Outer barrel assembly and clothes processing equipment

Abstract

The invention provides an outer cylinder assembly and clothes processing equipment. The outer cylinder assembly comprises an outer cylinder and a condensation air duct, a drying air outlet is formed in the cylinder wall of the outer cylinder, and the condensation air duct is arranged on the rear side of the outer cylinder and comprises an air duct air inlet communicating with the drying air outlet; a first phase change medium layer is arranged on the inner side wall of the condensation air duct, and drying airflow in the outer barrel can enter the condensation air duct through the drying air outlet and the air duct air inlet and exchanges heat with condensed water flowing through the condensation air duct; the first phase change medium layer absorbs heat of drying airflow in the condensation process and generates phase change, heat can be rapidly and greatly absorbed by means of the high latent heat characteristic of the first phase change medium layer, and therefore the temperature in the condensation air channel is reduced, the temperature difference between condensate water and the drying airflow is increased, and heat exchange is more sufficient. When the temperature or flow of the drying airflow fluctuates, the first phase change medium layer automatically adjusts the temperature of the first phase change medium layer through phase change, the heat buffering effect is achieved, and the adaptability of the clothes processing equipment under different working conditions is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of garment processing technology, and particularly relates to an outer tube assembly and garment processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In water-cooled drying garment processing equipment, the drying system typically includes a condenser duct and a heating duct. The drying airflow exchanges heat with the condensate in the condenser duct, transforming from a humid and hot state to a dry and cold state. It then enters the heating duct via a fan to be reheated, and finally enters the outer drum to exchange heat with the clothes to achieve drying. However, the existing condenser duct structure design has significant shortcomings: due to the lack of effective heat management on the inner wall of the condenser duct, the heat exchange efficiency between the drying airflow and the condensate is low, resulting in insufficient condensation and poor dehumidification. This, in turn, prolongs the drying time and reduces the overall energy efficiency and user experience of the garment processing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides an outer cylinder assembly and a garment processing device to solve the problems of insufficient condensation, poor dehumidification effect and long drying time caused by unreasonable condensation duct structure design in the prior art.

[0004] This invention provides an outer tube assembly for use in garment processing equipment; the outer tube assembly includes: The outer cylinder has a drying air outlet formed on its cylinder wall; A condensing air duct is provided on the rear side of the outer cylinder and includes an air duct inlet; the air duct inlet and the drying air outlet are connected; the inner wall of the condensing air duct is provided with a first phase change medium layer, which can absorb and release heat during the phase change process. The drying airflow inside the outer cylinder can enter the condensing air duct through the drying air outlet and the air duct inlet; when the drying airflow flows through the condensing air duct, it can exchange heat with the condensate flowing through the condensing air duct.

[0005] Further optionally, the condensing air duct extends vertically, and the condensing air duct also includes an air outlet located above the air inlet of the air duct for discharging the drying airflow inside the condensing air duct; The first phase change medium layer is positioned closer to the air inlet of the air duct than the air outlet of the air duct.

[0006] Further optionally, the air inlet of the air duct includes a lower air inlet of the air duct located at the lower end of the condensing air duct; from bottom to top, the position of the first phase change medium layer is lower than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct and higher than the centerline of the lower air inlet of the air duct; The centerline of the lower air inlet of the air duct passes through the center point of the lower air inlet of the air duct and is parallel to the axis of the outer cylinder of the clothing processing equipment.

[0007] Further optionally, the first phase change medium layer includes a phase change medium layer A and a phase change medium layer B, wherein the phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer A is higher than the phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer B. From bottom to top, the position of the phase change medium layer A is lower than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct and higher than the center line of the lower air inlet of the air duct; the position of the phase change medium layer B is higher than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct, and the position of the phase change medium layer B avoids the area through which the condensate flows.

[0008] Further optionally, the axis of the outer cylinder is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the outer cylinder includes a rear wall; the rear wall forms the drying air outlet; The condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly includes a single-channel condensation method. When the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-channel condensation method, the drying airflow and condensate exchange heat only within the condensation airflow. The inner surface of the rear wall of the cylinder is a condensation surface, and the condensation surface is provided with a second phase change medium layer, which can absorb and release heat during the phase change process; the condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly includes a single condensation surface condensation method and a dual condensation method combining the air duct and the condensation surface; when the outer cylinder assembly is in the single condensation surface condensation method, the drying airflow and the condensate exchange heat only on the condensation surface; when the outer cylinder assembly is in the dual condensation method, the drying airflow and the condensate exchange heat both in the condensation air duct and on the condensation surface.

[0009] Further optionally, the drying air outlet includes a drying upper air outlet, and the air duct inlet includes an air duct upper air inlet. The air duct upper air inlet and the drying upper air outlet are correspondingly arranged and connected. The outer cylinder assembly can be in the single condensing surface condensation mode. The drying airflow in the outer cylinder first flows through the condensing surface and exchanges heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensing surface, then enters the condensing air duct through the drying upper air outlet and the air duct upper air inlet, and is then directly discharged through the air duct outlet. The condensation surface is provided with guide ribs, the lower end of the outer cylinder is provided with a water storage cavity, and the bottom of the water storage cavity is provided with a drain hole for draining water from the outer cylinder; the second phase change medium layer is positioned higher than the water level in the water storage cavity and close to the guide ribs.

[0010] Further optionally, the drying air outlet includes an upper drying air outlet and a lower drying air outlet arranged vertically opposite each other, and the air duct inlet includes an upper air duct inlet and a lower air duct inlet arranged vertically opposite each other; the upper air duct inlet and the upper drying air outlet are correspondingly arranged and connected, and the lower air duct inlet and the lower drying air outlet are correspondingly arranged and connected. The outer cylinder assembly can be in the dual condensation mode. A portion of the drying airflow inside the outer cylinder first flows through the condensation surface and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensation surface, then enters the condensation air duct through the upper air outlet of the dryer and the upper air inlet of the air duct, and is then discharged directly through the air outlet of the air duct; another portion of the drying airflow inside the outer cylinder enters the condensation air duct through the lower air outlet of the dryer and the lower air inlet of the air duct, exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensation air duct, and is then discharged through the air outlet of the air duct. The condensation surface is provided with guide ribs, and the second phase change medium layer is positioned higher than the lowest position of the drying air outlet and close to the guide ribs.

[0011] Further optionally, the phase change temperature of the first phase change medium layer and the second phase change medium layer can be selected according to the condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly, the temperature of the condensate water, and the temperature of the drying airflow; When the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-duct condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the first phase change medium layer is T1, and T1 satisfies: 40℃≤T1≤50℃; when the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-condensation surface condensation mode or dual condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the second phase change medium layer is T2, and T2 satisfies: 30℃≤T2≤60℃.

[0012] Further optionally, both the first phase change dielectric layer and the second phase change dielectric layer are made of paraffin wax, or are made of paraffin wax and thermally conductive material; The thermally conductive material includes at least one of graphene, metal foam, and carbon nanotubes.

[0013] Further optionally, the outer cylinder assembly also includes a support member, which is a plate with a honeycomb porous structure, the porous structure having honeycomb holes extending through its thickness direction; The first phase change medium layer is disposed on the inner wall of the condensation air duct by the support member, and the surface of the support member and the side wall of the honeycomb holes are covered with the first phase change medium layer. The second phase change medium layer is disposed on the condensation surface by the support member, and the surface of the support member and the sidewalls of the honeycomb holes are covered with the second phase change medium layer.

[0014] The present invention also provides a garment processing device, including an inner drum, a heating air duct, and an outer drum assembly as described in any one of the above; the outer drum is provided with a drying air inlet at its opening, and the inner drum is rotatably disposed inside the outer drum; the drying air outlet, the condensing air duct, the heating air duct, the drying air inlet, the inner drum, the interior of the outer drum, and the drying air outlet are sequentially connected to form a drying airflow circuit.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the main advantages of the present invention are as follows: (1) Significantly improves heat exchange efficiency and stability: The first phase change medium layer absorbs heat from the drying airflow and undergoes a phase change (such as a solid-liquid phase change) during the condensation process. Utilizing its high latent heat characteristics, it can absorb heat quickly and in large quantities, thereby drastically reducing the temperature inside the condensation duct 1, effectively increasing the temperature difference between the condensate and the humid drying airflow, strengthening the heat transfer driving force, and making heat exchange more rapid and sufficient. (2) Dynamic regulation and utilization of energy are realized: When the temperature or flow rate of the drying air fluctuates, the first phase change medium layer automatically adjusts its own temperature through phase change (heat absorption or heat release), which plays the role of "heat buffer". This not only enhances condensation at high temperature, but also releases the stored cold energy to maintain the condensation effect when the clothing processing equipment is started or under low load, thereby improving the adaptability and stability of the clothing processing equipment under different working conditions. (3) Improved dehumidification effect and energy efficiency: Due to more complete and stable heat exchange, water vapor in the drying airflow can be condensed and precipitated more thoroughly, thus obtaining dry and cold air with better dehumidification effect; this directly reduces the energy load of subsequent heating duct to reheat the air, shortens the overall drying time, and ultimately improves the energy efficiency level of clothing processing equipment. (4) The system structure and performance have been optimized: This design achieves a leapfrog improvement in performance by integrating the first phase change medium layer on the inner wall of the existing condenser duct with a relatively simple structural improvement, avoiding the introduction of complex mechanical structures and contributing to the compact design and reliability improvement of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0017] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0018] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the outer cylinder assembly provided by the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the temperature change of the drying airflow when the outer cylinder assembly provided by the present invention is applied to an actual product; In the picture: 1-Condensing air duct; 11-Upper air inlet of the air duct; 12-Lower air inlet of the air duct; 13-Air outlet of the air duct; 14-External water inlet valve; 2-Outer cylinder; 21-Cylinder peripheral wall; 22-Cylinder rear wall; 221-Drying upper air outlet; 222-Drying lower air outlet; 223-Condensation surface; 23-Guide rib; 31 - The lowest point of the air outlet in the duct; 32 - The point at 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condenser duct; 33 - The point at 1 / 3 of the overall height of the condenser duct; 34 - The highest point of the lower air inlet in the duct; 35 - The center line of the lower air inlet in the duct; 36 - The lowest point of the lower air inlet in the duct; 37 - Phase change temperature line; 38 - The water level in the water storage chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] The terminology used in the embodiments of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Multiple” generally includes at least two, but does not exclude the inclusion of at least one.

[0021] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0022] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a product or system comprising a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a product or system. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the product or system that includes said element.

[0023] In existing garment processing equipment that uses water-cooled drying, there are significant deficiencies in the design of the condenser duct structure: due to the lack of effective heat management on the inner wall of the condenser duct, the heat exchange efficiency between the drying airflow and the condensate is low when it flows through the condenser duct, resulting in insufficient condensation and poor dehumidification, which in turn prolongs the drying time and reduces the overall energy efficiency and user experience of the garment processing equipment. This invention creatively provides an outer cylinder assembly for a garment processing device. The outer cylinder assembly includes an outer cylinder and a condensing air duct. The outer cylinder wall has a drying air outlet, and the condensing air duct is located on the rear side of the outer cylinder and includes an air duct inlet communicating with the drying air outlet. The inner wall of the condensing air duct is provided with a first phase change medium layer. The drying airflow in the outer cylinder can enter the condensing air duct through the drying air outlet and the air duct inlet, and exchange heat with the condensate flowing through the condensing air duct. During the condensation process, the first phase change medium layer absorbs the heat of the drying airflow and undergoes a phase change. Utilizing its high latent heat characteristics, it can quickly and massively absorb heat, thereby reducing the temperature inside the condensing air duct, increasing the temperature difference between the condensate and the drying airflow, and making the heat exchange more complete. When the temperature or flow rate of the drying airflow fluctuates, the first phase change medium layer automatically adjusts its own temperature through phase change, playing a "thermal buffer" role and improving the adaptability of the garment processing device under different operating conditions.

[0024] <Outer cylinder assembly> like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides an outer drum assembly for garment processing equipment, particularly for drum-type washer-dryers; the outer drum assembly includes: The outer cylinder 2 has a drying air outlet formed on its cylinder wall; A condensing air duct 1 is disposed on the rear side of the outer cylinder 2 and includes an air duct inlet; the air duct inlet and the drying air outlet are connected; the inner wall of the condensing air duct 1 is provided with a first phase change medium layer, which can absorb and release heat during the phase change process; specifically, the first phase change medium layer is "coated" or "attached" to the surface of the inner wall of the condensing air duct 1, or embedded in the inner wall of the condensing air duct 1, or exists as an independent layer; preferably, the first phase change medium layer is embedded in the inner wall of the condensing air duct 1. An external water inlet valve 14 is installed at the upper end of the condenser duct 1 and is used to supply condensate to the condenser duct 1. The drying airflow inside the outer cylinder 2 can enter the condenser duct 1 through the drying air outlet and the air inlet of the duct; when the drying airflow flows through the condenser duct 1, it can exchange heat with the condensate flowing through the condenser duct 1. During the condensation process, the first phase change medium layer absorbs heat from the drying airflow and undergoes a phase change. It can absorb heat rapidly and in large quantities, thereby drastically reducing the temperature inside the condensation duct 1. This effectively increases the temperature difference between the condensate and the hot, humid drying airflow, enhancing the heat exchange capacity between the condensate and the drying airflow, making the heat exchange more rapid and thorough. When the temperature or flow rate of the drying airflow fluctuates, the first phase change medium layer automatically adjusts its own temperature through phase change, acting as a "thermal buffer" to enhance condensation. The heat exchange is more thorough and stable, and the water vapor in the drying airflow can be condensed and precipitated more completely.

[0025] The following describes the location of the first phase change medium layer. The condensing air duct 1 extends in the vertical direction. The condensing air duct 1 also includes an air outlet located above the air inlet of the air duct, which is used to discharge the drying airflow in the condensing air duct 1. The first phase change medium layer is positioned closer to the air inlet of the air duct than the air outlet.

[0026] Furthermore, the air inlet of the duct includes an upper air inlet and a lower air inlet arranged vertically opposite each other; specifically, the condensing air duct 1 includes an upper air inlet end 11 and a lower air inlet end 12 arranged vertically opposite each other, and an air outlet end 13. The upper end of the condensing air duct 1 includes the upper air inlet end 11 and the air outlet end 13, and the lower end of the condensing air duct 1 is the lower air inlet end 12; the upper air inlet end 11 forms an upper air inlet, the lower air inlet end 12 forms a lower air inlet, and the air outlet end 13 forms an air outlet. From bottom to top, the first phase change medium layer is positioned below 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing duct 1 (not necessarily above 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing duct 1; the specific height is determined based on the flow state of the condensate in the condensing duct 1; line 32 marks the line where 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing duct is located), and above the center line of the lower air inlet of the duct (line 34 marks the line where the highest point of the lower air inlet of the duct is located; line 35 marks the line where the center line of the lower air inlet of the duct is located; line 36 marks the line where the lowest point of the lower air inlet of the duct is located). Within this height range, the first phase change medium layer can cover the inner wall of the condensing duct 1. The phase change temperature of the first phase change medium layer is related to the temperature of the condensate within this height range and should be lower than the maintenance temperature of the condensate. The main reasons are: (1) When designing the condensing duct 1, it is hoped that the condensate will tumble inside the condensing duct 1. It is generally believed that when the tumbling height is higher than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing duct 1, some of the condensate will be easily sucked into the heating duct, affecting the drying. The common tumbling is within 1 / 3 of the overall height of the condensing duct 1 (the line marked 33 is the line where 1 / 3 of the overall height of the condensing duct is located), and it is higher than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing duct 1. The condensate temperature is relatively low, not much higher than the tap water. The condensate at the lower end of the condensing duct 1 is turbulent and has a high heat exchange requirement. The phase change heat absorption can effectively reduce the water temperature and improve the heat exchange efficiency. There is a liquid film on the plane where the condensate flows at the upper end of the condensing duct 1 (the line marked 31 is the line where the lowest position of the air outlet of the duct is located at the upper end of the condensing duct 1). The liquid film heat exchange is poor, and the phase change material cannot work at low temperature, which increases the thermal resistance. (2) The reason why it is higher than the middle of the air inlet of the condensing air duct is that the condensate after heat exchange is discharged to the outer cylinder through the air inlet of the air duct and the air outlet of the outer cylinder. At this height, it is basically condensate, so embedding phase change material is not very meaningful.

[0027] At the lower end of the condensing duct 1, the condensate flows turbulently and requires high heat exchange. The first phase change medium layer can absorb heat to effectively reduce the temperature of the condensate and improve the heat exchange efficiency. At the upper end of the condensing duct 1, there is a liquid film on the plane through which the condensate flows. The liquid film has poor heat exchange, and the first phase change medium layer cannot work at low temperatures, which increases thermal resistance. The condensate in the condensing duct 1 flows to the outer cylinder 2 at a position lower than the center line of the air inlet at the bottom of the duct, and then exits from the outer cylinder 2. Covering the first phase change medium layer at this position is not very meaningful. The centerline of the lower air inlet of the air duct passes through the center point of the lower air inlet of the air duct and is parallel to the axis of the outer cylinder 2 of the clothing processing equipment.

[0028] The first phase change medium layer is set at different positions when the phase change temperature is different. Specifically, the first phase change medium layer includes phase change medium layer A and phase change medium layer B, and the phase change temperature of phase change medium layer A is higher than that of phase change medium layer B. From bottom to top, the position of phase change medium layer A is below 1 / 2 of the overall height of condensing duct 1 (not necessarily above 1 / 2 of the overall height of condensing duct 1, depending on the tumbling height of the condensate water within condensing duct 1), and above the centerline of the lower air inlet of the duct; the position of phase change medium layer B is above 1 / 2 of the overall height of condensing duct 1 (not necessarily above 1 / 2 of the overall height of condensing duct 1, depending on the tumbling height of the condensate water within condensing duct 1), and the location of phase change medium layer B avoids the area through which the condensate water flows. The phase change medium layer B is positioned so that it does not flow through condensate water. The phase change medium layer B can absorb the heat of the humid and hot drying airflow. Specifically, the phase change medium layer B is set on the inner wall of the condensing air duct 1, in an area that is higher than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct 1 and does not flow through condensate water. The phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer B should be slightly lower than the temperature of the humid and hot drying airflow to ensure that when the temperature of the drying airflow is high, the phase change medium layer B begins to absorb heat (latent heat) and reduces the temperature of the drying airflow. In scenarios where the temperature range of the drying airflow is 55℃–65℃, the material of the phase change medium layer B can be paraffin wax with a temperature range of 50℃–60℃.

[0029] In addition, the axis of the outer cylinder 2 is set in the horizontal direction, and the outer cylinder 2 includes a cylinder peripheral wall 21 and a cylinder rear wall 22. The front end of the cylinder peripheral wall 21 forms a cylinder opening, and the rear end of the cylinder peripheral wall 21 is provided with a cylinder rear wall 22, which forms a drying air outlet. The condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly includes single-channel condensation. When the outer cylinder assembly is in single-channel condensation mode, the drying airflow and condensate only exchange heat in the condensation airflow 1. The drying airflow in the outer cylinder 2 enters the condensation airflow 1 through the drying lower air outlet 222 and the airflow lower air inlet, and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensation airflow 1; then the drying airflow is discharged through the airflow outlet. The inner surface of the rear wall 22 of the cylinder is a condensation surface 223. The condensation surface 223 is provided with a second phase change medium layer. The second phase change medium layer can absorb and release heat during the phase change process. Specifically, the second phase change medium layer is "coated" or "attached" to the condensation surface 223, or embedded in the rear wall 22 of the cylinder, or exists as an independent layer. Preferably, the second phase change medium layer is embedded in the rear wall 22 of the cylinder. The condensation methods of the outer cylinder assembly include single-condensity surface condensation and dual-condensity condensation combining the air duct and condensing surface 223. In single-condensity surface condensation, the drying airflow and condensate only exchange heat on the condensing surface 223. The drying airflow inside the outer cylinder 2 first flows through the condensing surface 223 and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through it, then enters the condensing air duct 1 through the upper air outlet 221 and the upper air inlet of the air duct, and is then directly discharged through the air duct outlet. In dual-condensity condensation, the drying airflow... The airflow and condensate exchange heat in the condensing air duct 1 and on the condensing surface 223. A portion of the drying airflow in the outer cylinder 2 first flows through the condensing surface 223 and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensing surface 223, and then enters the condensing air duct 1 through the upper air outlet 221 and the upper air inlet of the air duct, and is then discharged directly through the air outlet of the air duct; another portion of the drying airflow in the outer cylinder 2 enters the condensing air duct 1 through the lower air outlet 222 and the lower air inlet of the air duct, and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensing air duct 1, and is then discharged through the air outlet of the air duct.

[0030] Furthermore, the location of the second phase change medium layer varies depending on the condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly, and the highest position of the second phase change medium layer is related to the surface temperature of the condensation surface 223; specifically: (1) The drying air outlet includes the drying upper air outlet 221, and the air duct inlet includes the air duct upper inlet. The air duct upper inlet and the drying upper air outlet 221 are correspondingly arranged and connected. The outer cylinder assembly can be in a single condensing surface condensing mode. The drying airflow in the outer cylinder 2 first flows through the condensing surface 223 and exchanges heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensing surface 223. Then it enters the condensing air duct 1 through the drying upper air outlet 221 and the air duct upper inlet, and is then discharged directly through the air duct outlet. The condensation surface 223 is provided with guide ribs 23, the lower end of the outer cylinder 2 is provided with a water storage cavity, and the bottom of the water storage cavity is provided with a drain hole for draining the water in the outer cylinder 2; the position of the second phase change medium layer is higher than the water level in the water storage cavity and close to the guide ribs 23 (the line marked 38 is the line where the water level in the water storage cavity is located). (2) The drying air outlet includes an upper drying air outlet 221 and a lower drying air outlet 222 arranged opposite to each other, and the air duct inlet includes an upper air duct inlet and a lower air duct inlet arranged opposite to each other; the upper air duct inlet and the upper drying air outlet 221 are arranged correspondingly and connected, and the lower air duct inlet and the lower drying air outlet 222 are arranged correspondingly and connected. The outer cylinder assembly can be in a dual condensation mode. A portion of the drying airflow inside the outer cylinder 2 first flows through the condensation surface 223 and exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensation surface 223, then enters the condensation air duct 1 through the upper air outlet 221 and the upper air inlet of the air duct, and is then discharged directly through the air outlet of the air duct; another portion of the drying airflow inside the outer cylinder 2 enters the condensation air duct 1 through the lower air outlet 222 and the lower air inlet of the air duct, exchanges heat with the condensate flowing through the condensation air duct 1, and is then discharged through the air outlet of the air duct. The condensing surface 223 is provided with guide ribs 23, and the position of the second phase change medium layer is higher than the lowest position of the drying lower air outlet 222 and close to the guide ribs 23; the second phase change medium layer is provided in the rough area of ​​the condensing surface 223; the second phase change medium layer is not provided in the smooth area of ​​the condensing surface 223; the phase change medium layer is provided in the location where turbulence is formed, which can enhance heat exchange and avoid the area where liquid film is easily formed; The position of the second phase change medium layer is related to the surface temperature of the condensation surface 223 during the drying process of the clothing processing equipment. The condensate flows from top to bottom through the condensation surface 223, and the drying airflow flows from bottom to top through the condensation surface 223. Therefore, the surface temperature of the condensation surface 223 gradually decreases from bottom to top, forming a temperature boundary line. Below the temperature boundary line, the second phase change medium layer will absorb heat (melt).

[0031] The following describes the phase change temperatures of the first and second phase change media layers. The phase change temperatures of the first and second phase change media layers can be selected based on the condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly, the temperature of the condensate, and the temperature of the drying airflow; the line marked 37 is the phase change temperature line; When the outer cylinder assembly is in single-duct condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the first phase change medium layer is T1, and T1 satisfies: 40℃≤T1≤50℃; when the outer cylinder assembly is in single-condensation surface condensation mode or dual condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the second phase change medium layer is T2, and T2 satisfies: 30℃≤T2≤60℃.

[0032] The following describes the phase change materials of the first phase change dielectric layer and the second phase change dielectric layer. Both the first phase change dielectric layer and the second phase change dielectric layer are made of paraffin wax, or made of paraffin wax and thermally conductive materials. Among them, the thermally conductive material includes at least one of graphene, metal foam and carbon nanotubes; Preferably, the first phase change medium layer and the second phase change medium layer are porous structures formed by encapsulating paraffin in a honeycomb metal frame, which increases the contact area between the phase change medium layer and the drying airflow. The phase change temperature range of paraffin is usually 30℃~60℃, which is highly matched with the temperature range of the drying airflow (30℃~60℃) and the temperature range of the condensate after heat exchange (30℃~55℃), thus having significant advantages in practical applications.

[0033] The following describes the arrangement of the first phase change dielectric layer and the second phase change dielectric layer. The outer cylinder assembly also includes a support member, which is a plate with a honeycomb porous structure. The porous structure forms honeycomb holes that penetrate its thickness direction. The first phase change medium layer is set on the inner wall of the condensation duct 1 by a support member, and the surface of the support member and the side wall of the honeycomb holes are covered with the first phase change medium layer. The second phase change medium layer is disposed on the condensation surface 223 by a support member, and the surface of the support member and the sidewalls of the honeycomb holes are covered with the second phase change medium layer.

[0034] <Clothing Processing Equipment> This embodiment also provides a garment processing device, including a heating air duct and an outer cylinder assembly as described in any of the above embodiments; the drying air outlet, the condensing air duct 1, the heating air duct, the drying air inlet and the outer cylinder 2 are sequentially connected to form a drying airflow circuit.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a temperature change curve at different locations in the drying airflow circuit during the drying process of the garment processing equipment; the water temperature is the temperature at the lowest point of the condenser duct, the outlet air temperature is the outlet air temperature of the outer drum, i.e., the inlet air temperature of condenser duct 1; the fan temperature is the temperature at the lowest point of the fan, i.e., the return air temperature after heat exchange between the drying airflow and the condensate water; through Figure 3 It can be seen that during the entire drying process, the entire system is first heated up, and no condensate water is introduced for heat exchange at this time. After the temperature reaches 60°C, condensate water is introduced for heat exchange. like Figure 3 As shown, taking a 10kg washer-dryer as an example, during the heating stage of the drying process, the temperature inside the outer drum 2 will rise to 60℃. Because the inner drum is connected to the condenser duct 1, the temperature inside the condenser duct 1 is close to 60℃. Then, condensate water enters, and the temperature in the tumbling area of ​​the condensate water drops to 30℃, and then slowly rises to about 55℃, and is maintained at 50~55℃ for a long time. As the drying process continues, the temperature of the tumbling condensate water will gradually drop to 30℃, at which point the drying process stops and the product is completely dry. If a phase change medium layer is only installed in the condenser duct 1, the phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer is selected as 40℃~50℃ (abbreviated as PCM) based on existing data. (1) During the heating stage of the drying process, the temperature of the drying system rises from room temperature to 60°C. Since the phase change temperature of PCM is 40°C to 50°C, when the temperature reaches 40°C to 50°C, PCM will begin to melt (absorb heat). The heating stage is only used for preheating, and no condensate enters, so there is no need for heat exchange at this time; therefore, the melting process of PCM will not affect the system operation, nor will it waste its heat storage capacity. (2) During the water intake stage of the drying process (the water temperature drops from 60℃ to 30℃); When condensate enters, the water temperature drops rapidly from 60℃ to 30℃; at this time, the phase change temperature of PCM (40℃~50℃) is higher than the current water temperature (30℃); therefore, PCM will release heat to the condensate and solidify. Exothermic effect: The heat released when PCM solidifies will partially offset the cooling effect of the condensate, which may cause the water temperature to rise again (e.g., from 30°C to 35–40°C). Potential issue: If the water temperature rises too quickly, it may affect drying efficiency; (this can be optimized by controlling the inlet water rate or adjusting the PCM dosage). (3) During the water temperature recovery stage of the drying process (30℃→55℃); As drying proceeds, the water temperature gradually rises to 55°C and remains between 50°C and 55°C. At this point, the phase change temperature of the PCM (40°C to 50°C) is lower than the current water temperature. Therefore, the PCM will absorb heat again (melt). Heat absorption: PCM can effectively control the rise in water temperature and maintain heat exchange efficiency (temperature difference between air and water) by absorbing heat. Cyclic stability: PCM melts during the heating phase and solidifies during the cooling phase, forming a reversible phase change cycle. As long as the material properties are stable, it will not fail due to multiple phase changes.

[0036] Based on this, 7kg (fully loaded) of clothing is placed inside the inner drum. After dehydration, the clothing has a moisture content of 50%, and 3.5L of water needs to be condensed during the drying process. The condensate water used for heat exchange is at 15℃, and the temperature of the condensate water after heat exchange is 50℃. The formula for the heat of water is: Q=m*c*ΔT=3.5kg*4.186kJ / kg\cdotp℃×(50 15) = 516.35 kJ; The goal is to enable phase change materials to absorb or release some heat to reduce the direct heating load of the humid drying airflow. If the target temperature of the condensate is 50℃, a PCM with a temperature of 40℃-50℃ can be selected to ensure that heat absorption begins when the temperature of the condensate is close to 50℃, thus delaying the temperature rise. PCM heat storage capacity: Assuming the latent heat of phase change of PCM is L=220kJ / kg, and the heat to be stored is QPCM, then: mPCM=LQ=516.35 / 220≈2.35kg; PCM volume calculation: Assuming PCM density ρ = 800 kg / m³, VPCM = m / ρ = 0.00294 m³ = 2.94 L; Since the PCM is only auxiliary, and the main heat exchange is completed by the condensate, assuming it absorbs 10% of the heat (increasing the drying speed by 10%), only 2.35 kg of condensate is needed, with a volume of 0.294 L. Assuming the entire area from the centerline 35° of the air inlet to half the height of the condensate duct is equipped with a phase change medium layer, with an area of ​​approximately 0.08 m², then PCM = A * t t = 0.000294 / 0.08 (calculated at 10%) = 0.003675m = 3.675mm; the actual length of condenser duct 1 is at least 40mm.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been specifically shown and described above. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the detailed structures, arrangements, or implementations described herein; rather, this disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements contained within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An outer cylinder assembly for use in garment processing equipment; characterized in that, The outer cylinder assembly includes: The outer cylinder (2) has a drying air outlet formed on its cylinder wall; A condensing air duct (1) is provided on the rear side of the outer cylinder (2) and the condensing air duct (1) includes an air duct inlet; the air duct inlet and the drying air outlet are connected; the inner wall of the condensing air duct (1) is provided with a first phase change medium layer, which can absorb and release heat during the phase change process; The drying airflow inside the outer cylinder (2) can enter the condensing air duct (1) through the drying air outlet and the air duct inlet; when the drying airflow flows through the condensing air duct (1), it can exchange heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensing air duct (1).

2. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condensing air duct (1) extends vertically as a whole, and the condensing air duct (1) also includes an air duct outlet located above the air duct inlet for discharging the drying airflow inside the condensing air duct (1). The first phase change medium layer is positioned closer to the air inlet of the air duct than the air outlet of the air duct.

3. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air inlet of the air duct includes a lower air inlet of the air duct located at the lower end of the condensing air duct (1); from bottom to top, the position of the first phase change medium layer is lower than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct (1) and higher than the center line (35) of the lower air inlet of the air duct. The centerline (35) of the lower air inlet of the air duct passes through the center point of the lower air inlet of the air duct and is parallel to the axis of the outer cylinder (2) of the clothing processing equipment.

4. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first phase change medium layer includes a phase change medium layer A and a phase change medium layer B, wherein the phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer A is higher than the phase change temperature of the phase change medium layer B. From bottom to top, the position of the phase change medium layer A is lower than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct (1) and higher than the center line (35) of the lower air inlet of the air duct; the position of the phase change medium layer B is higher than 1 / 2 of the overall height of the condensing air duct (1), and the position of the phase change medium layer B avoids the flow area of ​​the condensate water.

5. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The axis of the outer cylinder (2) is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the outer cylinder (2) includes a rear wall (22); the rear wall (22) forms the drying air outlet; The condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly includes a single-channel condensation method. When the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-channel condensation method, the drying airflow and condensate exchange heat only in the condensation airflow (1). The inner side of the rear wall (22) of the cylinder is a condensation surface (223). The condensation surface (223) is provided with a second phase change medium layer. The second phase change medium layer can absorb and release heat during the phase change process. The condensation mode of the outer cylinder assembly includes a single condensation surface condensation mode and a dual condensation mode combining the air duct and the condensation surface (223). When the outer cylinder assembly is in the single condensation surface condensation mode, the drying airflow and the condensate only exchange heat on the condensation surface (223). When the outer cylinder assembly is in the dual condensation mode, the drying airflow and the condensate exchange heat evenly in the condensation air duct (1) and on the condensation surface (223).

6. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drying air outlet includes a drying upper air outlet (221), and the air duct inlet includes an air duct upper air inlet. The air duct upper air inlet and the drying upper air outlet (221) are correspondingly arranged and connected. The outer cylinder assembly can be in the single condensing surface condensation mode. The drying airflow in the outer cylinder (2) first flows through the condensing surface (223) and exchanges heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensing surface (223). Then, it enters the condensing air duct (1) through the drying upper air outlet (221) and the air duct upper air inlet, and is then discharged directly through the air duct outlet. The condensation surface (223) is provided with a guide rib (23), the lower end of the outer cylinder (2) is provided with a water storage cavity, and the bottom of the water storage cavity is provided with a drain hole for draining the water in the outer cylinder (2); the position of the second phase change medium layer is higher than the water level in the water storage cavity and is set close to the guide rib (23).

7. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drying air outlet includes an upper drying air outlet (221) and a lower drying air outlet (222) arranged opposite to each other, and the air duct inlet includes an upper air duct inlet and a lower air duct inlet arranged opposite to each other; the upper air duct inlet and the upper drying air outlet (221) are correspondingly arranged and connected, and the lower air duct inlet and the lower drying air outlet (222) are correspondingly arranged and connected; The outer cylinder assembly can be in the dual condensation mode. A portion of the drying airflow in the outer cylinder (2) first flows through the condensation surface (223) and exchanges heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensation surface (223). Then, it enters the condensation air duct (1) through the upper air outlet (221) of the drying cylinder and the upper air inlet of the air duct, and is then discharged directly through the air outlet of the air duct. Another part of the drying airflow inside the outer cylinder (2) enters the condensing air duct (1) through the drying lower air outlet (222) and the air duct lower air inlet, and exchanges heat with the condensed water flowing through the condensing air duct (1), and is then discharged through the air duct outlet; The condensation surface (223) is provided with guide ribs (23), and the second phase change medium layer is positioned higher than the lowest position of the drying lower air outlet (222) and close to the guide ribs (23).

8. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The phase change temperatures of the first phase change medium layer and the second phase change medium layer can be selected according to the condensation method of the outer cylinder assembly, the temperature of the condensate, and the temperature of the drying airflow. When the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-duct condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the first phase change medium layer is T1, and T1 satisfies: 40℃≤T1≤50℃; when the outer cylinder assembly is in the single-condensation surface condensation mode or dual condensation mode, the phase change temperature of the second phase change medium layer is T2, and T2 satisfies: 30℃≤T2≤60℃.

9. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, Both the first phase change dielectric layer and the second phase change dielectric layer are made of paraffin wax, or are made of paraffin wax and thermally conductive materials; The thermally conductive material includes at least one of graphene, metal foam, and carbon nanotubes.

10. The outer cylinder assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a support member, which is a plate with a honeycomb porous structure, wherein the porous structure has honeycomb holes extending through its thickness direction; The first phase change medium layer is disposed on the inner wall of the condensation duct (1) by the support member, and the surface of the support member and the side wall of the honeycomb holes are covered with the first phase change medium layer. The second phase change medium layer is disposed on the condensation surface (223) by the support member, and the surface of the support member and the sidewalls of the honeycomb holes are covered with the second phase change medium layer.

11. A garment processing device, characterized in that, It includes an inner cylinder, a heating air duct, and an outer cylinder assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; the outer cylinder (2) is provided with a drying air inlet at its opening, and the inner cylinder is rotatably disposed inside the outer cylinder; the drying air outlet, the condensing air duct (1), the heating air duct, the drying air inlet, the inner cylinder, the interior of the outer cylinder (2), and the drying air outlet are sequentially connected to form a drying airflow circuit.

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