the evaporator 20, which draws the room air 32 from the front through the base 12 (see Figure 2)) Fig. 3)) experiences a significant cooling and should therefore be kept away from the building wall 27 behind it.

[0070] There are different options for the mechanical mounting of the insulating unit 26: The insulating unit 26 can either be held by the dishwasher 1 and be movable with it, or the insulating unit 26 can be mounted or held on the building wall 27, as shown here. For example, gluing it to the building wall 27 is a simple mounting option. Double-sided adhesive tape or similar material can be pre-applied to the unit 26.

[0071] As in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As can be seen in section 5, a collection device 33 for condensate is arranged in the lower area of ​​the insulating unit 26, so that if any condensate occurs, it does not run onto the floor B.

[0072] According to the drawing, the collection device 33 comprises a channel extending under the planar portion 28 of the insulating building unit, which is arranged as close to the ground as possible, in particular resting directly on the floor B, so that no water can condense underneath it.

[0073] The collection device 33 can be emptied via a condensate pump and, for example, can also be connected to a condensate tray located under the evaporator 20. Since the area near the building wall 27 also warms up again after the washing cycle due to the waste heat from the dishwasher 1, and thus the dew point rises, it is generally not necessary to empty the channel, but can wait until the collected condensate has evaporated again due to the subsequent warming.

[0074] The insulating unit 26 provides protection against direct contact with the very cold and very humid air emanating from the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14, thus preventing any condensation from forming on the wall 27 and instead causing it to occur on the insulating unit 26. Due to its smooth, foil-like surface in the flat portion 28, any condensation that may form runs off downwards without causing mildew or mold. The collection device 33 extends across the entire width of the flat portion 28, ensuring that no water escapes. Reference symbol list 1 dishwasher, 2 washing containers, 3 doors, 4. Swivel direction, 5 device bodies, 6 decorative plates, 7 access openings, 8 outer aperture, 10 cutlery drawers, 11 Dish basket, 12 sockets, 13 walls of the wash tank, 14 Heat pump, 15 carrier units, 16 Compressor, 17 Working medium, 18 liquefiers, 19 expansion facility, 20 evaporators, 21 management areas, 22 Supply line, 23 Derivative, 24 rinsing fluid, 25 electrical connection options, 25' Communication interface 26 insulating component units, 27 Building wall, 28 area share, Slide 29 30 spacers, 31 footbridges, 32 Room air or ambient air, 32' ambient air cooled by evaporator, exiting from the device body towards the building wall 33 Containment device, 50 Heat transfer area B floor, EM electrical / communication module, H vertical height direction, LA air outlet LF air conveying system, Q transverse direction, R back, S side wall V front, VL heat exchange elements, especially evaporator fins VR evaporator tubes WT heat transfer device

Claims

Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump (14) comprising at least one compressor (16), one condenser (18), one expansion element (19) and one evaporator (20), which are interconnected via conduit sections (21) for conveying a working medium (17) which changes state of matter during operation, wherein the heat pump (14) is assigned at least one supply line (22) and one outlet (23) of washing liquid (24) circulating in the dishwasher (1), characterized in that the dishwasher (1) is assigned at least one substantially planar extending, thermally insulating component (26) outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body (5), which comprises a planar portion (28) with a planar film (29). Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump (14) comprising at least one compressor (16), one condenser (18), one expansion element (19) and one evaporator (20), which are interconnected via conduit sections (21) for conveying a working medium (17) which changes state of matter during operation, wherein the heat pump (14) is associated with at least one supply line (22) and one outlet (23) of washing liquid (24) circulating in the dishwasher (1), in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that the dishwasher (1) is associated with at least one substantially planar extending, moisture-insulating component (26) outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body (5), which comprises a planar portion (28) with a planar film (29). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the insulating component (26) is assigned to a rear side (R) of the dishwasher (1) which is diametrically opposite the front side (V). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insulating component is assigned to a side wall (S) of the dishwasher (1) which is perpendicular to the front (V). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the planar portion (28) of the insulating assembly (26) is arranged substantially vertically and parallel to the wall in the operating position. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulating assembly (26) has a height and a width of at least 15 centimeters each. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insulating assembly (26) comprises spacers (30) against a building wall (27). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacers (30) forcibly hold a planar portion (28) of the insulating assembly (26) at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters to a building wall (27). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the spacers (30) form a plurality of vertically extended webs (31). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the planar portion (28) of the insulating assembly (26) has a dense film (29). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the film (29) is moisture- and heat-insulating. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the insulating assembly (26) is arranged between an evaporator (20) of the heat pump (14) arranged in the dishwasher (1) and a building wall (27). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the insulating assembly (26) is held on the dishwasher (1) and is movable with it. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the insulating component (26) can be held or is held on the building wall (27). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a collection device (33) for condensate is arranged in the lower area of ​​the insulating assembly (26). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the collecting device (33) comprises a channel extending under the planar portion (28) of the insulating assembly (26). Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the collection device (33) can be emptied via a condensate pump.

Citation Information

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