Rotary dehumidification and heat recovery device and laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The utility model belongs to clothes processing equipment technical field especially relates to a heat recovery device and clothes processing equipment that rotary dehumidification is solved, this heat recovery device includes main air duct, branch air duct, evaporimeter, condenser, heat exchanger, rotary dehumidification device and heating device, the main air duct constitutes closed air circulation path, is used for carrying out heat and humidity exchange to clothes and realizes two -stage dehumidification, branch air duct is used for introducing and heating outside air, through the dehumidification area of rotary dehumidification device to the regeneration of adsorbent material, the high temperature and high humidity air formed and the main air duct air carry out heat exchange in heat exchanger, realize heat energy recovery and air preheating. The present application is through setting up heat exchanger recycling and utilizing the high temperature waste heat needed by dehumidification, and the heat exchanger is set up before the condenser of heat pump system, and the wind in the air duct is preheated, under the condition that the air inlet temperature of storage device is same, can reduce the compressor power appropriately, saves the energy consumption of heat pump system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of clothing processing equipment, and in particular relates to a heat recovery device for dehumidification and clothing processing equipment using a rotary dehumidifier. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous improvement of people's living standards and the development of smart and energy-saving home appliances, clothes dryers, especially washer-dryer combos, are becoming increasingly popular in households. As an important component of home drying equipment, the drying efficiency, energy consumption, and environmental impact of clothes dryers have become key indicators of concern for users. Traditional drying technologies generally use electric heating or steam heating to raise the air temperature, evaporating moisture from clothes through the high-temperature air. However, this method has technical drawbacks such as high energy consumption, low thermal efficiency, and negative environmental impact. Therefore, how to further reduce energy consumption and improve system energy efficiency while ensuring drying efficiency has become a key research direction in the industry.

[0003] In recent years, heat pump drying technology has gained widespread attention due to its high energy efficiency. This technology heats the air using a reverse Carnot cycle, achieving heat recycling and ensuring drying results while reducing energy consumption. Meanwhile, rotary dehumidification technology, with its stable and efficient moisture absorption capacity, is also increasingly being applied to drying equipment, especially in scenarios with high requirements for air humidity control. Rotary dehumidification systems can further reduce the air's moisture content, significantly improving drying efficiency. Based on this, some existing drying systems are beginning to combine heat pump systems with rotary dehumidification systems to form a composite, high-efficiency drying technology approach.

[0004] In existing technologies, traditional rotary dehumidification systems mainly consist of a rotary dehumidifier, a moisture absorption zone, a dehumidification zone, and a heat source. The general workflow is as follows: dry air treated in the moisture absorption zone is transported to the area requiring dehumidification, while the humid air discharged from this area enters the dehumidification zone. Simultaneously, the heat source heats the air to a high temperature, which is then introduced into the dehumidification zone, causing the moisture-absorbing material in the rotary dehumidifier to desorb moisture, thus regenerating the material and forming a cyclical dehumidification process. In traditional systems combining heat pump dryers and rotary dehumidifiers, ambient air is heated to a high temperature by a fan and then enters the dehumidification zone of the rotary dehumidifier, becoming high-temperature, high-humidity air before being directly discharged into the environment. However, this approach has the following drawbacks in use: First: A large amount of heat contained in the hot and humid air is directly wasted, resulting in low energy utilization. Second: Directly emitted high-temperature and high-humidity air will change the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment, resulting in a poor user experience. In addition, the low-temperature and low-humidity air processed by the evaporator enters the condenser directly, and the condenser needs to consume more energy to heat it to the set temperature, which increases the load on the compressor.

[0005] Chinese patent CN117127372A discloses a hybrid dryer structure combining a heat pump system and a rotary dehumidification system. The core idea is to sequentially arrange a drum, evaporator, rotary dehumidification device (moisture absorption zone), heat exchanger, and medium-pressure condenser in the drying circulation duct, while a dehumidification zone of the rotary dehumidification device, a high-pressure condenser, and an electric heater are arranged in the secondary duct. This forms a dual-system structure with a closed-loop main duct and an open-loop secondary duct regeneration system operating in tandem. This solution achieves secondary dehumidification and recovers heat from the regeneration airflow through the heat exchanger to preheat the airflow in the main duct, thereby reducing the heat load on the medium-pressure condenser and improving the overall energy efficiency of the system. However, although the heat exchanger in this scheme is used for heat exchange between the exhaust air of the dehumidification zone and the airflow of the main air duct, its structural layout and heat exchange path design are relatively fixed. It mainly relies on the airflow passing through the surface of the heat exchanger for heat exchange. Due to the fluctuation of airflow, temperature difference and humidity conditions, the heat exchange efficiency is highly unstable. Especially under the conditions of low ambient temperature or high humidity of clothing, the preheating effect is insufficient, which causes the medium-pressure condenser to still bear a large heating load, thereby increasing the operating load of the compressor and reducing energy efficiency. Although some of this heat is recovered by the heat exchanger, the waste heat utilization rate is still limited, and heat exchange at this location will also affect the adsorption effect of the dehumidification rotor.

[0006] Furthermore, the regeneration duct of this scheme adopts a closed-loop design, which achieves internal heat recycling to a certain extent. However, it requires the installation of two condensers, one high-pressure and one low-pressure, and the heat exchanger is fixed in the dehumidification duct between the dehumidification rotor and the evaporator. This makes the refrigerant circuit design of the heat pump system more complex. In order to maintain the heating power of the high-pressure condenser to meet the needs of the regeneration duct, the compressor needs to frequently operate under high load. The problem of humidity accumulation in the regeneration air in the closed loop will lead to a further increase in the heating demand of the high-pressure condenser, forming a vicious cycle of "high load operation - increased energy consumption".

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to further develop a heat pump and rotary dehumidifier clothing treatment equipment that can efficiently recover and utilize heat from the dehumidification zone, optimize the operating parameters of the heat pump system, and reduce the environmental impact of emissions, in order to meet the market's urgent demand for efficient, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and healthy clothes drying. Utility Model Content

[0008] This invention aims to solve the problems of low dehumidification efficiency, high energy consumption, and long drying time caused by weakened dehumidification capacity under high humidity load in existing heat pump dryers. It proposes a heat recovery device and clothing processing equipment for rotary dehumidification. The system integrates the rotary dehumidification device with the heat pump system and introduces outside air through the auxiliary air duct to regenerate the adsorbent material. At the same time, a heat exchanger is set up to recover the regenerated heat energy and preheat the air. The rotation speed is adjusted by dynamically monitoring the evaporator temperature and the air inlet temperature of the storage device, thereby improving the dehumidification capacity and drying efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring that the entire drying process is fast, efficient, and stable.

[0009] In view of this, the first aspect of this utility model discloses a heat recovery device for rotary dehumidification, comprising: Storage device for placing items to be dried; The main air duct connects to the storage unit and forms an air circulation channel; The heat pump system includes an evaporator and a condenser installed in the main air duct. The evaporator is used to cool and dehumidify the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the storage device, and the condenser is used to heat the dehumidified air in the main air duct into high-temperature and low-humidity air. A rotary dehumidifier is installed between the evaporator and the condenser, and has a moisture absorption zone and a dehumidification zone. The moisture absorption zone is located in the main air duct and is used to perform secondary dehumidification on the air after it passes through the evaporator. The secondary air duct is used to introduce high-temperature airflow into the dehumidification zone of the rotary dehumidifier. After being dehumidified and regenerated in the dehumidification zone, the high-temperature airflow forms high-temperature and high-humidity air. A switching switch is installed at the air outlet of the secondary air duct, which is turned on or off according to the detected temperature to adjust the ventilation volume in the heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is installed between the moisture absorption zone and the condenser. Its air inlet is located upstream of the air outlet of the secondary air duct. It is used to exchange heat with the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the secondary air duct and to preheat the air in the main air duct before it enters the condenser.

[0010] In some examples of this application, both ends of the secondary air duct are connected to the external environment, and the air outlet of the secondary air duct is opened and closed by the switching switch. A heating device and a secondary air duct fan are installed inside the secondary air duct. The secondary air duct fan is used to introduce ambient air into the secondary air duct and discharge the air to the external environment after passing through the heating device, dehumidification zone, and heat exchanger in sequence.

[0011] In some examples of this application, the heat exchanger includes at least one heat exchange tube, one end of which is connected to a secondary air duct, and the other end of which is connected to the external environment.

[0012] In some examples of this application, the heat exchanger is disposed inside the main air duct.

[0013] In some examples of this application, the heating device is an electric heating device, the auxiliary air duct fan is located near the end of the auxiliary air duct, and the heating device is located downstream of the auxiliary air duct fan.

[0014] In some examples of this application, the auxiliary air duct fan is a variable frequency fan, and the rotary dehumidifier uses a variable frequency device to adjust the speed.

[0015] In some examples of this application, the main air duct includes a main air duct one and a main air duct two, which are distributed on opposite sides of the storage device. The main air duct one is used to guide the air discharged from the storage device, and the main air duct two is used to deliver processed air to the storage device. A main air duct fan is installed in the main air duct two.

[0016] In some examples of this application, the switching switch can be turned on and off according to the monitored temperature in the main air duct, thereby adjusting the flow rate of heat exchange air through the heat exchanger.

[0017] This application utilizes a heat exchanger to recover and reuse the high-temperature waste heat required for dehumidification. The heat exchanger is located before the condenser of the heat pump system, which preheats the air in the duct. Under the condition that the air inlet temperature of the storage device is the same, the compressor power can be appropriately reduced, thus saving energy consumption of the heat pump system.

[0018] This application also optimizes the traditional open dehumidification method by cooling the high-temperature gas discharged into the outside, reducing the impact on the external environment. At the same time, it provides control logic for the rotary motor of the rotary dehumidifier and the small fan of the dehumidification duct, so as to maximize the operating efficiency of the rotary dehumidifier.

[0019] The second aspect of this application discloses a garment processing device, including a heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery as described above. The garment processing device includes at least one of a dryer, a clothes dryer, a washer-dryer combo, and a garment care machine.

[0020] Compared with existing technologies, the rotary dehumidification and dehumidification heat recovery device and clothing treatment equipment of this invention have the following advantages: 1. This application constructs a composite heat recovery device integrating a main air duct closed-loop circulation, a secondary air duct fresh air introduction, and a rotary dehumidification and dehumidification regeneration system. The heat recovery rate can be adjusted via a switch on the secondary air duct. During the drying process, the humid air undergoes evaporator cooling and secondary dehumidification treatment in the rotary dehumidification zone, further improving air dryness. Meanwhile, fresh air introduced from the outside through the secondary air duct is heated and sent to the dehumidification zone to regenerate the adsorbent material, forming high-temperature, high-humidity gas. This gas exchanges heat with the air in the main air duct through a heat exchanger, preheating the main air to reduce the condenser load and increase the initial air temperature, thus forming a closed-loop heat energy recovery and utilization system. The structural design achieves multi-path linkage and energy flow coupling, effectively improving the overall dehumidification capacity, energy efficiency ratio, and drying rate of the system. This provides a dynamic, closed-loop, highly efficient, and structurally sound overall solution for heat recovery devices.

[0021] 2. This application introduces a dynamic adjustment and control strategy during system operation. By monitoring the inlet air temperature of the storage device and the evaporator temperature in real time, the operating status of the auxiliary air duct fan, the switching switch, and the rotary dehumidifier is automatically adjusted according to the drying process. When the inlet air temperature reaches the set threshold, the speed of the auxiliary air duct fan is reduced to reduce the amount of outside air introduced and save heating energy. At the same time, when the air duct temperature reaches the set value, the switching switch is turned on to reduce the heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the main air duct. When the evaporator temperature rises to the control point, the speed of the rotary dehumidifier is increased to accelerate the regeneration frequency of the adsorption material and match the dehumidification needs in the later stages. This forms an adaptive operation and control mechanism at different drying stages, which not only ensures the continuity of air dryness but also controls energy consumption. It constructs a drying operation control mode that is responsive, precise, and effective, further enhancing the system's adaptability and operational stability under various working conditions, and also providing a foundation for intelligent scheduling and energy-saving operation of the whole machine. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the heat recovery device for dehumidification using a rotary wheel in clothing processing equipment according to this utility model; The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1-Storage device; 2-Main air duct one; 3-Evaporator; 4-Rotary dehumidifier; 5-Heat exchanger; 6-Condenser; 7-Main air duct fan; 8-Main air duct two; 9-Heating device; 10-Secondary air duct fan; 11-Secondary air duct; 12-Main air duct; 13-Moisture absorption zone; 14-Dehumidification zone; 15-Switch switch. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] It should be noted that all directional and positional terms used in this utility model, such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "top," "lower," "lateral," "longitudinal," and "center," are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and connection arrangements between components in a specific state (as shown in the accompanying drawings). They are merely for the convenience of describing this utility model and do not require that this utility model be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in this utility model are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

[0025] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, this application discloses a heat recovery device for rotary dehumidification, comprising: Storage device 1, used to place items to be dried; The main air duct 12 is connected to the storage device 1 and forms a closed air circulation channel; The heat pump system includes an evaporator 3 and a condenser 6 disposed in the main air duct 12. The evaporator 3 is used to cool and dehumidify the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the storage device 1, and the condenser 6 is used to heat the dehumidified air in the main air duct 12 into high-temperature and low-humidity air. The rotary dehumidifier 4 is disposed between the evaporator 3 and the condenser 6, and has a moisture absorption zone 13 and a dehumidification zone 14. The moisture absorption zone 13 is disposed in the main air duct 12 and is used to perform secondary dehumidification on the air after passing through the evaporator 3. The secondary air duct 11 is used to introduce high-temperature airflow into the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. After the high-temperature airflow is dehumidified and regenerated in the dehumidification zone 14, it forms high-temperature and high-humidity air. A switching switch 15 is provided at the outlet end of the secondary air duct for opening and closing the outlet. The heat exchanger 5 is located between the moisture absorption zone 13 and the condenser 6, and is used to exchange heat with the high temperature and high humidity air discharged from the secondary air duct 11, and to preheat the air in the main air duct 12 before it enters the condenser 6.

[0028] The heat recovery device for rotary dehumidification disclosed in this application includes a storage device 1, a main air duct 12, a heat pump system, a rotary dehumidifier 4, a secondary air duct 11, and a heat exchanger 5. The storage device 1 is used to hold clothes to be dried. The main air duct 12 is connected to the storage device 1 to form a closed air circulation path, allowing continuous airflow within the system. The evaporator 3 and condenser 6 in the heat pump system are both arranged in the main air duct 12. The evaporator 3 is responsible for cooling and removing moisture from the high-temperature, high-humidity air discharged from the storage device 1, while the condenser 6 heats the dehumidified air, making it high-temperature, low-humidity air that can re-enter the storage device 1 for drying. A rotary dehumidifier 4 is provided between the evaporator 3 and the condenser 6, with its moisture absorption zone 13 located in the main air duct 12. 2 is used to further dehumidify the air after it has been treated by the evaporator 3, thereby improving the overall dehumidification efficiency and drying effect of the system. The auxiliary air duct 11 is used to introduce external air and, after heating, deliver it to the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. This allows the moisture-absorbing material to release the adsorbed moisture under high temperature, forming high-temperature and high-humidity air. When this high-temperature and high-humidity air passes through the heat exchanger 5, the heat it carries is transferred to the air flowing out of the moisture-absorbing zone 13 in the main air duct 12, thus achieving preheating of the air. The air in the main air duct 12 after heat exchange then enters the condenser 6 for further heating, thereby achieving a higher temperature output with less energy. At the same time, the switching switch 15 can be turned on or off according to the detected temperature, thereby adjusting the high-temperature and high-humidity dehumidification air volume passing through the heat exchanger 5, achieving a dynamic adjustment effect of heat utilization.In operation, the rotary dehumidifier heat recovery device described in this application, after the clothes are placed in the storage device 1, the drying program is started by the control system. During the rotation of the storage device 1, the clothes are constantly turned over to improve air contact efficiency. High-temperature, low-humidity air enters the storage device 1 from the air inlet side of the main air duct 12 and exchanges heat and moisture with the wet clothes. After absorbing moisture, the high-temperature, low-humidity air becomes high-temperature, high-humidity air and flows out into the return air side of the main air duct 12. This humid air is first cooled and partially dehydrated by the evaporator 3, becoming low-temperature, low-humidity air. Then it enters the moisture absorption zone 13 of the rotary dehumidifier 4 for secondary dehumidification, further reducing the humidity before flowing through the heat exchanger 5. When the drum inlet air temperature is low, high-temperature, high-humidity gas flows in another channel of the heat exchanger 5 from the auxiliary air duct 11. This gas can be drawn in by external air through the auxiliary air duct 11, heated, and then sent into the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. The air mixed with the desorbed water vapor forms high-temperature, high-humidity air. When this high-temperature gas enters the heat exchanger 5, it transfers heat to the dry air in the main air duct 12 to complete heat recovery. After recovering the heat, the air in the main air duct 12 is preheated in the heat exchanger 5 and then sent to the condenser 6. The heat pump system further heats the air, turning it into high-temperature, low-humidity gas, which then re-enters the storage device 1, thus forming a closed loop. When the drum inlet air temperature is high, the system's heat exchange meets the drying temperature requirements. The switching switch 15 is turned on, and most of the high-temperature, high-humidity air dehumidified in the secondary air duct is discharged outside the system. A small portion of the air continues to bypass to the heat exchanger 5, achieving a dynamic adjustment of the heat exchange effect. The air continuously exchanges heat and humidity between the clothes and the system, ultimately achieving efficient drying of the clothes. At the same time, the rotary dehumidifier 4 maintains its regeneration capacity through the secondary air duct 11 during the continuous absorption and dehumidification process, and the entire system maintains a benign cycle operation.

[0029] The rotary dehumidifier heat recovery device described in this application effectively limits air leakage and energy loss through a closed-loop structure in the main air duct. The series connection of the evaporator 3 and the rotary dehumidifier 4 enables two-stage dehumidification, significantly reducing the moisture in the humid air before it enters the condenser 6. This improves the drying capacity of the final air and shortens the drying cycle. Simultaneously, a heat exchanger 5 connected to the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4 is installed in the main air duct 12. The heat recovery amount can be adjusted by switching the switch 15. This not only recovers and utilizes the heat from the high-temperature, high-humidity gas discharged from the secondary air duct 11 but also preheats the air in the main air duct 12. Dynamic heat recovery further enhances the drying efficiency without affecting the moisture absorption efficiency of the rotary dehumidifier 4, thereby significantly reducing the burden on the condenser 6, lowering the compressor operating frequency, and further saving energy.

[0030] As a preferred example of this application, both ends of the secondary air duct 11 are connected to the external environment. The air outlet of the secondary air duct is controlled by a switching switch 15. A heating device 9 and a secondary air duct fan 10 are installed inside the secondary air duct 11. When the inlet air temperature of the drum is low, the secondary air duct fan 10 is used to introduce ambient air into the secondary air duct 11 and discharge the air to the external environment after passing through the heating device 9, the dehumidification zone 14, and the heat exchanger 5 in sequence. When the inlet air temperature of the drum is high, the switching switch 15 is turned on, and most of the air in the secondary air duct is directly discharged to the outside, while a small portion of the air bypasses to the heat exchanger 5 to exchange heat with the air in the main air duct. In the example of this application, the secondary air duct 11 is preferably an open air duct. When the system is running, the secondary air duct fan 10 first starts to generate negative pressure, drawing fresh air from the outside environment into the secondary air duct 11. This air first flows through the heating device 9 installed inside the secondary air duct 11, where it is heated to a temperature suitable for the desorption of the moisture-absorbing material. The heated high-temperature air is then guided into the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4, where it comes into contact with the moisture-absorbing material that has been saturated with moisture. Under the action of high temperature, the moisture in the moisture-absorbing material is rapidly regenerated, desorbed, and transferred to the airflow. The airflow becomes high-temperature and high-humidity air due to the absorption of moisture. This high-temperature and high-humidity air continues to flow into the downstream heat exchanger 5 and can exchange heat with the low-temperature air in the main air duct 12. The heat in the high-temperature and high-humidity air is transferred to the low-temperature air in the main air duct 12, thereby realizing the recovery of waste heat from the regenerated airflow and improving the efficiency of heat utilization.

[0031] This application designs the secondary air duct 11 as an open structure with both ends connected to the external environment, and sets a switching switch 15 at the air outlet to dynamically adjust the heat exchange between the secondary air duct 11 and the heat exchanger 5. This allows the system to continuously introduce fresh external air for the dehumidification process of the moisture-absorbing material, effectively avoiding the problem of decreased dehumidification efficiency caused by the accumulation of air humidity in a closed loop. It also achieves efficient heat recovery, ensuring the dryness and freshness of the air required for the dehumidification zone 14, which helps the moisture-absorbing material to fully regenerate. In addition, the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the secondary air duct 11 transfers a large amount of heat it carries to the low-temperature dry air in the main air duct 12 after entering the heat exchanger 5. This heat exchange increases the initial temperature of the air being heated in the main air duct 12, reducing the heating burden on the condenser 6 of the heat pump system, realizing the reuse of heat energy and energy saving. Finally, the cooled airflow is discharged to the outside, reducing the overall heat loss of the system and mitigating the direct impact of high-temperature gas on the environment, thereby improving user comfort.

[0032] As a preferred example of this application, the heating device 9 can adopt a variety of heat source methods, including electric heating tubes, PTC elements, gas heaters, heat energy provided by heat pump systems, or heat exchange through heat media. The specific methods can be selected or combined according to the application scenario and energy configuration to adapt to different environments and system requirements.

[0033] In the example of this application, the heating device 9 is an electric heating device, which is located downstream of the auxiliary air duct fan 10, forming an air handling path in which the fan first draws air and the heating device 9 then heats it. The switching switch 5 is located downstream of the dehumidification area, and the distance between it and the dehumidification area is greater than the distance between the air inlet of the heat exchanger 5 and the dehumidification area. By placing the auxiliary air duct fan 10 at the air inlet end of the auxiliary air duct 11, this application can effectively stabilize the intake airflow, form a uniform airflow, and ensure the consistency of the flow rate and airflow distribution in the subsequent air heating process. This avoids insufficient heating or local overheating of the air in the heating area due to airflow turbulence. The electric heating device itself has the advantages of stable heating and rapid response. Combined with the front auxiliary air duct fan 10, it forms good airflow introduction conditions, effectively improving heating efficiency and air temperature rise rate. In addition, placing the electric heating device downstream of the auxiliary air duct fan 10 can also prevent the fan from operating in a high-temperature environment for a long time, effectively protecting the fan structure and motor system, extending service life and reducing the probability of malfunction.

[0034] As a preferred example of this application, the heat exchanger 5 includes at least one heat exchange tube, one end of which is connected to the auxiliary air duct 11, and the other end of which is connected to the external environment. In the example of this application, the heat exchanger 5 is an air-to-air heat exchanger, which can be configured as a single-channel structure, that is, a channel for air flow of the secondary air duct 11 is formed inside the heat exchange tube, and a channel for air flow of the closed drying system is formed outside the heat exchange tube. It can also be configured as a dual-channel structure, that is, it includes at least two heat exchange channels, one of which is connected to the secondary air duct 11, and the other is connected to the closed drying system air flow channel restricted in the main air duct 12. Thus, the heat exchanger 5 exchanges heat between the high temperature and high humidity air in the secondary air duct 11 and the low temperature and dry air in the main air duct 12. After the air in the secondary air duct 11 releases some heat, its temperature drops and it is discharged through the end of the heat exchange tube. The low temperature air in the closed air circulation channel absorbs heat and its temperature rises before entering the downstream condenser 6 to complete the heat preheating. The structure of this heat exchanger is not limited to the form of an air-to-air heat exchanger. Other types of air heat exchange forms, such as shell-and-tube, plate-fin, or multi-channel shell-and-tube heat exchange structures, can also be adopted according to the space layout and usage requirements.

[0035] As a preferred example of this application, the heat exchanger 5 is disposed inside the main air duct 12. In this example, by disposing of the heat exchanger 5 inside the main air duct 12, its inner and outer sides form a structure with relatively independent inner and outer channels. The inner channel is used to guide the high-temperature and high-humidity air flowing out of the secondary air duct 11, while the outside of the heat exchanger 5 is directly within the space of the main air duct 12. This allows the low-temperature air, after dehumidification treatment, to flow in the main air duct 12 and naturally pass through the outer surface of the heat exchanger 5 to achieve heat transfer. Through this structural configuration, not only is the separate flow of the two types of air on the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 5 achieved, avoiding direct mixing between the air, but it also relies on the main air duct 12 to achieve heat transfer. The spatial characteristics of the main air duct 12 eliminate the need for a complex structure that would otherwise require additional heat exchange paths or piping for the main air duct, making the internal structure of the system more compact. The heat exchanger 5 relies on the heat transfer between its inner and outer walls to efficiently transfer the heat energy carried by the high-temperature and high-humidity air inside to the low-temperature air inside the main air duct 12, thereby achieving the preheating process of the air in the main air duct 12. The entire heat exchange structure completes the energy transfer between the main and auxiliary air ducts through only one heat exchanger body. While achieving heat exchange, it also greatly simplifies the overall air duct layout, reduces the number of system components and the complexity of piping, and effectively reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance difficulty.

[0036] As a preferred example of this application, the main air duct 12 includes a first main air duct 2 and a second main air duct 8. The first main air duct 2 and the second main air duct 8 are distributed on opposite sides of the storage device 1. The first main air duct 2 is used to guide the air discharged from the storage device 1, and the second main air duct 8 is used to deliver processed air to the storage device 1. A main air duct fan 7 is installed in the second main air duct 8. In the example of this application, the main air duct 12 is divided into main air duct 1 (2) and main air duct 2 (8) located on both sides of the storage device 1, forming a closed-loop circulation structure with one inlet and one outlet. Main air duct 1 (2) guides the humid air discharged from the storage device 1 into the system's processing unit for cooling and dehumidification, while main air duct 2 (8) re-exports the processed dry air back into the storage device 1, achieving a closed-loop airflow organization. To ensure smooth airflow within this closed passage, a main air duct fan 7 is installed on main air duct 2 (8) near the air inlet side of the storage device 1 to provide the necessary airflow driving force, ensuring continuous and stable airflow between the various processing components. Finally, the air returns to storage unit 1 to continue participating in the heat and moisture exchange process of the clothing. Main air duct 1 2 and main air duct 2 8 are distributed opposite each other, forming a clearly defined return air channel and air intake channel, avoiding cross-interference between return air and air intake paths. The air in the main air duct 12 forms a stable circulating air pressure under the drive of the main air duct fan 7, allowing the air to pass smoothly through all processing links and the internal space of storage unit 1, improving the processing efficiency and operational stability of each component of the system. At the same time, the structure of the main air duct 12 facilitates the subsequent reasonable layout and centralized maintenance of modules such as the main air duct fan 7, heat exchanger 5, and condenser 6, reducing structural redundancy, improving equipment integration, and enhancing the maintainability and long-term operational reliability of the system.

[0037] As a preferred example of this application, the secondary air duct fan 10 is a variable frequency fan. In the example of this application, the secondary air duct fan 10 is a variable frequency fan with variable speed control. Combined with real-time temperature data or other heat pump system parameters, the speed is dynamically adjusted so that the entire heat recovery device can be precisely adjusted according to the condition of the clothes and the system processing capacity during operation. In the initial stage, the high-speed operation of the secondary air duct fan 10 can effectively increase the air input speed and enhance the heat source supply in the dehumidification zone, thereby accelerating the regeneration efficiency of the desiccant dehumidifier 4 on the moisture-absorbing material. As the drying process progresses, the system power consumption can be effectively reduced by lowering the speed of the secondary air duct fan 10, while maintaining the required air volume matching to ensure that hot air flows fully through the heat exchange structure without wasting energy.

[0038] As a preferred example of this application, the rotary dehumidifier 4 uses a frequency converter to adjust the rotation speed. In the example of this application, the rotary dehumidifier 4 uses a variable frequency motor with variable speed control. The rotary dehumidifier 4 operates at a speed set for different stages. In the initial stage of operation, it rotates at a slower speed, allowing the drying gas in the closed air circulation channel to have a longer adsorption time in the high humidity absorption stage, thus improving dehumidification efficiency. As the drying process progresses, the rotary dehumidifier 4 is controlled to switch to a faster speed to shorten the regeneration cycle of the moisture-absorbing material, improve the moisture removal efficiency, and adapt to the operating rhythm in the middle and later stages, ensuring that the dehumidification process is both sufficient and efficient, thereby reducing system operating time and energy consumption.

[0039] The heat recovery device for rotary dehumidification described in this application uses a heat exchanger 5 placed between the rotary dehumidification device 4 and the condenser 6. High-temperature air from the dehumidification zone is introduced to the heat exchanger 5 between the rotary dehumidification device 4 and the condenser 6, where it first exchanges heat with the dehumidified low-temperature, low-humidity air (air supplied from the low-temperature storage device). The ventilation volume within the heat exchanger is dynamically adjusted via a switching switch 15. When the switching switch 15 is closed, the ventilation volume within the heat exchanger 5 is higher, resulting in a greater heat exchange between the main air duct air and the heat exchanger 5. When the switching switch 15 is open, the ventilation volume within the heat exchanger 5 is reduced. The amount of heat exchanged between the main air duct air and heat exchanger 5 is reduced, achieving initial heating of the air supplied to the storage device without affecting the moisture absorption efficiency of the rotary dehumidifier. Simultaneously, the rotary dehumidifier 4 is placed between the evaporator 3 and the condenser 6. After being cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 3, the low-humidity air undergoes secondary adsorption dehumidification in the absorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4. The ambient air is first heated to high temperature by the auxiliary air duct fan 10 (a small fan), and then becomes high-temperature, high-humidity air after passing through the dehumidification zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, achieving the cyclic regeneration of the rotary dehumidifier. Through the above setup, the following technical effects are achieved: 1. Recover and utilize the high-temperature heat from the dehumidification zone to reduce the compressor load; 2. Cooling pretreatment is performed on the high-temperature gas discharged into the outside environment to reduce its impact on the external environment; 3. By controlling the operation of the rotary motor of the rotary dehumidifier and the small fan in the dehumidification duct through the operating parameters of the heat pump system, the dehumidification efficiency of the rotary dehumidifier is maximized; 4. By switching the heat exchanger to dynamically adjust the heat exchange capacity, the amount of heat recovery can be dynamically adjusted, thereby improving the drying performance of the entire system.

[0040] This application also discloses a drying method for rotary dehumidification, applied to the heat recovery device for rotary dehumidification as described in the above embodiments, comprising the following steps: S1: Place the items to be dried into storage device 1, start the drying program, and let the air in the main air duct 12 flow in the closed circulation channel. S2: The high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the storage device 1 is cooled and dehumidified into low-temperature and low-humidity air by the evaporator 3, and then dehumidified again by the moisture absorption zone 13 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. S3: Outside air is introduced into the secondary air duct 11, heated by the heating device 9, and then introduced into the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. This high-temperature air regenerates the moisture-absorbing material, forming high-temperature and high-humidity air. S4: When the drum inlet air temperature is low, the high-temperature and high-humidity air regenerated in the secondary air duct 11 enters the heat exchanger 5 and exchanges heat with the low-temperature and low-humidity air in the main air duct 12 after secondary dehumidification. The air in the main air duct 12 is preheated and then enters the condenser 6 to be heated to a high-temperature and low-humidity state again and returned to the storage device 1. The air in the secondary air duct 11 is discharged after heat exchange. When the drum inlet air temperature is high (higher than the preset value), the switch 5 is turned on, the ventilation volume in the heat exchanger 5 is reduced, and the heat exchange between the air in the main air duct and the heat exchanger 5 is reduced. S5: Collects the evaporator temperature T in the heat pump system. 蒸发器 Storage device inlet air temperature T 进风温度 When T 进风温度 ≥T 设定温度 When -A, reduce the speed of the auxiliary duct fan by 10. When T 进风温度 ≥T 设定温度 When T is turned on, switch 5 is turned on. 蒸发器 When T1 is greater than or equal to T1, the rotational speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4 is increased, where T is the rotational speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4. 设定温度 The inlet air temperature setting for the storage device in drying mode is A, which is a preset empirical parameter, and T1 is the set evaporator temperature control point.

[0041] This application discloses a drying method using a rotary dehumidifier. A closed-loop circulation channel is constructed through the main air duct 12, and key components such as the evaporator 3, rotary dehumidifier 4, condenser 6, and heat exchanger 5 operate in conjunction. At the start of operation, the user places the items to be dried into the storage device 1 and begins the drying program. Air within the main air duct 12 continuously flows between the storage device 1, the evaporator 3, the moisture absorption zone 13 of the rotary dehumidifier 4, the heat exchanger 5, and the condenser 6. The high-temperature, high-humidity air discharged from the storage device 1 is first cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 3, reducing humidity and temperature. Subsequently, this air enters the moisture absorption zone 13 of the rotary dehumidifier 4, further adsorbing residual moisture. The vapor forms drier, lower-temperature, lower-humidity air. Simultaneously, fresh outside air is introduced into the secondary duct 11 and heated to the required regeneration temperature by the heating device 9 before entering the dehumidification zone 14 of the rotary dehumidifier 4. This high-temperature air desorbs the moisture-absorbing material, forming high-temperature, high-humidity air, which then flows into the heat exchanger 5. In the heat exchanger 5, this high-temperature, high-humidity air exchanges heat with the lower-temperature, lower-humidity air in the main duct 12, releasing heat to preheat the air in the main duct 12, thus reducing the burden on the condenser 6. After heat exchange, the air in the secondary duct 11 is discharged from the system. The switching switch 15, by opening and closing, adjusts the ventilation volume in the heat exchanger 5, thereby controlling the amount of heat recovery. The rotary dehumidifier drying method described in this application dynamically adjusts the speed of the secondary duct fan 10 and the rotary dehumidifier 4 according to the operating status. When the rotary dehumidifier 4 starts running, the speed of the secondary duct fan 10 is r1, and the speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4 is p1. When T... 进风温度 ≥T 设定温度 When -A is reached, A can be 10℃, meaning when T is detected. 进风温度 ≥T 设定温度 At -10°C, the auxiliary duct fan 10 operates at a speed of r2, where r1 > r2. Reducing the speed of the auxiliary duct fan 10 decreases the airflow and saves energy. When T... 进风温度 ≥T 设定温度 When T is detected, switch 15 is turned on; 蒸发器 When T1 is greater than or equal to T1, the rotation speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4 is adjusted to p2, where p1 < p2. This increases the rotation speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4 to improve the regeneration efficiency of the moisture-absorbing material. The entire control strategy is based on the inlet air temperature T of the storage device monitored by the temperature sensor. 进风温度 and evaporator temperature T 蒸发器 The system dynamically judges the drying stage and adjusts the air volume, ventilation volume and rotation speed inside the heat exchanger 5 in real time. When the evaporator temperature rises to T1, the drying process is considered to have entered the middle and late stages, thus achieving precise control and energy-saving drying. In some examples of this application, the storage device 1 is a drying drum, and the item to be dried is clothing with a drying function.

[0042] This application is based on the inlet air temperature T of the storage device. 进风温度 With evaporator temperature T 蒸发器The system determines the drying stage and adjusts the speed of the auxiliary air duct fan 10, the rotary dehumidifier 4, and the switching switch 15. In the initial stage, it maintains a higher air velocity and a lower rotor speed to enhance regeneration and adsorption capacity. In the middle and later stages, it automatically reduces the speed of the auxiliary air duct fan 10 to reduce excess airflow consumption, while increasing the rotor speed of the rotary dehumidifier 4 to accelerate the regeneration rate of the adsorbent material. When the heat pump system reaches the required heat, it opens the switching switch 15 to reduce the recovery of heat and avoid useless heat recovery. The entire control logic is flexible and efficient, achieving refined energy management. This allows the drying system to maintain optimal operating conditions at each stage, ensuring drying quality while effectively controlling energy consumption. It features good energy efficiency, system stability, and user experience.

[0043] This utility model patent addresses the problems of heat waste, high energy consumption, and difficulty in adapting dehumidification efficiency to changes in operating conditions in traditional rotary dehumidification systems. In terms of structural design, by connecting the air outlet of the dehumidification zone 14 to the inner tube of the heat exchanger 5, and simultaneously adjusting the airflow into the heat exchanger 5 via the switch 15, the high-temperature, high-humidity air discharged from the dehumidification zone 14 can be directed into the inner tube of the heat exchanger 5 according to the overall heat demand. Meanwhile, the internal circulating air processed by the moisture absorption zone 13 flows over the outer surface of the heat exchanger 5. Both undergo efficient heat exchange through the heat exchanger 5. The internal circulating air is preheated before entering the condenser 6. Under the condition of setting the inlet air temperature of the storage device, the condenser 6 can reach the target temperature without consuming excessive energy, thereby effectively reducing the operating load of the compressor and accelerating the overall heating speed of the heat pump system, allowing high-temperature, low-humidity air to enter the storage device more quickly for drying. In terms of operation control, sensors are used to monitor the operation of the heat pump system. The system monitors parameters (such as the inlet air temperature of the storage device, the evaporator temperature, and the condenser temperature) in real time and transmits the collected parameters to the control system. The control system dynamically adjusts the rotation speed of the rotary dehumidifier motor, the rotation speed of the auxiliary air duct fan 10, and the closing of the switching switch 15 based on these parameters. When the inlet air temperature of the storage device is detected to drop below the preset temperature range, the rotation speed of the auxiliary air duct fan 10 can be appropriately reduced to save energy. When there is excess heat in the storage device, the switching switch 15 is turned on to reduce the heat exchange between the heat exchange tube and the main air duct. When the evaporator temperature rises and the drying process enters the middle and late stages, and the evaporation rate of the clothes slows down, the rotation speed of the rotary dehumidifier motor is increased to accelerate the recycling of the moisture-absorbing material and avoid energy waste caused by excessive moisture absorption capacity. Through this combination of structural optimization and intelligent control, the rotary dehumidifier system can always adapt to the operating status of the heat pump system to maximize dehumidification efficiency. Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, and can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this utility model, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this utility model. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0044] This application also discloses a garment processing device, including the heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery described in the above embodiments. In some embodiments of this application, the garment processing device includes at least one of a dryer, a clothes dryer, a washer-dryer combo, and a garment care machine. Other components in the garment processing device used for dehumidification or drying functions are all prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0045] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel, characterized in that, include: Storage device (1) for placing items to be dried; The main air duct (12) is connected to the storage device (1) and forms an air circulation channel; The heat pump system includes an evaporator (3) and a condenser (6) disposed in the main air duct (12). The evaporator (3) is used to cool and dehumidify the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the storage device (1). The condenser (6) is used to heat the dehumidified air in the main air duct (12) into high-temperature and low-humidity air. The rotary dehumidifier (4) is located between the evaporator (3) and the condenser (6), and has a moisture absorption zone (13) and a dehumidification zone (14). The moisture absorption zone (13) is located in the main air duct (12) and is used to perform secondary dehumidification on the air after passing through the evaporator (3). The secondary air duct (11) is used to introduce high-temperature airflow into the dehumidification zone (14) of the rotary dehumidifier (4). After the high-temperature airflow is dehumidified and regenerated in the dehumidification zone (14), it forms high-temperature and high-humidity air. A switch (15) is provided at the air outlet of the secondary air duct (11) to adjust the opening and closing state of the air outlet of the secondary air duct (11). The heat exchanger (5) is located between the moisture absorption zone (13) and the condenser (6). Its air inlet is located upstream of the air outlet of the secondary air duct (11) for heat exchange with the high temperature and high humidity air discharged from the secondary air duct (11) and for preheating the air in the main air duct (12) before entering the condenser (6).

2. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both ends of the secondary air duct (11) are connected to the external environment, and the air outlet of the secondary air duct (11) is opened and closed by the switching switch (15). A heating device (9) and a secondary air duct fan (10) are installed inside the secondary air duct (11). The secondary air duct fan (10) is used to introduce ambient air into the secondary air duct (11) and allow the air to pass through the heating device (9), the dehumidification zone (14), and the heat exchanger (5) in sequence before being discharged to the external environment.

3. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (5) includes at least one heat exchange tube, one end of which is connected to the auxiliary air duct (11), and the other end of which is connected to the external environment.

4. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (5) is located inside the main air duct (12).

5. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that, The heating device (9) is an electric heating device. The auxiliary air duct fan (10) is located in the auxiliary air duct (11) near the end, and the heating device (9) is located downstream of the auxiliary air duct fan (10).

6. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main air duct (12) includes a first main air duct (2) and a second main air duct (8). The first main air duct (2) and the second main air duct (8) are distributed on opposite sides of the storage device (1). The first main air duct (2) is used to guide the air discharged from the storage device (1), and the second main air duct (8) is used to deliver the processed air to the storage device (1). A main air duct fan (7) is installed in the second main air duct (8).

7. The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching switch (15) can be turned on and off according to the monitored temperature in the main air duct (12), thereby adjusting the flow rate of heat exchange air in the heat exchanger (5).

8. A garment processing device, characterized in that, The heat recovery device for dehumidification and moisture recovery by a rotary wheel as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the clothing processing equipment includes at least one of a dryer, a clothes dryer, a washer-dryer combo, and a clothing care machine.

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