LAUNDRY SYSTEM WITH EFFECTIVE HEATING OF THE DRYERS AND TUNNEL FINISHER

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry system (1) for the energy-efficient treatment of laundry, comprising laundry treatment machines such as several dryers (10) and several tunnel finishers (11) for drying and smoothing the laundry, wherein at least one combined heat and power plant (13) is provided, with which electrical energy (E) for the electrical supply and thermal energy (W) for the heat supply of the laundry system (1) can be provided. According to the invention, the dryers (10) and the tunnel finishers (11) each have a heating unit (12) or a common heating unit to provide redundant heating of the dryers (10) and / or the tunnel finishers (11) with the thermal energy (W) of the combined heat and power plant (13) and simultaneously of the heating unit (12), for which purpose at least one heat conduction device (14, 15) is provided from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the several dryers (10) and / or to the tunnel finishers (11).to provide redundant heating for the dryers (10) and / or the tunnel finishers (11) using the heating unit (12) and the thermal energy (W) of the combined heat and power plant (13), wherein a water-to-air heat exchanger (16), in particular a central one, is provided, wherein a heat transfer device (14) is provided from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) for the supply of hot water, and wherein a heat transfer device (15) is provided from the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) to the dryers (10) for the supply of hot air, whereas the tunnel finishers (11) are supplied directly with the hot water from the combined heat and power plant (13) via the heat transfer device (14). The invention further relates to a method for operating such a laundry system (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a laundry system for energy-efficient laundry processing, comprising laundry processing machines such as multiple dryers and multiple tunnel finishers for drying and smoothing the laundry, wherein at least one combined heat and power plant is provided, with which electrical energy for the electrical supply and thermal energy for the heat supply of the laundry system can be supplied. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a laundry system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] From DE 10 2006 020 003 A1, a laundry system for energy-efficient laundry treatment is known, comprising several laundry treatment machines, wherein the heat energy derived from the exhaust air of the laundry treatment machines, the so-called steam, is supplied to a common heat exchanger. This energy from the exhaust air is converted into hot water or warm air in the form of fresh water or fresh air. According to the disclosure, a central heat exchanger is provided for this purpose, into which the moist, warm exhaust air from the laundry treatment machines is fed. Water is heated via a water circuit by drying the moist, warm exhaust air, and this heated water is then used in a closed water circuit to heat cold fresh water.Disadvantageously, the heat energy from the warm exhaust air is utilized by directing it into a central heat exchanger and recirculating it. Meanwhile, the hot water generated during the condensation process is further utilized via another heat exchanger by heating fresh water, which is then supplied to the laundry treatment machines. This heated fresh water is subsequently supplied to other laundry treatment machines, such as a continuous-cycle washing machine.

[0003] Furthermore, a form of heat recovery in a laundry system is known from DE 10 2009 004 085 A1, in which hot exhaust air from the operation of the laundry treatment machines is fed to a heat exchanger via a central exhaust air duct. This allows the air to be preheated before it is introduced, for example, into the dryers or tunnel finishers.

[0004] This means that heat recovery systems in laundry facilities are generally known that recover heat not only from warm or hot wastewater, but also from hot exhaust air. In the present context of the invention, hot exhaust air refers to exhaust air that is significantly above room temperature, for example, at least 50°C to 80°C or even higher. This exhaust air is usually immediately transferred to conventional heat exchangers, such as air-to-air heat exchangers to provide hot fresh air or air-to-water heat exchangers to provide hot fresh water. The heat recovered in this way is recirculated to operate the laundry system; however, every heat exchanger has a limited efficiency, since only a portion of the heat from the exhaust air can be recovered at any given time.In particular, the energy-intensive operation of the dryers can be improved by using waste heat from other laundry treatment machines or other supply units such as steam generators or water-air heat exchangers for the operation of the dryers.

[0005] German patent DE 10 2012 001 255 A1 proposes using the waste heat from an internal combustion engine, also known as a combined heat and power plant (CHP), to operate a laundry. It describes how, with currently known methods, using the waste heat from an internal combustion engine as process heat for dryers and / or tunnel finishers at a temperature of 95°C is usually insufficient. However, the patent proposes enabling the use of the combustion engine's waste heat as process heat even when higher temperatures are required. It states that, for example, large laundries require steam at a pressure of at least 12 bar and a temperature of 192°C for drying and finishing laundry.To achieve these values, a method for generating steam from the waste heat of a liquid-cooled combustion engine is proposed. This method involves circulating a heat transfer fluid, which requires only minimal pressure at high temperatures, through the engine's cooling system. This fluid then transfers heat to a heat exchanger outside the engine, into which water is introduced for steam generation, which then evaporates. However, generating very high temperatures and using non-water-based heat transfer media is technically complex and necessitates alternative solutions, particularly in conjunction with dryers and tunnel finishers in laundries, which typically operate at temperatures of 95°C to 120°C.

[0006] German patent DE 10 2022 121 212 A1 relates to a method and a control unit for operating a household appliance for private, non-commercial use, in particular a washing machine or dryer, which has two heating elements. The patent patent discloses that, depending on an energy signal representing the presence or absence of renewable energy, either only the first heating element or both the first and a second heating element are operated to perform a heating function. The aim is to achieve increased performance by activating an additional heating element when renewable energy is available – for example, from a photovoltaic system – while more energy-efficient operation with only one heating element is achieved when renewable energy is unavailable.The publication focuses primarily on the device-internal, situation-dependent activation of multiple heating elements to reduce energy consumption and optimize the program runtime of individual household appliances.

[0007] The document does not disclose a laundry system with multiple laundry treatment machines, but is limited to the operation of a single household appliance. A central combined heat and power plant (CHP) that provides both electrical and thermal energy for multiple dryers and tunnel finishers is also not part of the disclosure. Likewise, a system-wide heat distribution system that redundantly supplies thermal energy from a CHP plant to the dryers and / or tunnel finishers is not disclosed. A central water-to-air heat exchanger, fed by hot water from a CHP plant and supplying hot air to multiple dryers, is also not mentioned in the document.

[0008] DE 36 39 314 A1 discloses a device for the gentle drying of large-area goods, in particular laundry, wherein the drying takes place in a cabinet-like housing. The drying air is heated by thermal energy supplied via one or more finned convectors. The document describes the routing of the air through convectors, which in turn can be supplied with hot water from a heating system. The aim is uniform, material-saving drying while simultaneously reducing energy costs. The disclosure thus focuses on the structural design of a single drying unit in which warm air is generated via water-heated convectors and routed through the drying chamber.

[0009] A laundry system with multiple dryers and tunnel finishers, all supplied by a central energy source, is not disclosed. In particular, no combined heat and power (CHP) plant is provided that supplies both thermal and electrical energy to the entire system. Redundant heating, where dryers and / or tunnel finishers each have their own heating unit in addition to centrally supplied thermal energy, is also not described. While hot water is used as a heat transfer medium for convectors, the concept of a hybrid heating system is missing. This system combines the centrally supplied thermal energy from a CHP plant with a local heating unit via mixing chambers to flexibly meet varying temperature requirements.Equally undisclosed is a central water-air heat exchanger for supplying multiple dryers or a different supply strategy for dryers on the one hand and tunnel finishers on the other.

[0010] Even though various energy-saving systems for operating a laundry system are already known, the overall energy efficiency should still be further increased. Such an increase can be achieved if the heat generated during the operation of a unit can be utilized at the temperature at which it is produced, so that as little energy as possible is wasted in the overall energy balance of the laundry system. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] This problem is solved starting from a laundry system according to the preamble of claim 1 and starting from a method according to claim 11 in conjunction with the respective characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0012] The invention includes, with respect to the laundry system, the technical teaching that the dryers and the tunnel finishers each have a separate or a common heating unit to provide redundant heating of the dryers and / or the tunnel finishers with the thermal energy of the combined heat and power plant and simultaneously of the heating unit, for which at least one heat conduction device is provided from the combined heat and power plant to the multiple dryers and / or to the tunnel finishers to provide redundant heating of the dryers and / or the tunnel finishers with the heating unit and the thermal energy of the combined heat and power plant, wherein a water-air heat exchanger, in particular a central one, is provided, wherein a heat conduction device is provided from the combined heat and power plant to the water-air heat exchanger for conveying hot water, and wherein a heat conduction device is provided from the water-air heat exchanger to the dryers for conveying hot air.whereas the tunnel finishers are supplied directly with hot water from the combined heat and power plant via the heat distribution system.

[0013] The core concept of the invention is the design of the combined heat and power plant (CHP) to parameters such that water can be used as the heat transfer medium, which significantly reduces the plant's technical complexity. Water at a temperature of, for example, 90°C can be supplied to the dryers and / or the tunnel finishers. A heat transfer system is provided for this purpose, through which the water heated to, for example, 90°C is supplied to the dryers, or via an intermediate water-to-air heat exchanger.According to the invention, the dryers and tunnel finishers each have their own heating unit, even when a combined heat and power (CHP) plant is installed. This unit can provide supplemental heating as needed, enabling temperatures, for example, 105°C to 115°C at overpressure, to be reached within the dryer and / or tunnel finisher. These temperatures are achieved through combined heating via the CHP plant on the one hand and the heating units on the other. This simplifies the system design and allows the use of water as the heat transfer fluid. The result is a hybrid heating system that, in particular, allows for adjusted supplemental heating via the heating unit, depending on the type of material being processed in the dryer or tunnel finisher.

[0014] The at least indirect supply of heat energy to the dryers, or the indirect connection of the combined heat and power plant (CHP) to the dryers, means that the heat energy does not have to be transferred directly from the CHP to the dryers using the same heat transfer fluid. Instead, a heat exchange can take place between a first heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid before the second fluid reaches the dryers. Therefore, the heat transfer system does not need to have continuous, uninterrupted pipe connections; it can also consist of sections forming multiple pipe connections, between which, for example, a heat exchanger such as a water-to-air heat exchanger is installed.

[0015] Tunnel finishers typically have additional internal heat exchangers, allowing them to be supplied directly with hot water from the combined heat and power plant (CHP), whereas dryers are advantageously heated via a water-to-air heat exchanger. In this way, a water-to-air heat exchanger located outside the individual dryers can supply several dryers with hot air, which in turn is supplied with heat energy from the CHP via hot water. It is therefore advantageous to provide a centrally located water-to-air heat exchanger, with a heat transfer system running from the CHP to the water-to-air heat exchanger for the delivery of hot water, and a heat transfer system running from the water-to-air heat exchanger to the dryers for the delivery of hot air.The water-to-air heat exchanger draws in clean, odorless fresh air, preventing the laundry in the dryer from absorbing any smells. Both the tunnel finishers and the water-to-air heat exchanger can be supplied with hot water at a temperature of, for example, 90°C from the combined heat and power plant (CHP). A hot air duct, part of the heat transfer system, is used to transport the heat from the CHP plant to the dryers.

[0016] The fresh air drawn into the central water-to-air heat exchanger can be routed to it via a fresh air duct designed to bypass the combined heat and power (CHP) unit and preheat it, thus achieving fresh air preheating as a hybrid form of air heating. Alternatively, instead of a central water-to-air heat exchanger, the dryers can also have individual heating coils or water-to-air heat exchangers, meaning they do not necessarily have to be heated with hot air but can also be heated with hot water from the CHP unit's heat distribution system.

[0017] The dryer(s) can also directly incorporate a heating element, for example in the form of a water-to-air heat exchanger, to which the hot water is supplied. Known dryers do not have this feature, so within the scope of the invention, a heating element and also a heating unit, such as a gas burner, can be installed for hybrid heating in the dryer or tunnel finisher.

[0018] It should be noted that the combined heat and power plant has a generator to produce electricity, and the electricity can preferably be used to operate the facilities of the laundry system; however, it is also conceivable to supply, for example, office buildings or other units with the electricity from the combined heat and power plant, or even to transfer excess electricity to external consumers.

[0019] A further advantage is the installation of a hot water storage tank into which a central heating line from the combined heat and power plant (CHP) is fed, and from which at least one heat distribution device leads out. The hot water storage tank can function purely as a buffer tank, or it can also be used for longer-term storage of hot water if it is adequately insulated. For example, it is also conceivable that the water storage tank could be heated with electricity from the CHP before or outside of the laundry system's start-up phase, in order to generate hot water as quickly as possible.

[0020] The dryers and / or tunnel finishers each have a mixing chamber to which the heating unit and the heat transfer system are connected. The heating units can be, for example, gas burners or electric heating units; it is also conceivable that the heating units draw hot gas or steam from an external heat source, which is then mixed with the heat energy from the heat transfer system in the mixing chamber and heats the dryer and / or the tunnel finisher.

[0021] A further advantage of the heat distribution system is the ability to incorporate a control valve. This valve is configured to regulate the heat supply to the dryers and tunnel finishers, as well as to the water-to-air heat exchanger. Additional laundry treatment machines, such as washing machines and tunnel washers, can also be supplied with heat energy via this system. The control valve can be adjusted to optimize the utilization of the heat generated by the combined heat and power plant. For example, when the dryers, tunnel finishers, or washing machines are temporarily out of operation, a larger quantity of heat can be directed to the dryers, tunnel finishers, or washing machines that are still running, thus reducing the amount of fuel required for the heating unit.The heating units can be sized so that the dryers and tunnel finishers can operate even without the combined heat and power plant (CHP) running. Depending on the laundry quality, the required drying time, or the throughput time of the laundry through the tunnel finishers, the heating units can also be switched off completely, so that the dryers and / or tunnel finishers are supplied with heat exclusively via the CHP plant and the heat distribution system.

[0022] A centrally located control unit is installed to control the laundry system. This unit can control at least the control valve in the heat distribution system and / or the heating units of the dryers and / or the tunnel finishers and / or the water-to-air heat exchangers and / or the combined heat and power plant. The control unit can be programmed to ensure optimal utilization of the heat from the combined heat and power plant by the dryers and the tunnel finishers, thus minimizing the amount of fossil energy required to operate the heating units.If the laundry system utilizes renewable energy sources, such as an installed photovoltaic system, the control unit can incorporate electricity price forecasts and / or weather forecasts, particularly via an integrated AI (artificial intelligence) module. This allows it to decide, for example, whether to activate the combined heat and power plant before laundry operations begin to provide electricity and heat, or whether these can be supplied more easily and cost-effectively using renewable energy sources, such as on weekends when the sun is shining and hot water is available when operations start on Monday morning. As a result, the control unit can be programmed to minimize or even eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the laundry system includes additional laundry treatment machines, such as at least one continuous washing machine and / or at least one washer-extractor, wherein at least one steam generator is provided, with which superheated steam can be transferred from the steam generator to the additional laundry treatment machines via a steam line. Continuous washing machines and / or washer-extractors typically require superheated steam at temperatures of, for example, 152°C and a pressure of approximately 4 bar for operation, values ​​that cannot be supplied by the heat output of a combined heat and power plant.

[0024] The steam generator can have an electric heating module or a heating module that can be operated with fossil fuels. A steam generator with an electric heating module can therefore also be operated using the electricity from the combined heat and power plant (CHP). It is also conceivable to operate a steam generator with an electric heating module, at least optionally or temporarily, using a photovoltaic system, which can be part of the laundry system. However, if there is a surplus of electrical energy from the CHP, the steam generator with the electric heating module can preferably be operated, which may also heat the water in the hot water storage tank.

[0025] In particular, a bypass connection can be installed from the steam line, through which the superheated steam from the steam generator is routed, to the hot water storage tank of the combined heat and power plant (CHP). This bypass connection can include a control valve that can also be controlled by the control unit. This allows the CHP's hot water storage tank to be heated with the superheated steam from the steam generator, for example, to accelerate the heating process or to provide hot water when the CHP is temporarily out of operation.

[0026] Furthermore, at least some of the laundry treatment machines can expel hot exhaust air during operation, and a central condensing heat exchanger can be installed into which the hot exhaust air is fed. It is also conceivable to install a heat pump to which a heat transfer fluid heated by the condensing heat exchanger can be transferred, and / or a heat pipe connection can be established through which heat from the heat pump can be transferred to an external consumer.

[0027] The object of the invention is further solved by means of a method for operating a laundry system for energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising laundry treatment machines such as several dryers and several tunnel finishers for drying and smoothing the laundry, wherein at least one combined heat and power plant is set up, with which the laundry system is supplied with thermal energy for heat supply and with electrical energy for electrical supply.According to the invention, the dryers and the tunnel finishers are equipped with a separate or a common heating unit in order to redundantly heat the dryers and / or the tunnel finishers with the heat energy of the combined heat and power plant and simultaneously with the heating unit, for which at least one heat conduction device is provided from the combined heat and power plant to the several dryers and / or at least indirectly to the tunnel finishers, wherein a water-air heat exchanger, in particular a central one, is provided, wherein a heat conduction device is provided from the combined heat and power plant to the water-air heat exchanger for the purpose of conveying hot water, and wherein a heat conduction device is provided from the water-air heat exchanger to the dryers for the purpose of conveying hot air, whereas the tunnel finishers are supplied directly with the hot water from the combined heat and power plant via the heat conduction device.

[0028] A further advantage of the process is the installation of a control unit, particularly a central one, which allows control of at least the control valve in the heat transfer unit and / or the heating unit of the dryer and tunnel finisher and / or the water-air heat exchanger in such a way as to minimize fuel consumption for the heating units. Fresh air is drawn into the central water-air heat exchanger, preheated at the combined heat and power plant, thus achieving fresh air preheating as a hybrid form of air heating. PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1. A schematic view of the structure of the laundry system, Fig. 2 the arrangement of a mixer between a heating unit and a dryer and Fig. 3 the arrangement of a mixer between a heating unit and a tunnel finisher.

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the laundry system 1 with the features of the invention. A central component of the laundry system 1 comprises several laundry treatment machines, such as the four dryers 10 shown by way of example and the eight tunnel finishers 11 shown by way of example, in addition to two batch washing systems 22 and a washer-extractor 23 shown by way of example.

[0031] A centrally located combined heat and power plant 13 provides energy to supply the dryers 10 and the tunnel finishers 11 with thermal energy W, and also provides electrical energy E for the electrical operation of individual or all components of the laundry system 1. Steam generators 24 and 25 are also shown, with steam generator 24 featuring, by way of example, an electric heating module 27 and steam generator 25 featuring, by way of example, a heating module 28 that can be operated with fuel 36.The electric heating module 27 of the steam generator 24, as well as the laundry treatment machines, can be operated with the electrical energy E of the combined heat and power plant 13, for example for heating and providing hot steam at, for example, 4 bar and 150°C, especially when, for example, the laundry treatment machines such as the dryers 10, the tunnel finishers 11, the cycle washing systems 22 and the washer-extractor 23 are partially or completely out of operation or temporarily out of operation, for example at times before daily operation or on weekends.

[0032] Furthermore, a water-air heat exchanger 16 is provided so that hot water supplied by the combined heat and power plant 13, for example at a temperature of 90°C to 95°C, is transferred to the water-air heat exchanger 16 via the heat conduction device 14, and the water-air heat exchanger 16 can draw in fresh air 37 to heat it with the hot water and then transfer hot air to the dryers 10 via a heat conduction device 15, for example at a temperature of 85°C.

[0033] In contrast, the tunnel finishers 11 can be supplied directly with the hot water of the combined heat and power plant 13 via the heat conduction system 14, and the tunnel finishers 11 can contain heat exchangers 41 designed in such a way that hot moist air is brought to the laundry to be smoothed.

[0034] The combined heat and power plant 13 comprises a reciprocating engine 13a and a generator 13b. A combustion chamber 13c, which can be a multiple component of the reciprocating engine 13a, is shown schematically. Fuel 36, for example in the form of fuel gas or liquid fuel, is fed into this chamber. During operation, the combined heat and power plant 13 can thus generate electrical energy E via the generator 13b. A central heating pipe 18 is also shown, through which water flows. This water can be heated at the combustion chamber 13c and / or at the schematically shown exhaust gas stream 13d and absorbs the thermal energy W of the combined heat and power plant 13. The heated water from the central heating pipe 18 is fed to a hot water storage tank 17, which may have insulation (not shown in detail) to store hot water and the thermal energy W with minimal temperature loss, even for extended periods, for example, for several days.

[0035] Furthermore, steam generators 24 or 25 are branched, which can be present individually or both together; preferably, however, only steam generator 24 is equipped with the electric heating module 27 or only steam generator 25 with the fuel-operated heating module 28. The steam generator 24 or 25 can supply the intermittent washing systems 22 or the washing-extracting machine 23 with superheated steam via the steam line 26, for example at 4 bar and 152°C. A connecting port 29 from the steam line 26 into the hot water storage tank 17 is shown, with a further control valve 30 provided by which the allocation of superheated steam via the connecting port 29 to the hot water storage tank 17 can be regulated.For example, in the event of a failure of the combined heat and power plant 13, the hot water storage tank 17 can be heated or kept at temperature via the superheated steam by opening the control valve 30 and allowing superheated steam to enter the hot water storage tank 17 via the bridge connection 29.

[0036] The control unit 21 can be used, for example, to control the heating units 12, the dryer 10 and the tunnel finisher 11, and also the control valve 20 and the water-air heat exchanger 16, whereby the control valve 30 and even the combined heat and power plant 13 can also be controlled in a manner not shown in detail.

[0037] The dryers 10, the tunnel finishers 11, as well as the intermittent washing systems 22 and the washer-extractor 23, generate hot exhaust air 31 during operation, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, can also be used. The hot exhaust air 31 can be fed to a condensation heat exchanger 32, through which a heat transfer fluid 34 can be heated via the thermal energy of the hot exhaust air 31. This fluid is then supplied to a heat pump 33. The heat pump 33 can provide higher energy heat, which can be supplied to an external consumer eV, for example, a district heating network, via a heat pipe connection 35.

[0038] Fig. Figure 2 shows a dryer 10 with a laundry compartment 39 and an associated heating unit 12, exemplified by a gas burner. The heating unit 12 could also be electrically operated or could involve a hot air or steam supply. Fuel 36 is supplied to the depicted heating unit 12 with the gas burner. The mixing chamber 19 is shown between the heating unit 12 and the dryer 10. The heating unit 12 introduces heat energy into this chamber, and heat energy W from the heat conduction device 15 simultaneously flows into it. Both the heat conduction device 15 and the heating unit 12 are connected to the mixing chamber 19.

[0039] Mixing chamber 19 contains a control flap that allows adjustment of the mixing ratio between the hot gas from heating unit 12 and the heat energy W from heat conduction device 15. Hot air is introduced into the mixing chamber 19 via the heat conduction device 15. For example, hot air at a temperature of 85°C can be supplied to the mixing chamber 19 via the heat conduction device 15, allowing the heating unit 12 to provide additional heat, for example, to a temperature of 95°C to 110°C, depending on the product being dried.

[0040] Furthermore, a recirculating air stream 40 is shown in the dryer 10, which – due to the schematic nature of the illustration – can also be added to and / or mixed with the partial streams of the heating gases. In particular, the mixing chamber 19 can be integrated into the dryer 10, thus enabling the mixing of the recirculating air stream 40. The fan 38 provides the supply air flow to the laundry chamber 39.

[0041] For example, exhaust air 31 from the dryer 10 can be fed to the condensation heat exchanger 32 for further energy utilization, as already described above, in which, in particular, a liquid heat transfer fluid can be heated, which can then be fed, for example, to a heat pump, as shown in Fig. 1 shown.

[0042] For controlling the power of the heating unit 11, a control unit 21 is shown as an example, wherein the power for operating the heating unit 12 and / or the control flap are controlled in such a way that a minimum requirement of fuel 36 is created, and so that the heated fresh air 37 can be used in an ideal way.

[0043] Fig. Figure 3 shows a tunnel finisher 11 with an associated heating unit 12, also in the exemplary form of a gas burner. Here too, the heating unit 12 could alternatively be electrically operated or could involve a hot gas or steam supply, and the heating unit 12 could also be integrated into the tunnel finisher 11. Fuel 36 and fresh air 37 are supplied to the depicted heating unit 12 with the gas burner to introduce heating gas into a mixing chamber 19. Simultaneously, thermal energy W is transferred from the combined heat and power plant 13 to the mixing chamber 19 via the heat transfer device 14. Hot moisture 42, originating from the laundry being treated via a recirculated air component in the tunnel finisher 11, is introduced into the mixing chamber 19. For this purpose, fresh air 37 is supplied to the heat exchanger 41, which is heated by the thermal energy W from the heat transfer device 14.In the case of the tunnel finisher 11, hot water can be supplied via the heat conduction device 14 to the tunnel finisher 11 or to the heat exchanger 41 in front of the mixing chamber 19, where the fresh air 37 is heated in the heat exchanger 41.

[0044] The mixing chamber 19 in front of the dryer 10 ( Fig. 2) and before the tunnel finisher 11 ( Fig. 3) Fresh air 37 supplied can be preheated beforehand at the combined heat and power plant 13 in a manner not shown in detail.

[0045] The hot exhaust air 31 can, as also in Fig. 1 shown, supplied to a condensation heat exchanger 32.

[0046] All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description or the drawings, including design details or spatial arrangements, may be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list: 1 Laundry system 10 dryers 11 tunnel finishers 12 heating units 13 Combined heat and power plants 13a Reciprocating engine 13b Generator 13c combustion chamber 13d Exhaust system 14 Heat conduction device 15 Heat conduction device 16 Water-to-air heat exchangers 17 hot water storage tanks 18 Central heating pipe 19 Mixing chamber 20 Control valve 21 Control unit 22-stroke washing system 23 Washing machine 24 steam generators 25 steam generators 26 Steam pipe 27 electric heating module 28 fuel-operated heating module 29 Bridge connection 30 Control valve 31 hot exhaust air 32 Condensation heat exchangers 33 Heat pump 34 Heat transfer fluid 35 Heat conduction connection 36 Fuel 37 Fresh air 38 Fan 39 Laundry room 40 Recirculation 41 Heat tables 42 hot humid air E electrical energy W Heat energy eV external consumer

Claims

Laundry system (1) for energy-reduced laundry treatment, comprising laundry treatment machines such as several dryers (10) and several tunnel finishers (11) for drying and smoothing the laundry respectively, wherein at least one combined heat and power plant (13) is provided, with which electrical energy (E) for the electrical supply and thermal energy (W) for the heat supply of the laundry system (1) can be provided, characterized in that the dryers (10) and the tunnel finishers (11) each have a heating unit (12) or a common heating unit (12) in order to provide redundant heating of the dryers (10) and / or the tunnel finishers (11) with the thermal energy (W) of the combined heat and power plant (13) and simultaneously of the heating unit (12), for which at least one heat conduction device (14, 15) is provided from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the several dryers (10) and / or to the tunnel finishers (11),to provide redundant heating for the dryers (10) and / or the tunnel finishers (11) using the heating unit (12) and the thermal energy (W) of the combined heat and power plant (13), wherein a central water-to-air heat exchanger (16) is provided, wherein a heat transfer device (14) runs from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) for the supply of hot water, and wherein a heat transfer device (15) runs from the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) to the dryers (10) for the supply of hot air, whereas the tunnel finishers (11) are supplied directly with the hot water from the combined heat and power plant (13) via the heat transfer device (14). Laundry system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a hot water storage tank (17) is provided, into which a central heat supply line (18) from the combined heat and power plant (13) is led and from which the at least one heat supply device (14, 15) is led out. Laundry system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the dryers (10) and the tunnel finishers (11) each have a mixing chamber (19) or that a mixing chamber (19) is provided between the respective heating unit (12) and the dryer (10) or the heating unit (12) and the tunnel finisher (11), wherein the heat conduction device (14, 15) is led into the mixing chamber (19) in order to mix the heat from the heating unit (12) with the heat from the heat conduction device (14, 15) to which the heating unit (12) and the heat conduction device (14, 15) are connected. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat conduction device (14, 15) has a control valve (20) which is configured in such a way that the heat allocation to the dryers (10) and to the tunnel finishers (11) or to the water-air heat exchanger (16) can be controlled. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a particularly central control unit (21) is provided with which at least the control valve (20) in the heat conduction device (14, 15) and / or the heating unit (12) of the dryer (10) and / or the tunnel finisher (11) and / or the water-air heat exchanger (16) can be controlled. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that further laundry treatment machines such as at least one continuous washing system (22) and / or at least one washer-extractor (23) are provided, and wherein at least one steam generator (24, 25) is provided, with which superheated steam can be transferred from the steam generator (24, 25) to the further laundry treatment machines via a steam line (26). Laundry system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the steam generator (24, 25) has an electric heating module (27) or a heating module (28) that can be operated with fossil fuel. Laundry system (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a bridge connection (29) is provided from the steam line (26) to the hot water storage tank (17), wherein the bridge connection (29) has a control valve (30) which can be controlled by the control unit (21). Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the laundry treatment machines emits hot exhaust air (31) during operation, wherein a central condensation heat exchanger (32) is provided into which the hot exhaust air (31) can be introduced. Laundry system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that a heat pump (33) is provided to which a heat transfer fluid (34) heated with the condensation heat exchanger (32) can be transferred and / or wherein a heat conduction connection (35) is provided through which heat from the heat pump (33) can be transferred to an external consumer (eV). Method for operating a laundry system (1) for energy-reduced treatment of laundry, particularly according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising laundry treatment machines such as several dryers (10) and several tunnel finishers (11) for drying and smoothing the laundry, wherein at least one combined heat and power plant (13) is provided with which the laundry system (1) is supplied with thermal energy (W) for heat supply and with electrical energy (E) for electrical supply, characterized in that the dryers (10) and the tunnel finishers (11) are designed with a separate or a common heating unit (12) in order to redundantly heat the dryers (10) and / or the tunnel finishers (11) with the thermal energy (W) of the combined heat and power plant (13) and simultaneously with the heating unit (12), for which at least one heat conduction device (14,15) from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the several dryers (10) and / or at least indirectly to the tunnel finishers (11), wherein a water-to-air heat exchanger (16) is provided, in particular a central one, wherein a heat transfer device (14) is provided from the combined heat and power plant (13) to the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) for the purpose of conveying hot water, and wherein a heat transfer device (15) is provided from the water-to-air heat exchanger (16) to the dryers (10) for the purpose of conveying hot air, whereas the tunnel finishers (11) are supplied directly with the hot water from the combined heat and power plant (13) via the heat transfer device (14). Method for operating a laundry system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that a control unit (21) is provided, in particular a centrally located one, with which at least the control valve (20) in the heat conduction device (14, 15) and / or the heating unit (12) of the dryer (10) and the tunnel finisher (11) and / or the water-air heat exchangers (16) can be controlled in such a way that the consumption of operating fluid for the heating units (12) is minimized. Method for operating a laundry system (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that fresh air (37) is drawn into the central water-air heat exchanger (16), wherein the fresh air (37) is preheated at the combined heat and power plant (13), so that a fresh air preheating is created as a hybrid version of air heating.

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