Water vapor separation device, liner and kitchen appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a water-vapor separation device, which comprises a shell with a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a first air outlet and a second air outlet; an impeller located in the shell, the first air inlet and the second air inlet are respectively used for inputting gas into an air inlet space of the impeller, and the humidity of the gas inputted by the first air inlet is greater than that of the gas inputted by the second air inlet; an air duct defined by an air duct wall in the shell, the air duct is connected with the air inlet space of the impeller, the first air outlet and the second air outlet, the first air outlet and the second air outlet are respectively used for outputting gas, and the humidity of the gas outputted by the first air outlet is less than that of the gas outputted by the second air outlet; a water-vapor separation structure arranged along at least part of the air duct wall. The application further discloses a liner with the water-vapor separation device and a kitchen appliance. The application has the beneficial effects of good water-vapor separation effect, high efficiency and perfect drying mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a water vapor separation device, an inner liner, and kitchen appliances, primarily applied in the field of water vapor separation technology. Background Technology

[0002] After a dishwasher finishes washing, the dishes remain warm, and there is still a lot of moisture and water droplets inside the drum. If this moisture is not dehumidified, it will condense back into water droplets after cooling and adhere to the inner walls and dishes, easily breeding bacteria. If the moisture is directly removed, the humidity in the dishwasher environment will increase, and the moisture will adhere to the dishwasher's exterior, affecting the kitchen environment.

[0003] Dishwashers use various drying methods, including natural drying via residual heat from the inner drum, enhanced airflow through a fan to remove moisture, enhanced drying with PTC heating elements, or condensation drying and air heating via a compressor. However, using auxiliary drying methods (PTC heating or compressor condensation drying) increases energy consumption, increases the size of the appliance, and consequently reduces the washing space. Furthermore, these methods either have longer drying times, poorer drying results, and can lead to microbial growth inside the dishwasher; or they do not effectively address the issues of moisture separation and removal.

[0004] In a prior art dishwasher, a work tray is fixedly connected to one side of the dishwasher body, and a connecting pipe is fixedly connected to the side of the work tray adjacent to the dishwasher body. A first connecting flange is fixedly connected to the end of the connecting pipe away from the work tray. During the drying process, the water vapor separator is activated to separate the water vapor generated inside the dishwasher tub. Simultaneously, a circulating fan is activated, drawing the dried water vapor filtered by the water vapor separator from the exhaust pipe into the intake pipe, and then using airflow to re-enter the dishwasher tub. This prior art requires a circulating fan to work with the water vapor separator for water vapor separation, and the drying efficiency is low, prone to airflow blockage or circulation problems. Furthermore, improper maintenance of the circulating fan can easily introduce dirt and cause internal contamination during startup.

[0005] In another prior art drying device for dishwashers and its usage method, the device includes a dishwasher cabinet, a condenser and heating device, and a drying spray device. The dishwasher cabinet includes an inner cabinet, an outer cabinet, and a door panel. The condenser and heating device is located between the inner and outer cabinets and includes a miniature fan, a steam-water cyclone separator, and a heating device. The miniature fan is embedded in the inner cabinet to extract water vapor from it. The miniature fan is connected to the steam-water cyclone separator via an exhaust pipe. The steam-water cyclone separator is connected to the heating device via a gas connecting pipe. The heating device is connected to the drying spray device. The steam-water cyclone separator is connected to the drying spray device via a condensate guide pipe. This prior art involves numerous devices and appliances, resulting in high cost, high energy consumption, and large size for the drying device. It also suffers from low drying efficiency and susceptibility to internal contamination. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a water vapor separation device, a dishwasher inner tank, and a dishwasher, which have good water vapor separation effect, high efficiency, and provide a relatively complete drying mechanism.

[0007] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solution.

[0008] A water vapor separation device, comprising:

[0009] The housing has a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a first air outlet, and a second air outlet;

[0010] The impeller is located inside the housing. The first air inlet and the second air inlet are used to input gas into the air intake space inside the impeller, and the humidity of the gas input into the first air inlet is greater than that of the gas input into the second air inlet.

[0011] The air duct is defined by the air duct wall inside the housing. The air duct connects the air inlet space of the impeller, the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The first air outlet and the second air outlet are used to output gas respectively, and the humidity of the gas output from the first air outlet is less than that of the gas output from the second air outlet.

[0012] A water vapor separation structure is installed along at least part of the duct wall.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the air duct includes an inertial separation section, the inertial separation section having at least one inertial separation bend, and the air duct corresponding to the outward bend of the inertial separation bend is provided with a water vapor separation structure.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the air duct further includes a return air section and an exhaust air section, and the inertial separation section splits the flow to form the return air section and the exhaust air section.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the exhaust section is located on the outer side of the nearest inertial separation bend, and the return section is located on the inner side of the nearest inertial separation bend. The return section and the exhaust section are respectively used to transport two parts of gas with different humidity to the first outlet and the second outlet.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, along the exhaust direction of the air duct, the outlet of the exhaust section is located at the front end of the outlet of the return section.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, the return gas section is provided with a heating component for heating the gas in the return gas section.

[0018] As a further improvement of the present invention, the heating component includes a plurality of heating elements arranged along the extension direction of the return gas section and spaced apart from each other, with a flow gap formed between adjacent heating elements to allow gas to pass through.

[0019] As a further improvement of the present invention, the air duct further includes a volute section, the volute section being connected to the inlet of the inertial separation section, and the impeller being disposed within the volute section.

[0020] As a further improvement of the present invention, the inertial separation section is provided with a wire mesh structure.

[0021] As a further improvement of the present invention, the inner side of the air duct wall is provided with an inner enclosure wall spaced apart therefrom, the water vapor separation structure includes a plurality of dehydration ports, the dehydration ports are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the inner enclosure wall, and a drainage channel is formed between the air duct wall and the inner enclosure wall.

[0022] As a further improvement of the present invention, the drainage channel and the exhaust section are connected.

[0023] As a further improvement of the present invention, the housing is provided with a moisture inlet channel and an air inlet channel. The inlet of the moisture inlet channel and the inlet of the air inlet channel form a first air inlet and a second air inlet, respectively. The outlet of the moisture inlet channel and the outlet of the air inlet channel correspond to the two sides of the impeller, respectively.

[0024] As a further improvement of the present invention, the moisture inlet duct has an air guide bend, the horizontal position of which is higher than that of the first air inlet.

[0025] As a further improvement of the present invention, along the flow direction of the gas in the moisture inlet duct, the moisture inlet duct has two intake bends with the same turning direction, and the guide bend is located between the two intake bends.

[0026] As a further improvement of the present invention, the moisture inlet duct is provided with a screen structure downstream of the air guide bend.

[0027] As a further improvement of the present invention, a semiconductor cooling chip is provided inside the housing. Both the cold and hot sides of the semiconductor cooling chip are provided with multiple heat exchange fins. The heat exchange fins on the cold side are located in the exhaust section, and the heat exchange fins on the hot side are located in the air intake duct.

[0028] As a further improvement of the present invention, a semiconductor cooling chip is provided inside the housing. Both the cold and hot sides of the semiconductor cooling chip are provided with multiple heat exchange fins. The heat exchange fins on the cold side are located in the moisture inlet channel, and the heat exchange fins on the hot side are located in the air inlet channel.

[0029] As a further improvement of the present invention, it also includes a water vapor condensation box, a moisture discharge pipe, and a gas discharge pipe. The outlet of the moisture discharge pipe, the inlet of the gas discharge pipe, and the water vapor condensation box are connected. The inlet of the moisture discharge pipe and the outlet of the exhaust section are connected. The outlet of the gas discharge pipe forms a second gas outlet.

[0030] As a further improvement of the present invention, the water vapor condensation box is provided with one or more of the following: a desiccant, fiber filaments, and a filter screen.

[0031] As a further improvement of the present invention, the top of the water vapor condensation box has two openings, the inlet of the gas discharge pipe is connected to one of the openings, the moisture discharge pipe is inserted into the other opening, and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe is lower than the opening into which the moisture discharge pipe is inserted.

[0032] As a further improvement of the present invention, the top of the water vapor condensation box has two openings, and the gas discharge pipe and the moisture discharge pipe are respectively inserted into the two openings. The inlet of the gas discharge pipe and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe are both lower than the corresponding openings.

[0033] As a further improvement of the present invention, a partition is provided inside the water vapor condensation box and between the gas discharge pipe and the moisture discharge pipe, and a flow port is formed between the partition and the top of the water vapor condensation box.

[0034] An inner liner includes the aforementioned water vapor separation device, wherein a first air inlet of the water vapor separation device is used to input gas from the inner liner, a second air inlet of the water vapor separation device is used to input gas from outside the inner liner, a first air outlet of the water vapor separation device is used to output gas into the inner liner, and a second air outlet of the water vapor separation device is used to output gas to the outside of the inner liner.

[0035] A kitchen appliance, including the inner liner.

[0036] As a further improvement of the present invention, the kitchen appliance is one of the following: dishwasher, steam oven, steam oven, steam oven and fryer, steam oven and microwave oven, and integrated stove.

[0037] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0038] 1. By using a dual intake method with one inside and one outside, and a dual exhaust method with one inside and one outside, a dual circulation air path is achieved. Through water vapor separation and the introduction of dry air from the outside, the moisture in the dishwasher drum can be significantly reduced, and the drying effect can be significantly improved.

[0039] 2. The inertial separation bend of the inertial separation section utilizes inertia. When the mixed gas flows through the inertial separation bend, the water droplets contained therein are thrown towards the water vapor separation structure of the corresponding air duct outside the inertial separation bend, thereby performing water vapor separation on the mixed gas.

[0040] 3. The wire mesh structure set in the inertial separation section increases the solid area in contact between the inertial separation section and the mixed gas, so that the moisture of the mixed gas is intercepted when it flows through the wire mesh structure, thereby realizing the separation of water vapor from gas and water, reducing the overall water content of the mixed gas, and further reducing the water content of the low-humidity gas returning to the inner liner.

[0041] 4. By utilizing the gradient of moisture content in the mixed gas under inertia, an exhaust section and a return section are set up to split the mixed gas into high-humidity gas and low-humidity gas, which can significantly reduce the moisture content of the gas returning to the dishwasher drum, resulting in better drying effect.

[0042] 5. The relative positions of the inlets and the first outlet of the return air section and the exhaust air section can prevent the washing water from bypassing the inlet of the return air section and entering the exhaust air section, thus maintaining the relative stability of the internal circulation in the inner tank and the external circulation outside the inner tank.

[0043] 6. The heating element in the return air section can heat the low-humidity gas, making the drying effect in the dishwasher drum better. The heating element is set as heating plates that are spaced apart and form a flow gap, which can increase the contact area with the low-humidity gas, optimize the heating effect, and does not affect the flow of the low-humidity gas in the return air section.

[0044] 7. The volute section design enables the mixed gas to have excellent flow performance within the duct, reducing flow resistance and wind noise;

[0045] 8. By setting the water vapor separation structure as multiple dehydration ports on the inner wall, and by taking advantage of the inertia of the mixed gas flowing in the duct, water droplets or water films formed on the inner wall can be continuously discharged from the dehydration ports, making the water vapor separation treatment more efficient and stable.

[0046] 9. The connection between the drainage channel and the exhaust section can effectively solve the problem of water treatment after water vapor separation. Under the water vapor separation and drainage mechanism of this application, the continuous action of the water vapor separation device can gradually reduce the moisture content in the dishwasher inner drum, which is beneficial to the overall drying effect and efficiency of the dishwasher inner drum.

[0047] 10. The design of the air guide bend in the moisture intake channel can prevent the washing water from flowing through the air guide bend and into the intake space of the impeller. On this basis, the intake bends set at the upstream and downstream of the air guide bend can increase the number of bends in the moisture intake channel, making it more difficult for the washing water to flow into the intake space and air duct.

[0048] 11. The screen structure set downstream of the air guide bend in the moisture inlet can promote the aggregation of moisture in the humid and hot gas, and promote the formation of larger water droplets from small particles in the humid and hot gas. This is beneficial for the water vapor separation structure in the air duct to perform water vapor separation treatment and enhance the water vapor separation effect.

[0049] 12. Based on the cooling and heating mechanism of semiconductor cooling chip, and equipped with heat exchange fins on both the cold and hot sides, in one configuration scheme, the water vapor content in high humidity gas can be reduced, thereby preventing the kitchen environment from becoming damp due to excessive water vapor in high humidity gas. In another configuration scheme, the moisture content of the low humidity gas returning to the dishwasher drum can be further reduced while maintaining the temperature of the low humidity gas basically unchanged, thereby improving the drying effect in the dishwasher drum.

[0050] 13. The installation of the water vapor condensation box, moisture discharge pipe, and gas discharge pipe can condense high-humidity gases, effectively preventing water droplets from condensing on the dishwasher kick plate caused by direct moisture discharge. The desiccant, fiber filaments, and filter screen inside the water vapor condensation box can further improve the condensation effect. The optimized connection method of the moisture discharge pipe, gas discharge pipe, and water vapor condensation box can extend the flow path inside the box and further improve the condensation effect. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to aid in understanding the objectives and advantages of the present invention, wherein:

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a water vapor separation device from one perspective.

[0053] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the water vapor separation device from another perspective;

[0054] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the air duct;

[0055] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the moisture intake duct;

[0056] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a water vapor separator in one embodiment.

[0057] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional schematic diagram;

[0058] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a water vapor separator in another embodiment.

[0059] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A cross-sectional schematic diagram;

[0060] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of a water vapor condensation box, a moisture discharge pipe, and a gas discharge pipe.

[0061] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a water vapor condensation box in one embodiment;

[0062] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a water vapor condensation box in another embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0064] The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, and bottom mentioned or possibly used in this specification are defined relative to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively. These are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive.

[0065] Implementation Case 1:

[0066] A water vapor separation device, as described above Figures 1-3The device includes a housing 1, an impeller 2, an air duct 3, and a water vapor separation structure. The housing 1 has a first air inlet d1, a second air inlet d2, a first air outlet k1, and a second air outlet k2. The water vapor separation device in this embodiment is mainly used in the inner tub of a dishwasher. The gas in the inner tub is fed into the first air inlet d1, and the gas from the outside is fed into the second air inlet d2. The humidity of the gas input into the first air inlet d1 is greater than that of the gas input into the second air inlet d2. In this application, the gas input into the first air inlet d1 is defined as hot and humid gas, and the gas input into the second air inlet d2 is defined as dry gas. The gas is output from the first air outlet k1 and the second air outlet k2. The humidity of the gas output from the first air outlet k1 is less than that of the gas output from the second air outlet k2. In this application, the gas output from the first air outlet k1 is defined as low-humidity gas, and the gas output from the second air outlet k2 is defined as high-humidity gas. The hot and humid gas and the dry gas are mixed and flow in the air duct 3 inside the shell 1. After being separated by the water vapor separation structure, low-humidity gas and high-humidity gas are formed. The low-humidity gas is output to the inner tub of the dishwasher through the first air outlet k1 to dry the internal environment, while the high-humidity gas is discharged outside the inner tub of the dishwasher through the second air outlet k2.

[0067] In this embodiment, the impeller 2 is installed in the air duct 3. The interior of the impeller 2 has an air intake space 2A, which is connected to the first air intake d1 and the second air intake d2. The impeller 2 is driven to rotate at high speed by a built-in drive motor and forms a negative pressure environment, thereby drawing hot and humid gas and dry gas into the air intake space 2A through the first air intake d1 and the second air intake d2, respectively.

[0068] The air duct 3 is located inside the housing 1 and is defined by the air duct wall 31. The air duct wall 31 can be formed by the side wall of the housing 1 or can be set separately inside the housing 1. The air duct 3 connects the air inlet space 2A of the impeller 2, the first air outlet k1, and the second air outlet k2. After the humid and dry gas mix in the air inlet space 2A, it flows along the air duct 3 and forms low-humidity gas and high-humidity gas. The low-humidity gas is output from the first air outlet k1, and the high-humidity gas is output from the second air outlet k2.

[0069] The water vapor separation structure is arranged along at least part of the air duct 3. When the mixed gas flows in the air duct 3, the water vapor separation structure performs water vapor separation treatment on the mixed gas, so that the low-humidity gas output from the first air outlet k1 contains less moisture, which is beneficial to the drying treatment required for its application environment.

[0070] Reference Figure 3In this embodiment, the air duct 3 includes an inertial separation section 3-2, which has at least one inertial separation bend 3-2A. The air duct 3 corresponding to the outer bend of the inertial separation bend 3-2A is equipped with a water vapor separation structure. Water droplets contained in the mixed gas flowing through the inertial separation bend 3-2A are thrown towards the water vapor separation structure of the air duct 3 corresponding to the outer bend of the inertial separation bend 3-2A due to inertia, thereby separating the moisture in the mixed gas and reducing its water content. The number and distribution of the inertial separation bends 3-2A in the inertial separation section 3-2 need to be comprehensively considered based on factors such as the length of the air duct 3 and the required water vapor separation volume.

[0071] To further enhance the moisture separation effect of the inertial separation section 3-2 in the mixed gas, a wire mesh structure (not shown in the figure) is provided within the inertial separation section 3-2 in this embodiment. The wire mesh structure is specifically located in the central flow channel of the inertial separation section 3-2. This structure increases the solid area of ​​contact between the inertial separation section 3-2 and the mixed gas, allowing moisture to be trapped as the gas flows through it, thus achieving water vapor separation and reducing the overall moisture content of the mixed gas. This further reduces the moisture content of the low-humidity gas returning to the inner liner, resulting in better drying performance. The wire mesh structure is typically made of metal, ensuring structural strength and durability, thereby maintaining its water vapor separation effect.

[0072] Reference Figure 3 In this embodiment, the air duct 3 also includes a return air section 3-3 and an exhaust air section 3-4. The return air section 3-3 and the exhaust air section 3-4 are formed by the inertial separation section 3-2. The exhaust air section 3-4 is located on the outer side of the closest inertial separation bend 3-2A, and the return air section 3-3 is located on the inner side of the closest inertial separation bend 3-2A. The function of the inertial separation bend 3-2A is not only to improve the water vapor separation efficiency of the water vapor separation structure by utilizing inertia, but also to create a gradient in the moisture content of the mixed gas as it flows through the inertial separation bend 3-2A. The moisture content of the gas is higher closer to the outer bend of the inertial separation bend 3-2A and lower closer to the inner bend. Utilizing this characteristic and based on the position arrangement of the return gas section 3-3 and the exhaust gas section 3-4, the moisture content of the mixed gas flowing into the return gas section 3-3 is significantly lower than that flowing into the exhaust gas section 3-4, thus forming a flow split. The low-humidity gas flows into the return gas section 3-3, and the high-humidity gas flows into the exhaust gas section 3-4. Finally, the low-humidity gas is output from the first outlet k1, and the high-humidity gas is output from the second outlet k2.

[0073] In this implementation case, along the exhaust direction of the air duct 3, the outlet of the exhaust section 3-4 is located at the front end of the outlet of the return section 3-3. Some of the gas flowing in the air duct 3 is first discharged through the exhaust section 3-4, which is conducive to the priority discharge of high humidity gas.

[0074] In this embodiment, the horizontal height of the inlets of the return air section 3-3 and the exhaust air section 3-4 is higher than that of the first exhaust port k1. During the washing process, the dishwasher inner tub can prevent the washing water from flowing into the exhaust air section 3-4 from the inlet of the return air section 3-3, thereby maintaining the relative stability of the internal circulation in the inner tub and the external circulation outside the inner tub.

[0075] Reference Figure 3 In this embodiment, the return gas section 3-3 is equipped with a heating component 34, which can heat the low-humidity gas flowing through the return gas section 3-3, so that the drying effect of the low-humidity gas returning to the inner liner from the first outlet k1 is better.

[0076] In this embodiment, the heating element 34 includes multiple heating elements 341. The heating elements 341 are arranged along the extension direction of the return gas section 3-3 and spaced apart from each other. A flow gap is formed between adjacent heating elements 341 to allow the passage of low-humidity gas. The heating elements 341 can be made of PTC heating elements, which have the advantages of low thermal resistance and high heat exchange efficiency, making them particularly suitable for heating gases. The flow gap between adjacent heating elements 341 does not affect the flow of low-humidity gas within the return gas section 3-3. Furthermore, when the low-humidity gas passes through the flow gap, it can make sufficient contact with the heating elements 341 on both sides, thereby improving the heating effect of the heating elements 341 on the low-humidity gas.

[0077] Reference Figure 3 In this embodiment, the air duct 3 also includes a volute section 3-1, an inlet connection between the volute section 3-1 and the inertial separation section 3-2, and an impeller 2 is set inside the volute section 3-1. The arrangement of the volute section 3-1, together with the centrifugal effect of the impeller 2, enables the mixed gas to have better flow performance in the air duct 3, reducing the resistance during flow and reducing wind noise.

[0078] Reference Figure 3In this embodiment, the inner side of the duct wall 31 is provided with an inner enclosure wall 32 spaced apart from it. The water vapor separation structure includes multiple dehydration ports 32a, which are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the inner enclosure wall 32. In this embodiment, the water vapor separation structure is arranged at least on the inner enclosure wall 32 corresponding to the volute section 3-1 and the inner enclosure wall 32 corresponding to the outer bend of the inertial separation bend 3-2A. Under centrifugal force, the hot and humid gas and the dry gas are drawn into the intake space to form a mixed gas, and then thrown out to the volute section 3-1. First, the mixed gas forms flowing water droplets on the inner enclosure wall 32 of the volute section 3-1, and then enters the drainage channel 3A through the dehydration ports 32a, thereby forming the water vapor separation effect of the volute section 3-1 on the mixed gas. The mixed gas flows along the duct 3. When it passes through the inertial separation section 3-2, especially the inertial separation bend 3-2A, under the action of inertia, the mixed gas forms flowing water droplets on the inner wall 32 corresponding to the outer bend of the inertial separation bend 3-2A. These droplets then enter the drainage channel 3A through the dehydration port 32a, thus forming the water vapor separation effect of the inertial separation section 3-2 on the mixed gas. When the humid and hot gas has a high water content, the water droplets form a thin and flowing water film on the inner wall 32, which can be continuously discharged from the dehydration port 32a into the drainage channel 3A.

[0079] In this embodiment, the drain channel 3A and the exhaust section 3-4 are connected. Water droplets entering the drain channel 3A from the dehydration port 32a eventually flow into the exhaust section 3-4 and are discharged together with the high-humidity gas, thus solving the problem of treating the separated water after the water-vapor separation process. Since the exhaust section 3-4 discharges outside the dishwasher's inner tub, the moisture content in the dishwasher's inner tub will gradually decrease under the continuous action of the water-vapor separation device in this embodiment, which is beneficial to the overall drying effect and efficiency of the dishwasher's inner tub.

[0080] The water vapor separation device in this implementation case achieves a dual-circulation air path through a dual-intake and dual-exhaust system (one internal and one external). For the dual-intake system, refer to... Figure 4 Figure 5 In this embodiment, the housing 1 is provided with a moisture inlet 4 and an air inlet 5. The inlets of the moisture inlet 4 and the air inlet 5 form a first air inlet d1 and a second air inlet d2, respectively. The outlets of the moisture inlet 4 and the air inlet 5 correspond to the two sides of the impeller 2, respectively, so that hot and humid gas and dry air enter the air intake space 2A inside the impeller 2 from the two sides of the impeller 2. It should be noted that the two sides of the impeller 2 mentioned here are two virtual surfaces defined by the shape of the impeller 2, not real surfaces. Both the moisture inlet 4 and the air inlet 5 are flat structures and are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the housing 1, which can compress the volume occupied by the housing 1 and facilitate the spatial layout of the assembly.

[0081] Reference Figure 4 In this embodiment, the moisture inlet duct 4 has an air guide bend 41. The horizontal position of the air guide bend 41 is higher than that of the first air inlet d1, so that during the washing process, the washing water in the inner tub of the dishwasher is difficult to cross the air guide bend 41 and flow into the air intake space 2A in the impeller 2 along the moisture inlet duct 4, thus preventing the washing water from flowing into the air duct 3.

[0082] In this embodiment, along the flow direction of the gas in the moisture inlet duct 4, the moisture inlet duct 4 has two inlet bends 42 with the same turning direction. The air guide bend 41 is located between the two inlet bends 42. The two inlet bends 42 set upstream and downstream of the air guide bend 41 increase the number of bends in the moisture inlet duct 4, further increasing the difficulty for washing water to enter the air duct 3.

[0083] In this embodiment, a screen structure (not shown in the figure) is provided downstream of the air guide bend 41 in the moisture inlet duct 4. When the hot, humid gas in the dishwasher's inner tub flows through the screen structure, it comes into contact with it. The screen structure promotes the aggregation of moisture in the hot, humid gas, causing small water droplets to form larger droplets. This facilitates water vapor separation by the water vapor separation structure within the air duct 3, further enhancing the water vapor separation effect. The screen structure can be made of metal, ensuring structural strength and resistance to damage.

[0084] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 6 The housing 1 contains a semiconductor cooling chip 6, also known as a hot spot cooling chip. Its principle utilizes the Peltier effect of semiconductor materials. When direct current passes through a thermocouple composed of two different semiconductor materials connected in series, heat is absorbed and released at the two ends of the thermocouple, achieving both cooling and heating. In this embodiment, the semiconductor cooling chip 6 has two surfaces that absorb and release heat, forming a cold surface and a hot surface. Both the cold and hot surfaces of the semiconductor cooling chip 6 are equipped with multiple heat exchange fins 61 and 62. Therefore, the heat exchange fins 61 on the cold surface can absorb heat, and the heat exchange fins 62 on the hot surface can release heat.

[0085] In one embodiment, the projections of the air intake duct 5 and the exhaust section 3-4 in the thickness direction of the housing 1 overlap. The heat exchange fins on the cold side are located within the exhaust section 3-4, and the heat exchange fins on the hot side are located within the air intake duct 5. The heat exchange fins 61 on the cold side can absorb heat from the exhaust section 3-4, condensing the high-humidity gas within the exhaust section 3-4 and reducing the water vapor content in the high-humidity gas, thereby preventing excessive water vapor in the high-humidity gas discharged from the second air outlet k2 from causing a damp kitchen environment. The heat exchange fins 62 on the hot side can release heat from the air intake duct 5, heating the dry air entering the air intake duct 5 from the second air inlet d2, thereby increasing the temperature of the low-humidity gas finally output from the first air outlet k1, which is beneficial to the drying effect in the dishwasher drum.

[0086] Reference Figure 7 , Figure 8 and combined Figure 3 In another embodiment, the air intake duct 5 and the moisture intake duct 4 have overlapping projections in the thickness direction of the housing 1. The heat exchange fins 61 on the cold side of the semiconductor cooling chip 6 are located inside the moisture intake duct 4, and the heat exchange fins 62 on the hot side are located inside the air intake duct 5. The heat exchange fins 61 on the cold side can absorb heat from the moisture intake duct 4 and condense the humid and hot gas entering the moisture intake duct 4 through the first air inlet d1. This can condense the moisture in the humid and hot gas in advance, which can reduce the water vapor separation load of the subsequent water vapor separation structure in the air duct 3. On the other hand, the large water droplets formed by the pre-condensation have greater inertia than small droplets. When the mixed gas flows through the inertial separation bend 3-2A, it can form more water droplets on the inner wall 32 corresponding to the outer bend and enter the drain duct 3A through the dewatering port 32a. This can improve the water vapor separation performance of the subsequent water vapor separation structure and improve the water vapor separation effect. The heat exchange fins 62 on the hot surface can release heat in the air intake duct 5 to heat the dry air entering the air intake duct 5 from the second air intake d2. This ensures that the temperature of the mixed gas formed after the dry gas and the humid gas are mixed does not decrease. Therefore, as a result, the temperature of the low-humidity gas returning to the dishwasher drum can be maintained at a basically constant, and its moisture content is further reduced, which is beneficial to the drying effect in the dishwasher drum.

[0087] Reference Figure 9The water vapor separation device in this embodiment also includes a water vapor condensation box 71, a moisture discharge pipe 72, and a gas discharge pipe 73. The outlet of the moisture discharge pipe 72, the inlet of the gas discharge pipe 73, and the water vapor condensation box 71 are connected. The inlet of the moisture discharge pipe 72 is connected to the outlet of the exhaust section 3-4. The outlet of the gas discharge pipe 73 forms a second outlet k2. In this embodiment, high-humidity gas is discharged from the moisture discharge pipe 72 into the water vapor condensation box 71. After condensation in the water vapor condensation box 71, the moisture content of the high-humidity gas is reduced, and then it is discharged from the second outlet k2 of the gas discharge pipe 73. By setting the water vapor condensation box 71, water droplets can be effectively prevented from condensing at the dishwasher kick plate position caused by direct discharge of moisture. In addition, the position of the second outlet k2 can be connected to the opening position of the kick plate.

[0088] In this embodiment, the water vapor condensation box 71 contains one or more of the following: desiccant, fiber filaments, and filter screen. These are all substances that can intercept water droplets and cause them to coalesce, thereby improving the condensation effect of high-humidity gas in the water vapor condensation box 71. The specific selection or combination should be reasonably set according to the requirements of the condensation effect.

[0089] Reference Figure 10 The top of the water vapor condensation box 71 has two openings. In one embodiment, the inlet of the gas discharge pipe 73 is connected to one of the openings, and the moisture discharge pipe 72 is inserted into the other opening. The outlet of the moisture discharge pipe 72 is lower than the opening. Due to the height difference between the top of the water vapor condensation box 71 and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe 72, the high-humidity gas diffuses from the bottom to the top of the water vapor condensation box 71, thereby increasing the flow path in the water vapor condensation box 71 to improve the condensation effect. During the diffusion process, water droplets can be fully adsorbed by the filter screen, etc. After sufficient condensation, the high-humidity gas is discharged from the second outlet k2.

[0090] Reference Figure 11 In another embodiment, the top of the water vapor condensation box 71 has two openings. A gas discharge pipe 73 and a moisture discharge pipe 72 are respectively inserted into the two openings. The inlet of the gas discharge pipe 73 and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe 72 are both lower than their respective openings. A partition 711 is provided inside the water vapor condensation box 71 and between the gas discharge pipe 73 and the moisture discharge pipe 72. A flow opening is formed between the partition 711 and the top of the water vapor condensation box 71. The partition 711 divides the water vapor condensation chamber into two chambers. The high-humidity gas discharged from the moisture discharge pipe 72 enters the bottom of one chamber, where its moisture is gradually intercepted by a filter screen, reducing the moisture content. The high-humidity air then enters the other chamber through the flow opening, and from its bottom, enters the gas discharge pipe 73, finally exiting through the second outlet k2.

[0091] Implementation Case 2:

[0092] An inner liner includes a water vapor separator, as shown in Embodiment 1. The first air inlet d1 of the water vapor separator is used to input gas from the inner liner, the second air inlet d2 is used to input gas from outside the inner liner, the first air outlet k1 is used to output gas into the inner liner, and the second air outlet k2 is used to output gas out of the inner liner.

[0093] Implementation Case 3:

[0094] A kitchen appliance includes an inner liner, as shown in Embodiment 2. The kitchen appliance is one of a dishwasher, steam oven, steam oven / grill combo, steam oven / fryer combo, steam oven / microwave combo, or integrated cooktop.

[0095] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water vapor separation device, characterized in that, include: The housing has a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a first air outlet, and a second air outlet; The impeller is located inside the housing. The first air inlet and the second air inlet are used to input gas into the air intake space inside the impeller, and the humidity of the gas input into the first air inlet is greater than that of the gas input into the second air inlet. The air duct is defined by the air duct wall inside the housing. The air duct connects the air inlet space of the impeller, the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The first air outlet and the second air outlet are used to output gas respectively, and the humidity of the gas output from the first air outlet is less than that of the gas output from the second air outlet. A water vapor separation structure is installed along at least a portion of the duct wall; The inner side of the duct wall is provided with an inner enclosure wall spaced apart from it. The water vapor separation structure includes multiple dehydration ports, which are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the inner enclosure wall. A drainage channel is formed between the duct wall and the inner enclosure wall. The shell is provided with a moisture inlet duct and an air inlet duct. The inlet of the moisture inlet duct and the inlet of the air inlet duct form a first air inlet and a second air inlet, respectively. The outlet of the moisture inlet duct and the outlet of the air inlet duct correspond to two sides of the impeller, respectively. The shell is provided with a semiconductor cooling chip. The cold and hot surfaces of the semiconductor cooling chip are provided with multiple heat exchange fins. The heat exchange fins of the cold surface are located in the exhaust section or the moisture inlet duct, and the heat exchange fins of the hot surface are located in the air inlet duct.

2. The water vapor separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air duct includes an inertial separation section, which has at least one inertial separation bend. The air duct corresponding to the outward bend of the inertial separation bend is provided with a water vapor separation structure.

3. The water vapor separation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air duct also includes a return section and an exhaust section, and the inertial separation section splits the flow to form the return section and the exhaust section.

4. The water vapor separation device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The exhaust section is located on the outer side of the nearest inertial separation bend, and the return section is located on the inner side of the nearest inertial separation bend. The return section and the exhaust section are used to transport two parts of gas with different humidity to the first outlet and the second outlet, respectively.

5. The water vapor separation device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Along the exhaust direction of the air duct, the exhaust port of the exhaust section is located at the front end of the exhaust port of the return section.

6. The water vapor separation device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The return gas section is equipped with a heating component for heating the gas within the return gas section.

7. The water vapor separation device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heating element includes multiple heating plates arranged along the extension direction of the return gas section and spaced apart from each other, with a flow gap formed between adjacent heating plates to allow gas to pass through.

8. The water vapor separation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air duct also includes a volute section, which is connected to the inlet of the inertial separation section, and the impeller is disposed inside the volute section.

9. The water vapor separation device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inertial separation section is equipped with a wire mesh structure.

10. The water vapor separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drainage channel and the exhaust section are connected.

11. The water vapor separation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The moisture intake duct has an air guide bend, and the horizontal position of the air guide bend is higher than that of the first air intake.

12. The water vapor separation device according to claim 11, characterized in that, Along the flow direction of the gas in the moisture inlet duct, the moisture inlet duct has two intake bends with the same turning direction, and the guide bend is located between the two intake bends.

13. The water vapor separation device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The moisture intake duct is equipped with a screen structure downstream of the air guide bend.

14. The water vapor separation device according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, It also includes a water vapor condensation box, a moisture discharge pipe, and a gas discharge pipe. The outlet of the moisture discharge pipe and the inlet of the gas discharge pipe are connected to the water vapor condensation box. The inlet of the moisture discharge pipe is connected to the outlet of the exhaust section. The outlet of the gas discharge pipe forms a second gas outlet.

15. The water vapor separation device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The water vapor condensation box contains one or more of the following: desiccant, fiber filaments, and filter screen.

16. The water vapor separation device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The top of the water vapor condensation box has two openings. The inlet of the gas discharge pipe is connected to one of the openings, the moisture discharge pipe is inserted into the other opening, and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe is lower than the opening into which the moisture discharge pipe is inserted.

17. The water vapor separation device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The top of the water vapor condensation box has two openings, and the gas discharge pipe and the moisture discharge pipe are respectively inserted into the two openings. The inlet of the gas discharge pipe and the outlet of the moisture discharge pipe are both lower than the corresponding openings.

18. The water vapor separation device according to claim 17, characterized in that, The water vapor condensation box is equipped with a partition between the gas discharge pipe and the moisture discharge pipe, and a flow port is formed between the partition and the top of the water vapor condensation box.

19. An inner liner, characterized in that, The device includes a water vapor separator as described in any one of claims 1-18, wherein the first air inlet of the water vapor separator is used to input gas from the inner liner, the second air inlet of the water vapor separator is used to input gas from outside the inner liner, the first air outlet of the water vapor separator is used to output gas into the inner liner, and the second air outlet of the water vapor separator is used to output gas to outside the inner liner.

20. A kitchen appliance, characterized in that, Including the inner liner as described in claim 19.

21. The kitchen appliance according to claim 20, wherein the kitchen appliance is one of a dishwasher, a steam oven, a steam oven, a steam oven and fryer, a steam oven and microwave oven, or an integrated stove.

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