Laundry system with effective use of air and method for same

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry system (1) for energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several mangles (10) for drying and smoothing the laundry and several dryers (11) for drying the laundry, wherein the mangles (10) emit hot exhaust air (12) during operation, wherein at least one conduit (13) is provided between the mangles (10) and the dryers (11), through which the hot exhaust air (12) can be supplied to the dryers (11) for their operation.According to the invention, a central collecting channel (19) is provided into which exhaust air from the dryers (11) can be introduced via exhaust air lines (20), wherein a central heat exchanger (27) is provided and connected to the collecting channel (19), so that the exhaust air (12) from the collecting channel (19) can be introduced into the heat exchanger (27) and a heat transfer fluid (28) of the central heat exchanger (27) can be heated, and wherein a central heat pump (29) is provided and connected to the heat exchanger (27), wherein the heat of the heat transfer fluid (28) can be absorbed by means of the heat pump (29) and hot water under internal pressure and / or superheated steam can be provided.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a laundry system for the energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several mangles for drying and smoothing the laundry and several dryers for drying the laundry, wherein the mangles emit hot exhaust air during operation, and wherein at least one ducting device is provided between the mangles and the dryers, through which the hot exhaust air can be supplied to the dryers for their operation. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a laundry system for the energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several mangles for drying and smoothing the laundry and several dryers for drying the laundry, wherein hot exhaust air is emitted through the mangles. 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] Heat recovery systems 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 70°C. This exhaust air is usually immediately transferred to conventional heat exchangers, such as air-to-air or air-to-water heat exchangers. The heat recovered in this way is recirculated to operate the laundry system. However, every heat exchanger has a limited efficiency, as only a portion of the heat from the exhaust air can be recovered at any given time. Therefore, it can generally be stated that the lowest possible temperature of the exhaust air is advantageous. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This problem is solved starting from a laundry system according to the preamble of claim 1 and starting from a method according to claim 15 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention includes the technical teaching that a central collecting channel is provided into which exhaust air from the dryers can be introduced via exhaust air ducts, wherein a central heat exchanger is provided and connected to the collecting channel, so that the exhaust air from the collecting channel can be introduced into the heat exchanger and a heat transfer fluid of the central heat exchanger can be heated, and wherein a central heat pump is provided and connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat of the heat transfer fluid can be absorbed by means of the heat pump and hot water under internal pressure and / or hot steam can be provided.

[0007] The basic idea of ​​the invention is the direct and immediate use of the exhaust air from the ironing machines to operate the dryers of the laundry system. The possibility of using the exhaust air from the ironing machines arises in particular from the fact that the dryers can be operated with a hot air temperature that corresponds approximately to the temperature of the ironing machine exhaust air. The exhaust air from the ironing machines can, for example, have a temperature of 110°C to 120°C. To set the required temperature, the dryers can either be provided with an additional conventional heater to raise the exhaust air temperature, or cold air can be mixed in to adjust the exhaust air to the temperature necessary for the dryers. The required dryer temperature can also depend, for example, on the type of laundry being processed.Therefore, it is also conceivable that the dryers themselves have a conventional auxiliary heating system, for example, an electric or gas heater. However, this conventional heating of the dryers requires significantly less energy if, according to the invention, the hot exhaust air from the mangles is used to operate the dryers, since they only need to heat partially. For example, each dryer can be assigned to a preceding mangle, or several dryers can be supplied with hot exhaust air from one mangle. It is also conceivable that several mangles supply one dryer. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the piping system has branches, so that several mangles can supply hot exhaust air to multiple dryers without a direct assignment.

[0008] In principle, each mangle can be assigned to a dryer to supply the exhaust air from the mangle to the assigned dryer by means of a connecting line between the mangle and the assigned dryer. With multiple mangles and multiple dryers, several independent, discrete connecting lines are therefore conceivable. It is also conceivable, and preferably preferable, that the ductwork includes a central distribution channel for collecting exhaust air, so that the collected exhaust air from all mangles can be supplied to all dryers. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that at least one tunnel finisher is provided, which can be directly supplied with exhaust air from at least one or more mangles. Finally, this tunnel finisher can also transfer the discharged exhaust air into the central distribution channel.

[0009] To create a temperature cascade according to the invention, a central heat exchanger is to be installed and connected to the manifold so that the exhaust air from the manifold can be directed into the heat exchanger and a heat transfer fluid in the central heat exchanger can be heated to a temperature that is somewhat lower than the exhaust air of the dryer(s). The subsequent step of the cascade provides for a central heat pump to be installed and connected to the heat exchanger. The heat pump absorbs the heat from the heat transfer fluid and provides hot water under internal pressure and / or superheated steam, which can then be used, for example, to operate the mangles or finishers.It is also conceivable, either additionally or alternatively, that the heat from the heat pump could be used to operate other facilities in the laundry, or that the heat could be supplied to an external consumer, for example a private or public one.

[0010] The mangles can be connected to the central distribution duct via individual connecting lines, through which the exhaust air from the mangles can be introduced into the central distribution duct. Separate supply lines are provided to connect the dryers to the central distribution duct, allowing the collected exhaust air from the distribution duct to be transferred to the dryers. If a tunnel finisher is installed, it can be directly connected to a dryer via a connecting line, or the tunnel finisher can be connected to the central distribution duct via a connecting line, so that the exhaust air from the tunnel finisher can also be used accordingly.

[0011] Air control dampers may be installed in the connecting lines directly to the dryers, in the connecting lines to the central distribution duct, and / or in the supply lines of the central distribution duct to the dryers. These dampers allow for the allocation and / or exhaust of air into and / or from the central distribution duct, or directly into the dryer, via a central control system. For example, if a mangle or dryer is out of operation, the respective laundry treatment unit can be isolated from the central distribution system by closing the air control damper.It is also conceivable that, for example, when dryers are switched off, an air control damper prevents exhaust air from flowing through them. Instead, the damper isolates the switched-off dryer from the central distribution duct, allowing the remaining dryers to receive a correspondingly larger quantity of hot exhaust air. Similarly, a mangle can be isolated from the central distribution duct via an air control damper to prevent hot exhaust air from flowing back, for example, through the connecting pipe from the dryer or through the connecting pipe from the central distribution duct.

[0012] It is also conceivable, and in particular, that the central control system could actuate the air control dampers installed in the connecting lines from the ironers to the dryers or in the connecting lines to the central distribution duct, so that the allocation of exhaust air to the dryers or the distribution duct depends on the operating status of the ironers and is enabled or disabled accordingly. The operating status of the ironers could, for example, involve a so-called waxing phase, in which the ironers are waxed to reduce friction between the textiles and the inside of the trough. During the waxing phase, and possibly also a subsequent phase, the ironer could be excluded from the exhaust air supply to the dryers or the collection duct to prevent odors associated with the waxing phase from reaching the dryers.

[0013] It is also conceivable that the dryers, for example via an air control device, draw in fresh air instead of exhaust air during the last drying phase, especially after the main drying phase, in order to rid the laundry of any odors.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the laundry system according to the invention, a central collection channel is provided into which exhaust air from the dryers can be fed via exhaust air ducts. In this way, the exhaust air from the dryers, at a correspondingly lower temperature, can be supplied via this central collection channel to, for example, a further heat exchanger and / or a heat pump, in order to utilize this exhaust air, which is still above room temperature.

[0015] According to a further advantageous arrangement, bridging lines are provided in the connecting lines between the ironer and the associated dryers and / or between the ironer's connecting lines to the central distribution duct and the collection duct, in order to transfer the ironer's exhaust air directly into the central collection duct. This can also be controlled, in particular, by means of appropriate air control dampers. For example, if an air control damper prevents the exhaust air from the central distribution duct from being supplied to the corresponding dryer, a corresponding air control damper can be used to bypass the dryer and transfer the exhaust air directly into the central collection duct.It is also conceivable that bridge lines are not only installed between the central distribution channel and the central collection channel, but that bridge lines can also be transferred directly from the mangles to the central collection channel, especially if the dryers are temporarily out of operation.

[0016] As already mentioned, at least one tunnel finisher can be installed, which is connected directly to a dryer via a connecting line or to the central distribution duct via a connecting line, and through which the exhaust air from the tunnel finisher can be introduced into the dryer or the central distribution duct. The tunnel finisher can be supplied directly from a mangle, in particular via a direct supply line from a mangle to the tunnel finisher, whereby an air control damper can also be installed in this supply line, so that the tunnel finisher can be heated additionally or alternatively with a conventional heating system.Depending on the temperature level of the exhaust air in the central distribution duct, the heat demand of the dryers, the heat output of the ironing machines, and possibly also a required minimum temperature in the central collection duct, a bypass can be installed that extends directly between the distribution duct and the collection duct. An air control damper can be installed in this bypass, which should be closed during standard operation of the laundry system according to the invention.

[0017] It is also conceivable that hot air from the mangles is transferred to the central distribution duct via other heating devices. For example, a combustion unit could be installed to heat a superheated steam boiler. The exhaust air from such a combustion unit would have a temperature suitable for being introduced into the central collection duct to ultimately heat the dryers. The exhaust air might even reach a suitable temperature of, for example, 110°C to 120°C, and combustion units often produce exhaust air that is even hotter than the mangle outlet.

[0018] A combustion unit for steam generation can be configured with a connecting line leading to the central distribution duct to transfer waste heat from the combustion unit to the central distribution duct. An air control damper can also be installed in this connecting line.

[0019] A further advantage of the ironers is the ability to incorporate a fan that directs the exhaust air from the ironers into the dryers and / or the central distribution duct. In particular, additional fans can be installed in the supply lines to the dryers to direct the exhaust air from the central distribution duct to the dryers. Furthermore, it is conceivable that ironers, which are equipped with a standard fan for exhaust air from the drum, could be designed to be particularly powerful. This would allow the fan not only to extract the exhaust air from the drum but also to pressurize it and transfer it to the central collection duct, from where it ultimately flows into the dryers. In this way, the exhaust air can not only be extracted from the ironer but, simultaneously, the ironer's fan can deliver a sufficient quantity of exhaust air at adequate pressure to the dryers.However, it is also conceivable that additional fans are installed in the supply lines from the central collection duct to the dryers. These could, for example, be activated when the corresponding dryer is also in operation.

[0020] Furthermore, a central heat exchanger can be installed and connected to the manifold, allowing the exhaust air from the manifold to be routed into the heat exchanger and a heat transfer fluid within the central heat exchanger to be heated. The central heat exchanger can, for example, be designed as a trickle-to-water heat exchanger, in which the central exhaust air from the central manifold, routed into the heat exchanger, can be brought into direct contact with the heat transfer fluid. Such a heat exchanger has a high efficiency, and air lint filters can be omitted because the contact of the exhaust air with the heat transfer fluid provides a corresponding cleaning effect, preventing the heat exchanger from becoming clogged with lint.

[0021] As an alternative to the trickle tower heat exchanger, the central heat exchanger can be designed as a pillow plate heat exchanger. In this design, the central exhaust air entering the heat exchanger is routed between plate elements consisting of two bonded sheet metal elements. At least one or both of these sheet metal elements are formed using an internal high-pressure forming process, creating cavities that allow the heat transfer fluid to flow through these cavities and absorb heat from the exhaust air flowing around the outside of the plate elements. Pillow plate heat exchangers are highly efficient and have a very good heat transfer coefficient because the sheet metal elements can be made very thin.

[0022] A further advantage is the installation of a central heat pump connected to the heat exchanger. This heat pump absorbs the heat from the heat transfer fluid and can supply hot water under internal pressure and / or superheated steam. The heat pump can have an evaporator heated by the heat from the heat transfer fluid in the trickle tower heat exchanger, and it can also have a condenser. This condenser then transfers heat, with a higher energy level (factored by the coefficient of performance), to another heat transfer medium, for example, to operate a mangle or a tunnel finisher.

[0023] The temperature of the exhaust air from the mangles and / or the tunnel finisher can, for example, reach a value of 100°C to 130°C and / or 110°C to 120°C during operation. Alternatively or additionally, the temperature of the exhaust air from the dryers can also reach a value of 55°C to 85°C and / or 60°C to 70°C during operation, and / or the temperature of the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger can reach approximately 30°C to 40°C and is thus supplied to heat pump 29.

[0024] The invention further relates to a method for operating such a laundry system for the energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several mangles for drying and smoothing the laundry and several dryers for drying the laundry, wherein hot exhaust air is expelled through the mangles and, according to the invention, is supplied to the dryers via a duct system with a central distribution channel. Furthermore, a central collection channel is provided into which the exhaust air from the dryers is fed via exhaust air ducts. In this way, a central exhaust air can be collected and, for example, transferred to a heat exchanger, which can ultimately supply a heat pump via a heat transfer medium.

[0025] The system further provides that the ironers are connected to the central collection duct via connecting lines, into which the exhaust air from the ironers is fed. The distribution duct is connected to the dryers via individual supply lines, through which the collected exhaust air is transferred to the dryers. Air control dampers are installed in the connecting lines and / or supply lines, which are controlled by a central control system to regulate the flow of exhaust air from the ironers and / or into the dryers. For example, if a dryer and / or ironer is out of operation, the corresponding unit can be decoupled from the central distribution duct via the air control damper. The same applies to decoupling from the central collection duct.

[0026] In particular, it may be provided that a transfer line is installed from the heat pump to the mangle and / or to the tunnel finisher(s), through which the hot water under internal pressure or superheated steam can be transferred to the mangle and / or to the tunnel finisher(s).

[0027] Furthermore, a second heat pump or an auxiliary heating device can be installed in the transfer line from the heat pump to the mangle. The heat pump is designed to provide a heat transfer fluid in the transfer line at approximately 90°C to 140°C. Alternatively, the auxiliary heating device, provided by the second heat pump or the auxiliary heating device, is designed to raise the temperature of the heat transfer fluid to 135°C to 145°C before it reaches the mangle. Once the first heat pump provides the heat transfer fluid in the transfer line at approximately 90°C, the tunnel finisher can already be operated. The auxiliary heating device can be electrically or fossil-fuel powered. PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] 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: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a laundry system for energy-reduced laundry treatment, wherein the exhaust air from the mangles is allocated to discrete dryers; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the laundry system for energy-reduced laundry treatment with a central distribution channel between the mangles and the dryers; Figure 3 shows the embodiment according to Figure 2, wherein a heat exchanger and a heat pump are shown as examples. Figure 4 is an example of the heat exchanger being designed as a trickle tower heat exchanger, Figure 5 is an example of the heat exchanger being designed as a pillow plate heat exchanger, and Figure 6 is a schematic view of the heat cascade from the mangle to the dryer, from the dryer to the heat exchanger, from the heat exchanger to the heat pump, and from the heat pump back to the mangle.

[0029] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a laundry system 1 with, for example, three ironers 10 and a tunnel finisher 22. A number of dryers 11 are also provided, all of which serve to treat laundry and essentially constitute the entire laundry system 1. During operation of the ironers 10, hot exhaust air is produced, which is discharged from the ironers 10 via connecting lines 14 and can have a temperature of 110°C to 120°C. For example, ironers of conventional design generate approximately 1,000 m³ / h of hot exhaust air during continuous operation.

[0030] According to the invention, one or more connecting lines 14 are provided between the exhaust air outlet of the mangle 10 and the hot air inlet of the dryers 11. Thus, according to the example shown, each dryer 11 can be assigned a mangle 10 to be supplied with hot air, the example also showing a tunnel finisher 22 which directs the hot exhaust air directly into a dryer 11 via the connecting line 14. In Humidity sensors 31 are installed in the connecting lines 14, which can measure the humidity of the exhaust air exiting from the mangles 10 and the tunnel finisher 11 in order to transmit this humidity value to a control system.

[0031] Furthermore, air control flaps 18 are installed in the connecting lines 14, so that in a first position of the air control flaps 18 the hot exhaust air from the mangles 10 or the tunnel finisher 22 can be directed directly into the dryers 11, or in a second position via a bridge line 21 into a central collection duct 19, for example, when a dryer 11 is not in operation. If the hot exhaust air is directed into the dryer 11, it can then also enter the central collection duct 19 via the exhaust air line 20. From the central collection duct 19, the exhaust air 12, at a lower temperature, can be used for further processing, for example, in a heat exchanger and / or a heat pump.

[0032] The connecting lines 14 shown form a piping system 13, which may also include a supply line 34 in which an air control damper 18 is also installed. The supply line 34 can also directly supply hot exhaust air from a mangle 10 to the tunnel finisher 22, since the temperature of the exhaust air 12 from the mangles 10 can also correspond approximately to the necessary hot air that a tunnel finisher 22 requires for operation.

[0033] The entire exhaust air thus either enters the central collection duct 19 via the exhaust air lines 20 from the dryers 11 or directly from the mangles 10 or the tunnel finisher 22 via the bridge lines 21, for example when the dryers 11 are not in operation.

[0034] In Figure 2The laundry system 1 is shown with the exemplary three ironers 10 and the tunnel finisher 22, wherein a central distribution channel 15 is now provided between the dryers 11 and the ironers 10 or the tunnel finisher 22 as part of the piping system 13. The exemplary embodiment thus shows a modification according to Figure 1 , in which the exhaust air 12 first enters the central distribution channel 15 via connecting lines 16, as does the hot exhaust air from the tunnel finisher 22 via connecting line 16. In Air control flaps 18 are installed on the connecting lines 16 in order to switch off individual laundry treatment machines if necessary, without a backflow of hot exhaust air into the switched-off device. In Humidity sensors 31 are installed on the connecting lines 16 to monitor the humidity.

[0035] This system therefore provides that, instead of assigning individual ironers 10 to individual dryers 11 via a central distribution channel 15, nor does it assign a tunnel finisher 22 to a dryer 11, the hot exhaust air from the ironers 10 and, for example, also from the tunnel finisher 22, first enters the central distribution channel 15, from which the dryers 11 can then be supplied with exhaust air via supply lines 17. The exhaust air exiting the dryers 11, which has been further cooled and additionally humidified after passing through the dryers 11, enters the central collection channel 19 via exhaust air lines 20, from which the exhaust air 12 can finally be discharged and, for example, fed to a heat exchanger and / or a heat pump.

[0036] The connection of the tunnel finisher 22 to the central distribution duct 15 is exemplified by a bridge line 21, which is connected to the connecting line 16 via an air control damper 18. The warm exhaust air from the tunnel finisher 22 can also be transferred directly into the central collection duct 19 via the bridge line 21, depending on the temperature of the exhaust air from the tunnel finisher 22, for which the air control damper 18 can be controlled accordingly.

[0037] With a central control unit 30, the air control dampers 18 installed in the connecting lines 16 and / or in the supply lines 17 can be controlled, via which the allocation and discharge of exhaust air 12 into and / or out of the central distribution channel 15 can be controlled.

[0038] Figure 3 shows laundry system 1 according to Figure 1 with further features, which are described below. The same reference symbols refer to the same features in Figure 3, as already mentioned in Figure 2 described.

[0039] The mangles 10 are shown equipped with fans 25, which are configured to push the hot exhaust air from the drums of the mangles 10 into the connecting lines 16 and consequently into the collecting duct 15. Furthermore, additional fans 26 are installed in the supply lines 17 from the central distribution duct 15 to the dryers 11 to extract the hot exhaust air from the central distribution duct 15 and supply it to the dryers 11 with a corresponding volume of air per hour.

[0040] The example further shows a combustion unit 23, for example, for firing a superheated steam boiler 33, whereby the hot exhaust air from the combustion unit 23 is also routed to the central distribution duct 15 via the connecting line 24. Further examples of how hot exhaust air can be transferred to the central distribution duct 15 are not shown; for example, compressors, media components, or other equipment that emit correspondingly hot exhaust air can also be transferred to the central distribution duct 15.

[0041] Furthermore, a connection of the central collection duct 19 to a central heat exchanger 27 is shown, so that the hot exhaust air is introduced into the central heat exchanger 27 to heat a heat transfer fluid 28. The heat transferred to the heat transfer fluid 28 can be transferred to a central heat pump 29, which, for example, provides superheated steam and uses this superheated steam to heat the mangle 10 or the tunnel finisher 22.

[0042] As shown in the example, a bypass 32 can be provided that extends directly between the distribution channel 15 and the collection channel 19. An air control damper 18 can be provided in this bypass 32, which should remain closed during the standard operation of the laundry system 1 according to the invention.

[0043] The central heat exchanger 27 is exemplified as a trickle tower heat exchanger, in which the central exhaust air fed into the heat exchanger 27 can be brought into direct contact with the heat transfer fluid 28 to achieve a very high efficiency of heat transfer from the exhaust air 12 to the heat transfer fluid 28. Alternatively, the heat exchanger 27 can also be designed as a pillow plate heat exchanger 37, as shown in Figure 5 is shown and described below.

[0044] Figure 4Figure 1 shows an example of the design of the heat exchanger 27 as a trickle tower heat exchanger 36. This heat exchanger is equipped with a heat transfer fluid 28, which circulates internally within the trickle tower heat exchanger 36 and comes into direct, wet contact with the exhaust air 12. This contact has a cleaning effect on the exhaust air 12, and therefore a sieve or filter device is provided in the guide for the internally circulating heat transfer fluid 28, but ideally not in the guide for the exhaust air 12. The heat transfer fluid 28 is fed into an internal heat exchanger 36a, through which the heat from the heat transfer fluid 28 is transferred to a heat transfer fluid 40, which then transfers the heat to the heat pump 29. The heat transfer fluid 40 is circulated in a closed loop between the internal heat exchanger 36a and the central heat pump 29.

[0045] Figure 5Figure 1 shows an example of the design of the heat exchanger 27 as a pillow-plate heat exchanger 37, in which the central exhaust air 12 leading into the heat exchanger 27 is routed between plate elements 38, which consist of two sheet metal elements tacked together. At least one or both of the sheet metal elements of the double-walled plate elements 38 are formed by an internal high-pressure forming process, creating cavities such that the heat transfer fluid 39 can flow through the cavities of the plate elements 38 and absorb the heat from the exhaust air 12. The heat transfer fluid 39 then transfers the heat to the central heat pump 29, with the heat transfer fluid 39 circulating in a closed loop between the pillow-plate heat exchanger 37 and the central heat pump 29.The heat transfer fluid 39 flows through the plate elements 38 in a direction preferably opposite to the flow direction of the exhaust air 12 flowing around the outside of the plate elements 38. The flow directions shown can also be reversed; for example, the heat transfer fluid 39 can flow through the plate elements 38 from top to bottom, and the exhaust air 12 can flow around the plate elements 38 from bottom to top.

[0046] Figure 6Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the heat cascade resulting from the inventive setup, from the mangle 10 and the tunnel finisher 22 to the dryer 11 via the piping system 13, from the dryer 11 to the central heat exchanger 27 via the collecting channel 19, and from the central heat exchanger 27 by means of the heat transfer fluid 40 to the central heat pump 29, and from the central heat pump 29 via the transfer line 35 back to the mangle 10 and, by way of example, also to the tunnel finisher 22. The heat exchanger 27 is shown by way of example as a trickle tower heat exchanger 36 and can alternatively also be designed as a pillow plate heat exchanger 37, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is shown and described.

[0047] The central heat pump 29 provides a heat transfer fluid, for example, with a temperature of 90°C to 140°C, whereas commercially available heat pumps 27, which are available at normal costs, provide temperatures in the range of, for example, 90°C to 100°C. Tunnel finishers 22 can already be operated advantageously at these temperatures. In contrast, ironers 10, which can be designed as trough ironers with rollers, require a heating fluid with temperatures of at least 140°C. Thus, it can be provided that a second heat pump 41 or, alternatively, an auxiliary heating device 42 is installed in the transfer line 35 from the central heat pump 29 to the ironers 10. The heat pump 29 can, for example, supply a heat transfer fluid in the transfer line 35 of approximately...feed in 90°C to 140°C, whereby the auxiliary heating by the second heat pump 41 or by the fossil fuel or electrically operated auxiliary heating device 42 brings the heat transfer fluid to the mangoes 10 at a temperature of 135°C to 145°C and / or to 140°C.

[0048] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which utilize the solution presented even in fundamentally different designs. All features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description, or the drawings, including design details or spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention, both individually and in various combinations. Reference symbol list:

[0049] 1 Laundry system 10 Ironing machine 11 Dryer 12 Exhaust air 13 Piping system 14 Connecting line 15 Central distribution duct 16 Connection line 17 Supply line 18 Air control damper 19 Central collection duct 20 Exhaust air duct 21 Bridge duct 22 Tunnel finisher 23 Combustion unit 24 Connection line 25 Fan 26 Fan 27 Central heat exchanger 28 Heat transfer fluid 29 Central heat pump 30 Central control unit 31 Humidity sensor 32 Bypass 33 Superheated steam boiler 34 Supply line 35 Transfer line 36 Trickle tower heat exchanger 36a Internal heat exchanger 37 Pillow plate heat exchanger 38 Plate element 39 Heat transfer fluid 40 Heat transfer fluid 41 Second heat pump 42 Auxiliary heating unit

Claims

1. Laundry system (1) for energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several mangles (10) for drying and smoothing the laundry and comprising several dryers (11) for drying the laundry, wherein the mangles (10) emit hot exhaust air (12) during operation, wherein at least one conduit (13) is provided between the mangles (10) and the dryers (11), through which the hot exhaust air (12) can be supplied to the dryers (11) for their operation, characterized by thata central collection channel (19) is provided into which exhaust air from the dryers (11) can be directed via exhaust air ducts (20), wherein a central heat exchanger (27) is provided and connected to the collection channel (19) so that the exhaust air (12) from the collection channel (19) can be directed into the heat exchanger (27) and a heat transfer fluid (28) of the central heat exchanger (27) can be heated, and wherein a central heat pump (29) is provided and connected to the heat exchanger (27), wherein the heat of the heat transfer fluid (28) can be absorbed by means of the heat pump (29) and hot water under internal pressure and / or superheated steam can be provided.

2. Laundry system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by thata defect (10) is assigned to a dryer (11) in order to supply the exhaust air (12) of a defect (10) to the assigned dryer (11) by providing a connecting line (14) between the defect (10) and the assigned dryer (11) or that the ducting system (13) has a central distribution channel (15) for collecting exhaust air (12), so that the collected exhaust air (12) from all the manures (10) can be supplied to all the dryers (11).

3. Laundry system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by thatthe mangles (10) are connected to the central distribution duct (15) via connecting lines (16), through which the exhaust air (12) from the mangles (10) can be introduced into the central distribution duct (15), and wherein respective supply lines (17) are provided through which the dryers (11) are connected to the central distribution duct (15) in order to transfer the collected exhaust air (12) from the distribution duct (15) to the dryers (11).

4. Laundry system (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that Air control flaps (18) are installed in the connecting lines (16) and / or in the supply lines (17), via which a central control (30) of the allocation and discharge of exhaust air (12) into and / or out of the central distribution channel (15) can be controlled and / or wherein the central control (30) is designed such that the allocation of the exhaust air (12) to the dryers (11) or to the distribution channel (15) depends on the operating state of the mangle (10).

5. Laundry system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that Bridge lines (21) are installed in the connecting lines (14) between the mangle (10) and the associated dryer (11) and / or between the connecting lines (16) of the mangle (10) to the central distribution channel (15) and the collection channel (19) to transfer exhaust air (12) of the mangle (10) directly into the central collection channel (19), which can be controlled in particular by means of the air control flaps (18).

6. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one tunnel finisher (22) is provided, which is connected via a connecting line (14) or a connecting line (16) to at least one dryer (11) or to the central distribution channel (15), and the exhaust air (12) of the tunnel finisher (22) can be introduced into the dryer (11) or into the central distribution channel (15).

7. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a combustion unit (23) is set up for steam generation, wherein a connecting line (24) is set up from the combustion unit (23) to the central distribution channel (15) in order to transfer waste heat from the combustion unit (23) to the central distribution channel (15).

8. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that The mangles (10) have a fan (25) through which the exhaust air (12) from the mangles (10) is moved into the dryers (11) and / or into the central distribution duct (15).

9. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that Fans (26) are installed in the supply lines (17) to the dryers (11) to carry the exhaust air (12) from the central distribution duct (15) to the dryers (11).

10. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central heat exchanger (27) is designed as a trickle tower heat exchanger (36) in which the central exhaust air (12) led into the heat exchanger (27) can be brought into direct contact with the heat transfer fluid (28).

11. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central heat exchanger (27) is designed as a pillow plate heat exchanger (37) in which the central exhaust air (12) leading into the heat exchanger (27) is derived between plate elements (38) which consist of two sheet metal elements tacked together, wherein at least one or both sheet metal elements are formed by an internal high-pressure forming process forming cavities such that the heat transfer fluid (39) can flow through the cavities of the plate elements (38) and absorb the heat from the exhaust air (12) which flows around the outside of the plate elements (38).

12. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the temperature of the exhaust air (12) from the mantles (10) and / or from the tunnel finisher (22) during its operation has a value of 80°C to 130°C and / or 100°C to 120°C and / or that the temperature of the exhaust air (12) from the dryers (11) during operation in the main drying phase has a value of 55°C to 85°C and / or 60°C to 70°C and / or that the temperature of the heat transfer fluid (40) from the heat exchanger (27) is between 30°C and 40°C and is thus supplied to the heat pump (29).

13. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a transfer line (35) is provided from the heat pump (29) to the mangle (10) and / or to the tunnel finisher(s) (22), through which the hot water under internal pressure or hot steam can be transferred to the mangle (10) and / or to the tunnel finisher(s) (22).

14. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that In the transfer line (35) from the heat pump (29) to the mangles (10) a second heat pump (41) or an auxiliary heating device (42) is installed, wherein the heat pump (29) is designed to provide a heat transfer fluid in the transfer line (35) at a temperature of approximately 90°C to 140°C, wherein alternatively the auxiliary heating by the second heat pump (41) or by the auxiliary heating device (42) brings the heat transfer fluid to the mangles (10) at a temperature of 135°C to 145°C and / or to 140°C.

15. Method for operating a laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air control flaps (18) installed in the connecting lines (14) from the ironers (10) to the dryers (11) or the connecting lines (16) in the central distribution channel (15) are controlled by the central control unit (30) in such a way that the allocation of the exhaust air (12) to the dryers (11) or to the distribution channel (15) depends on the operating state of the ironers (10) and is released or interrupted accordingly.

Images