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 laundry treatment machines such as dryers (10), tunnel finishers (11) and / or mangles (12), wherein the laundry treatment machines emit hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air (13) during operation, which can be supplied to a central heat exchanger (15) via a central collecting channel (14), wherein the central heat exchanger (15) is designed as a condensation heat exchanger (20), wherein this is coupled to a closed piping system (49) in which a circulating heat transfer fluid (16) is guided.According to the invention, a heat pump (27) is provided which is coupled to the closed piping system (49) so that heat can be transferred from the condensing heat exchanger (20) to the heat pump (27) via the heat transfer fluid (16), and wherein at least one heating coil (31) is provided which can be heated by means of the heat pump (27) and wherein at least one dryer (10) and / or at least one tunnel finisher (11) is connected to the heating coil (31) in such a way as to supply it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a laundry system for the energy-efficient treatment of laundry, comprising several laundry treatment machines such as dryers, tunnel finishers, and / or ironers, wherein the laundry treatment machines, during operation, emit hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air, which can be fed to a central heat exchanger via a central collecting duct. Furthermore, the invention 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-reduced treatment of laundry is known, comprising several laundry treatment machines such as dryers, tunnel finishers and / or mangles, wherein the laundry treatment machines emit hot exhaust air during operation, which is fed to a central heat exchanger via a central collecting channel.

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

[0004] From DE 10 2007 043 212 A1, a laundry system for energy-efficient laundry treatment is known, comprising several laundry treatment machines such as dryers, tunnel finishers, and / or mangles. During operation, the laundry treatment machines emit hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air, which is fed via a central collecting duct to a central heat exchanger. The central heat exchanger is designed as a condensing heat exchanger and is coupled to a closed piping system in which a circulating heat transfer fluid is carried. The utilization of the energy contained in the hot exhaust air should be further improved based on the device proposed here. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the invention is to improve energy recovery in a laundry system for the energy-reduced treatment of laundry. In particular, the laundry system should be able to operate with minimal maintenance and minimal operating costs, while still ensuring the highest possible energy recovery.

[0006] This problem is solved starting from a laundry system according to the preamble of claim 1 and starting from a method according to claim 12, each with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention includes the technical teaching that a heat pump is provided and coupled to the closed piping system, so that heat can be transferred from the condensing heat exchanger to the heat pump via the heat transfer fluid, and wherein at least one heating coil is provided which can be heated by means of the heat pump and wherein at least one dryer and / or at least one tunnel finisher can be supplied with the heating coil.

[0008] By applying a condensation heat exchanger within a laundry system to transfer heat from hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air to a heat transfer fluid, the advantage is achieved that a high percentage of heat transfer from the hot, and especially water vapor-containing, exhaust air to the heat transfer fluid can be achieved through the condensation of some of the water vapor, and thus the moisture, in the exhaust air. Furthermore, it advantageously creates the possibility of circulating the heat transfer fluid in a closed liquid or fluid circuit, so that the heat absorbed by the heat transfer fluid in the condensation heat exchanger can be transferred directly to a heat pump via the heat transfer fluid, or the condensation heat exchanger can be an integral part of the heat exchanger itself, as explained in more detail below according to one possible embodiment.

[0009] The heat flow cascade from the condensing heat exchanger to the heat pump and from the heat pump with an increased energy level to the heating coil enables particularly advantageous energy use, since the heating coil can either draw heat exclusively from the heat pump or, due to its design, is also heated with another heat source, so that the heating of the heating coil can always be carried out, or predominantly carried out, with the heat source that causes the lower energy costs.

[0010] According to the invention, a heating coil is provided that can be heated by means of a heat pump and that can supply one or more dryers and / or one or more tunnel finishers. For example, the heating coil can be heated to a first temperature stage by the heat pump to supply laundry treatment machines that require a temperature of, say, 90°C. Then, with a further internal or external heat source, such as a hot water boiler, a steam boiler, a gas-to-gas heat exchanger, or waste heat from other units like compressors, furnaces, or further laundry treatment machines, the temperature in the heating coil can be raised further to obtain hot air at temperatures of, for example, 130°C, for instance, to also supply heat to a mangle. The heating coil can therefore be designed as a two-stage system.

[0011] If it is desired to treat laundry at temperatures of approximately 90°C to 100°C, particularly for drying and / or ironing, the auxiliary heating can be switched off, and the laundry treatment machine will operate solely on heat from the heat pump via the heating element. At such low temperatures, laundry can be treated particularly gently, if required, to increase or maintain its lifespan and quality. If necessary, auxiliary heating can be omitted from some laundry treatment machines, allowing for a particularly gentle drying process during longer drying times.

[0012] This two-stage heating coil enables energy-efficient operation of the laundry system, as the heat from the heat pump, and thus the heat in the exhaust air, is optimally utilized. If the heating coil also includes a combustion unit, this can be operated with significantly less energy input if the hot air is preheated to, for example, 90°C by the heat pump. Heat pumps that can heat fluids to, for example, 90°C on the condenser side are considerably more cost-effective than heat pumps that can heat fluids to, for example, 130°C on the condenser side, although the latter design can, of course, also be used.

[0013] The continuous circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the closed piping system allows for a particularly low inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid at the condensing heat exchanger. This ensures maximum condensation and cooling of the water vapor in the exhaust air, further reducing energy loss from the laundry system. Especially when the closed piping system acts as an energy transfer unit from the condensing heat exchanger to the evaporator unit of the heat pump, the return line to the condensing heat exchanger can feed the significantly cooled heat transfer fluid back into the condensing heat exchanger, thus maximizing the cooling and condensation of the exhaust air.Depending on the selection and parameterization of the heat pump's expansion valve, the working fluid can flow into the evaporator unit at very low temperatures and then also cool the heat transfer fluid down significantly.

[0014] The closed piping system, as used here, is to be understood as including components such as a storage tank or other elements like a pump, valves, and the like. This ensures the system remains closed as long as the heat transfer fluid, e.g., water, is used as the sole heat transfer medium. It does not refer to a hermetic seal from the ambient air, which may still be present despite the closed design.

[0015] This advantage of highly efficient cooling of the exhaust air up to the outlet of the condensing heat exchanger is further enhanced by feeding the circulating heat transfer fluid into the condensing heat exchanger in such a way that it flows through the heat exchanger against the direction of exhaust air flow. This allows the counterflow heat exchanger principle to be used to its advantage.

[0016] The condensation heat exchanger can be designed with a number of heat exchanger plates or as a shell and tube heat exchanger with a number of heat exchanger tubes, wherein the heat exchanger plates or the heat exchanger tubes are arranged so that the exhaust air can be guided between the heat exchanger plates or between the heat exchanger tubes.

[0017] The respective heat exchanger plates can be advantageously designed from two stacked sheet metal elements, between which the heat transfer fluid flows. At least one or both sheet metal elements can be formed by an internal high-pressure forming process such that the heat transfer fluid flows between the two sheet metal elements. The sheet metal elements can be tacked together at regular intervals across the surface of the heat exchanger plates via numerous tack points. This type of plate is also known as a pillow plate. Particularly when two identical sheet metal elements form a heat exchanger plate, both sheet metal elements deform equally into a pillow structure when the internal high-pressure forming process is carried out hydraulically with a fluid, for example, water.The heat exchanger plates each extend in a plane and can be arranged parallel to each other at a distance from one another. It is also conceivable that the heat exchanger plates are curved, for example cylindrical or similar. The arrangement of the plates, and thus also the path of the exhaust air flow, can be horizontal, vertical, or even inclined.

[0018] The tack points ensure that the sheet metal elements are connected to each other at specific points across the surface, allowing for high internal pressure in the inner fluid space between the sheet metal elements, which is particularly advantageous when the working fluid of the heat pump is guided directly through the heat exchanger plates.

[0019] The condensing heat exchanger further comprises an inlet for introducing the exhaust air from the central collection duct and an outlet for discharging the exhaust air, with a condensate drain being provided in the inlet and / or the outlet and / or in a housing of the condensing heat exchanger. During the heat exchange process of a condensing heat exchanger, a condensate in the form of a liquid is formed from a corresponding water vapor content in the moist exhaust air, which is generally discharged. According to a further embodiment, a condensate return line can therefore be provided, via which the condensate from the condensing heat exchanger is at least indirectly fed to at least one of the laundry treatment machines or to a peripheral or central water supply, in order to ultimately be fed from there to at least one laundry treatment machine.

[0020] The heat pump can absorb heat from the heat transfer fluid in the closed piping system directly or via a liquid heat exchanger. Alternatively, the heat transfer fluid can be pumped directly into the heat pump to evaporate the working fluid in the evaporator. In this case, the liquid heat exchanger between the condensing heat exchanger and the heat pump can be omitted, and the heat transfer fluid is transferred directly from the condensing heat exchanger into the heat pump to heat the evaporator.

[0021] A heat pump makes it possible to supply a fluid with a significantly higher temperature and, in particular, a higher pressure than the heat transfer fluid from the condensing heat exchanger, by supplying a certain amount of electrical energy. In this context, the coefficient of performance (COP) of such a heat pump can be particularly well utilized. For example, the temperature of the hot exhaust air flowing into the condensing heat exchanger can be between 80°C and 130°C. The condensing heat exchanger can then heat the heat transfer fluid to a temperature of, for example, 30°C to 60°C, after which, depending on the specific application, the heat pump can supply hot water at 80°C to 140°C, i.e., over 100°C, under internal pressure.

[0022] The compressed, evaporated working fluid of the heat pump can now also be used to generate steam in the condenser unit, which can then be used to heat dryers, tunnel finishers, and / or ironers. Two principles for steam generation are possible: Firstly, by means of direct heat transfer from the compressed, evaporated working fluid of the heat pump to a steam generator, which can be formed by the condenser unit and can generate temperatures of up to 140°C, preferably up to 90°C, since the lower temperature results in a more economical design for the heat pump.On the other hand, it may be possible to provide for evaporation at ambient pressure or even at negative pressure and to subsequently compress the vapor in turbo compressors and / or piston compressors to the desired vapor pressure, for example up to 6 bar vapor overpressure, which is accompanied by a corresponding increase in temperature.

[0023] The heat pump can also be a multi-stage heat pump, for example, by cascading two or more heat pumps in series and connecting them. Thanks to the central exhaust air duct and the appropriate sizing of the condensing heat exchanger, the central heat pump can also be designed as a high-temperature heat pump and provide pressurized hot water at 140°C, sufficient to operate all laundry treatment machines in the facility. Temperatures of, for example, 70°C to 160°C can also be provided, depending on the requirements of the laundry treatment machines.

[0024] The rather low temperatures up to about 90°C are used for heating the washing liquor and for initial air preheating in dryers and tunnel finishers, while the higher temperatures up to 160°C are used for mangling and for the final heating of the desired supply air temperature in the dryers and tunnel finishers.

[0025] If the laundry facility also includes mangles, an internal pressurized hot water boiler or a steam boiler can be provided as an additional heating option for the laundry processing machines, such as the mangles, to supply hot water or steam. For example, a valve unit can mix hot water from the internal pressurized hot water boiler with hot water from the heat pump, and then supply hot water to the mangles in the laundry system via a hot water inlet.

[0026] According to the invention, exactly one central heating coil can be provided, which is heated by means of the heat pump, and this central heating coil can supply heat to at least one dryer and / or at least one tunnel finisher. The central heating coil can be connected to at least one further external heat source to provide supplemental heating or to further increase the output temperature.

[0027] Alternatively, it is conceivable that several heating coils are installed, which can be heated together by means of the heat pump, and that several laundry treatment machines such as dryers and / or tunnel finishers can be supplied via the heating coils.

[0028] It is therefore conceivable that each laundry treatment machine, i.e., each dryer, tunnel finisher, and / or ironer, could be assigned a separate heating element, ideally integrated as a single unit with the machine(s). Such heating elements can often be mounted and installed on top of the laundry treatment machine to supply heat to the respective machine or group of machines, particularly when several machines, especially those of identical design but not all, are assigned to a single heating element and supplied with heat, usually by heating gas or hot air.

[0029] Particularly when one or more mangles are present, it can be advantageous to install an internal pressurized hot water boiler, which can be equipped with an electric heating element powered by renewable energy, or the internal pressurized hot water boiler can be heated conventionally with oil or gas. However, it is also conceivable that a high-temperature heat pump, which can draw heat from the condensing heat exchanger and has a suitable coefficient of performance (COP), can heat both the heating coil and the mangles. In this case, only a portion of the hot water can be supplied additionally by the internal pressurized hot water boiler, particularly to further increase the temperature from, for example, 140°C by the high-temperature heat pump to approximately 160°C or 180°C.Alternatively, the internal pressure hot water boiler can be designed as a steam boiler and operated as a steam generator in such a way that it supports the aforementioned steam generation by the heat pump and can also take over this redundant function. For this purpose, the internal pressure hot water boiler, configured as a steam boiler, can also include a heating element, such as an electric heater or a combustion system.

[0030] Finally, there is also the option of connecting the heat pump to a public heating network and feeding heat into it.

[0031] The heat transfer fluid can be of various types and may consist of water or thermal oil in order to transfer the heat from the heat exchanger to another heat exchanger or to be fed into the heat pump when heated.

[0032] As is generally known, a heat pump comprises an evaporator unit, a condenser unit, an expansion valve, and a compressor. In one approach, the evaporator unit is heated by the heat transfer fluid to evaporate the working fluid of the heat pump. This can be achieved through direct heat exchange within the evaporator unit, or a liquid heat exchanger can be used. This liquid heat exchanger forms part of a first fluid circuit with the condenser heat exchanger and part of a second fluid circuit with the evaporator unit of the heat pump, with heat being transferred from the first to the second fluid circuit.

[0033] A second option involves forming the evaporator unit of the heat pump itself using the condensing heat exchanger. A piping system is installed through which the heat pump's working fluid can flow directly through the heat exchanger plates, where it evaporates. This eliminates the need for a separate liquid heat exchanger, allowing for maximum heat recovery from the condensing heat exchanger and thus increasing the heat pump's coefficient of performance (COP).

[0034] The laundry system can also include an energy control module that determines the energy required to operate the heat pump, particularly depending on a current grid fee and / or an electricity exchange tariff and / or an achievable coefficient of performance of the heat pump, preferably by means of a smart electricity meter, which makes it possible to make good use of temporarily low electricity prices.

[0035] The electricity meter can determine the energy required to operate the laundry system, or the smart meter can predict the necessary energy demand. For example, the energy control module can decide whether, depending on the weather, the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler should be heated, or whether it is sufficient to supply the laundry treatment machines with the required energy solely via the condensing heat exchanger and the heat pump. If, for instance, the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler is heated with oil or gas and the electricity for operating the heat pump is more expensive, then the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler can be heated, while the operation of the heat pump is reduced or stopped.Conversely, when renewable energy sources are readily available, the heat pump can be used to operate the laundry system with a higher percentage of its output, while the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler is only heated to a limited extent or not at all. The energy control module can also, and especially, determine the operating mode based on the heat pump's achievable coefficient of performance (COP), for which AI can again be employed.

[0036] The invention thus also relates to a method for operating a laundry system as described above, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: setting up an energy control module, determining a current daily electricity exchange tariff and / or a current daily grid fee, determining whether the heat pump is operated primarily or exclusively, or whether the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler is operated primarily or exclusively, particularly and especially with regard to the achievable coefficient of performance of the heat pump. In this context, it can also be determined whether the heat pump or whether the internal pressurized hot water boiler or the steam boiler is operated with renewable energies and / or with fossil energies.

[0037] In particular, an AI module can be used in the operation of the energy control module to optimize the future determination of plant utilization and resource use via artificial intelligence, also based on past operating situations and a corresponding pattern recognition of previous operating modes and the associated achievable energy utilizations. PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION

[0038] 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: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a laundry system with a condensing heat exchanger; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the laundry system according to Figure 1with additionally installed mangles, Figure 3 a schematic view of the heat supply of various laundry treatment machines with a central heat pump and with each associated heating registers and internal heat sources, Figure 4 a schematic view of the condensation heat exchanger and a heat pump according to a first possibility of coupling to a heat pump, Figure 5 a schematic view of the condensation heat exchanger and a heat pump according to a second possibility of coupling to a heat pump and Figure 6 a schematic view of the condensation heat exchanger and a heat pump according to a third possibility of coupling to a heat pump.

[0039] The Figure 1 and 2 They first show, in a schematic way, an overall view of a laundry system 1 for the energy-reduced treatment of laundry, wherein in Figure 1Several washing machines, including dryers 10 and tunnel finishers 11, are shown, as well as, by way of example, a continuous washing system 29 and a washing extractor 30.

[0040] Figure 2 This differs from Figure 1 by furthermore showing two mangles 12 as examples, which can also be part of the laundry system 1 and serve as laundry treatment machines. The hot exhaust air 13 is carried out by the dryer 10 and the tunnel finisher 11 and according to Figure 2 The hot exhaust air 13, for example, has a temperature of 80°C to 130°C. It is also fed from the mantle 12 into a collection channel 14.

[0041] The channels for supplying the hot exhaust air 13 to the collecting channel 14 include respective air control flaps 39, which can be opened when the laundry treatment machines are in operation and which can be closed when, for example, a dryer 10, a tunnel finisher 11 or a mangle 12 is not in operation.

[0042] The hot exhaust air 13 from the collecting duct 14 is fed to a heat exchanger 15, which according to the invention is designed as a condensation heat exchanger 20, so that the hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air 13 can transfer heat to a heat transfer fluid 16, as described in connection with the further Figures 3 to 5 described.

[0043] Furthermore, a heat pump 27 is provided, which is designed to absorb the heat transferred to the heat transfer fluid 16 via the heat exchanger 15. This is achieved by a closed piping system 49 between the heat exchanger 15 and the heat pump 27, in which the heat transfer fluid 16 circulates. The temperature of the heat transfer fluid 16 can be, for example, approximately 30°C to 60°C. Depending on the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump 27, which can be operated with electricity and a corresponding COP, the heat pump 27 can provide a fluid heat transfer fluid with thermal energy at a temperature of, for example, 140°C. For example, the heat pump 27 can provide hot water or superheated steam at a temperature of 140°C.

[0044] Furthermore, a hot water boiler 28 with a condensate drain can be installed, to which the hot water from the heat pump 27 is supplied, in order to finally operate, for example, the cycle washing system 29 or the washing extractor 30 via the hot water boiler 28.

[0045] As an alternative to the hot water boiler 28 shown, the washing liquor for the continuous washing system 29 or the washing extractor 30 can also be generated via a heat exchanger, for example a condensate reducer, to heat hot water to the required temperature of the washing liquor, or alternatively, by means of steam generation by the heat pump or the steam boiler, the washing liquor can be heated by feeding steam into the heat exchanger as an alternative to the hot water boiler 28 shown.

[0046] According to the invention, a heating element 31 is provided which can be heated by means of the heat pump 27 or redundantly by a hot water boiler or redundantly by a steam boiler, wherein at least the dryer 10 and / or at least one of the tunnel finishers 11 can be supplied with heat by means of the heating element 31. For this purpose, a distribution channel 43 can be provided to which the heating element 31 is connected. The dryers 10 and the tunnel finishers 11 can be supplied with heat energy via the distribution channel 43 through further air control flaps 39, whereby the air control flap 39 is closed when one of the laundry treatment machines is not in operation. In this exemplary embodiment, the heating element 31 is designed as a central heating element 31 that supplies several or all laundry treatment machines with heat.

[0047] It is also conceivable that the central heating coil 31 is supplied with heat from other external heat sources 40, for example from the operation of compressed air compressors and / or from hall areas with warmer air temperatures, such as installed drying islands or the like. Alternatively, the heated fresh air from an exhaust gas-fresh air heat exchanger from the hot water boiler or steam boiler can also be fed back into the supply air of the central heating coil.

[0048] Finally, an internal pressure hot water boiler 32 can also be installed to provide hot water, for example at 140°C to 160°C, with the operation of the internal pressure hot water boiler 32 being carried out according to Figure 1The internal pressure hot water boiler 32 can be used redundantly or as an alternative to the operation of the heat pump 27, and, for example, a gas-to-gas heat exchanger 41 can be heated with the internal pressure hot water boiler 32 for further energy supply. Alternatively, instead of the internal pressure hot water boiler 32, it can also form a steam boiler, which is set up in the same way as the internal pressure hot water boiler 32, for example with superheated steam at 140°C to 160°C.

[0049] The decision as to whether the heat pump 27 or the internal pressure hot water boiler 32 or the steam boiler is operated with more or more energy or capacity can be made via an energy control module 34, which processes information from, for example, the network charges 35 of public providers, from an electricity exchange tariff 36, which is monitored in particular by a smart meter 37. Thus, it may be advantageous, for example, to pay attention to the availability of renewable energies 38, which can then be fully utilized to operate the heat pump 27 at minimal cost, especially and above all depending on the achievable coefficient of performance of the heat pump 27.

[0050] Figure 2 shows in contrast to Figure 1Furthermore, a valve unit 33, in particular a three-way valve, is provided so that when the heat pump 27 and the internal pressurized hot water boiler 32 are operating simultaneously, heat from both heat sources can be combined. This allows a hot water inlet 42 to be supplied via the valve unit 33, which can then be used to operate the mangles 12, for example, with water up to 160°C. Particularly when the mangles 12 are operated with a hot fluid having a temperature above 140°C, the operation of the internal pressurized hot water boiler 32 can serve as an additional heat source to provide a base supply with the heat pump 27 and to raise the temperature, at least for the mangles 12, to an even higher level. The base supply for the laundry system 1 can still be provided via the heat exchanger 15 and the heat pump 27.

[0051] Alternatively, the mangles can be supplied with steam via a redundant steam boiler if the steam generation by the heat pump is insufficient or if the required temperature level or steam pressure level cannot be reached without the additional steam generation in the steam boiler.

[0052] Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable to feed the energy that can be provided by the heat pump 27 into a public heating network 44, whereby the energy control module 34 can also decide on this, in particular depending on the achievable coefficient of performance of the heat pump 27 and / or a current network charge 35 of public suppliers or customers.

[0053] Figure 3Figure 1 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, also including several heating coils 31, each of which is assigned to a dryer 10. Such heating coils 31 can be arranged on top of the dryers 10 in a known manner, and tunnel finishers 11 with individual heating coils 31 can also be arranged parallel to the dryers 10. The dryers 10 and tunnel finishers 11 are supplied centrally by a heat pump 27, which is fed from the closed piping system 49.

[0054] The heating coils 31 are designed to be heated by the heat pump 27, for example to 90°C. If a higher temperature is required, or if a larger quantity of heat is to be transferred at the same temperature, an internal heat source 40a is provided, which can form a structural unit with the heating coil 31. The internal heat source 40a can, for example, be a gas burner or an electric heating device. The operation of the internal heat source 40a depends on the quantity of heat supplied by the heat pump 27, which is generally electrically powered. Thus, depending on electricity or gas prices, either the heat pump 27 can be used more intensively, or the internal heat source 40a, which is operated, for example, with fossil fuels, can be used more intensively.The embodiment with decentralized heating registers 31 represents an alternative to a centrally located heart register, as described in the . Figure 1 and 2 is shown.

[0055] The in Figure 3 The arrangement shown can also be used in conjunction with the other components according to the Figure 1 and 2 can be seen. This allows the arrangements in the Figure 1 and 2 also have decentralized heating registers 31, which are specifically assigned to the respective laundry treatment machines.

[0056] The Figures 4 to 6Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the heat exchanger 15, which, according to the invention, is designed as a condensation heat exchanger 20. The condensation heat exchanger 20 has an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 in its housing 24, so that exhaust air 13 can flow into the condensation heat exchanger 20 via the inlet 18, and the cooled and dried exhaust air 13' can leave the condensation heat exchanger 20 via the outlet 19. The arrangement of the condensation heat exchanger 20 is shown by way of example in a ceiling element 52, for example in a laundry hall, so that the cooled, dried exhaust air 13' can be discharged directly from the outlet 19 above the hall ceiling of the laundry facility, while inside the laundry hall the inlet 18 directs the exhaust air 13 to the condensation heat exchanger 20.

[0057] The condensing heat exchanger 20 has several heat exchanger plates 21 through which a heat transfer fluid 16 can flow, allowing the hot exhaust air 13 to transfer heat to the heat transfer fluid 16. For this purpose, the exhaust air 13 flows around and through the outer surfaces and the spaces 17 between the heat exchanger plates 21. The supply and discharge of the heat transfer fluid 16 to and from the heat exchanger plates 21 is shown only schematically, whereby the heat exchanger plates 21 can, for example, be supplied with the heat transfer fluid 16 in parallel or sequentially. It is particularly advantageous to arrange the flow through the heat exchanger plates 21 in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the exhaust air 13.

[0058] The heat exchanger plates 21 each have 2 sheet metal elements 22, wherein as in Figure 3The detail circle shows in more detail that the sheet metal elements 22 are shaped by an internal high-pressure forming process in such a way that a flow channel is formed between the sheet metal elements 22, through which the heat transfer fluid 16 can flow. For this purpose, the sheet metal elements 22 have a large number of tack welds 23 distributed across their surface, which are produced, for example, by a laser welding process. Such plate elements are also called pillow plates. When the internal high-pressure forming process is used, the tack welds 23 form welded joints between the two sheet metal elements 22, which also allows fluids with high internal pressure to flow through the heat exchanger plates 21 during subsequent operation.

[0059] The illustrations also show a heat pump 27, which draws heat for operation from the heat exchanger 15, which according to the invention is designed as a condensing heat exchanger 20. The heat pump comprises an evaporator unit 45, a condenser unit 46, an expansion valve 47, and a compressor 48.

[0060] By supplying electrical energy to the heat pump 27, evaporated working fluid 54 can be provided on the side of the condenser unit 46 under internal pressure at a temperature of, for example, up to 160° Celsius to supply the laundry treatment machines shown.

[0061] The laundry treatment machines can be supplied, for example, via a distribution bridge 53. Laundry treatment machines can include, for example, dryers 10, tunnel dryers 11, or mangles 12, each shown in simplified examples.

[0062] Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments have in common a condensate drain 25, which is arranged, for example, at the inlet 18 of the heat exchanger 15, for example at the lowest geodetic point. A condensate return line 26 is connected to the condensate drain 25 in order to supply another laundry treatment machine with at least still warm water, wherein the other laundry treatment machine is shown, for example, as a washer-extractor 30, but could also be a batch washing system 29.

[0063] The example in Figure 4This system is characterized by the inclusion of a liquid heat exchanger 50, through which the heat transfer fluid 16 from the condensing heat exchanger 20 flows, and which can transfer heat to the evaporator unit 45 via a further liquid circuit. This example demonstrates the smallest possible closed circuit for the heat transfer fluid 16, which flows only through the condensing heat exchanger 20 and the liquid heat exchanger 50. In other words, the heat from the condensing heat exchanger 20 can be transferred to the heat pump 27 via the liquid heat exchanger 50.

[0064] The example in Figure 5Figure 1 shows a direct flow through the evaporator unit 45 of the heat pump 27 with the heat transfer fluid 16. For this purpose, a pump 51 is provided which feeds the heated heat transfer fluid 16 from the condensing heat exchanger 20 directly into the evaporator unit 45 of the heat pump 27, whereby a return line from the evaporator unit 45 to the heat exchanger plates 21 of the condensing heat exchanger 20 is provided to form a closed fluid circuit for the heat transfer fluid 16.

[0065] The example according to Figure 6Finally, one possibility is shown to design the condensing heat exchanger 20 with the heat exchanger plates 21 installed therein directly as the evaporator unit 45 of the heat pump 27. For this purpose, a piping system 49 is installed, which forms a replacement for the closed piping system of the heat pump 27 and is supplied with the working fluid 54 of the heat pump 27. The expansion valve 47, the compressor 48, and the condenser unit 46 are also installed in this system. This ensures that the heat exchanger plates 21 of the condensing heat exchanger 20, which now function as the evaporator unit 45, are directly connected to the condenser unit 46 in a closed circuit. Thus, the working fluid 54 of the heat pump 27 simultaneously forms the heat transfer fluid 16 of the condensing heat exchanger 20.

[0066] It should also be mentioned that a laundry can be improved according to the invention even without ironing, for example, a laundry for work clothes, dirt-trapping mats and / or damp mop covers. In these cases, steam pressures down to 0.5 bar steam overpressure are sufficient, which is also sufficient for a spray steam pressure in the tunnel finisher, which is sprayed in for optimal smoothing, but not for drying.

[0067] Therefore, such a laundry can also be operated with only 0.4 bar, in particular 0.3 to 0.5 bar steam overpressure.

[0068] 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:

[0069] 1 Laundry system 10 Dryer 11 Tunnel finisher 12 Shortage 13 Exhaust air 13 Dried exhaust air 14 Collection duct 15 Heat exchanger 16 Heat transfer fluid 17 Plate space 18 Inlet 19 Outlet 20 Condensing heat exchanger 21 Heat exchanger plate 22 Sheet metal element 23 Tack point 24 Housing 25 Condensate drain 26 Condensate return line 27 Heat pump 28 Central hot water boiler 29 Cycle washing system 30 Washer-extractor 31 Central heating coil 32 Internal pressure hot water boiler 33 Valve unit 34 Energy control module 35 Grid fee 36 Electricity exchange tariff 37 Smart meter 38 Renewable energies 39 Air control damper 40 External heat source 40 Internal Heat source 41 Gas-to-gas heat exchanger 42 Hot water inlet 43 Distribution duct 44 Public heating network 45 Evaporator unit 46 Condenser unit 47 Expansion valve 48 Compressor 49 Piping system 50 Liquid heat exchanger 51 Pump 52 Ceiling element 53 Distribution bridge 54 Working fluid

Claims

1. Laundry system (1) for energy-reduced treatment of laundry, comprising several laundry treatment machines such as dryers (10), tunnel finishers (11) and / or mangles (12), wherein the laundry treatment machines, during operation, emit hot, water vapor-containing exhaust air (13) which can be supplied via a central collecting duct (14) to a central heat exchanger (15), wherein the central heat exchanger (15) is designed as a condensing heat exchanger (20) and is coupled to a closed piping system (49) in which a circulating heat transfer fluid (16) is guided, characterized by thata heat pump (27) is provided and coupled to the closed piping system (49) so that heat can be transferred from the condensing heat exchanger (20) to the heat pump (27) via the heat transfer fluid (16), and wherein at least one heating coil (31) is provided which can be heated by means of the heat pump (27) and wherein at least one dryer (10) and / or at least one tunnel finisher (11) is connected to the heating coil (31) in such a way as to supply it.

2. Laundry system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that The circulating heat transfer fluid (16) is fed into the condensation heat exchanger (20) in such a way that it flows through the condensation heat exchanger (20) against the flow direction of the exhaust air (13).

3. Laundry system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by thatthe condensation heat exchanger (20) is designed with a number of heat exchanger plates (21) or as a shell and tube heat exchanger with a number of heat exchanger tubes, wherein the heat exchanger plates (21) or the heat exchanger tubes are arranged so that the exhaust air (13) can be guided between the heat exchanger plates (21) or between the heat exchanger tubes.

4. Laundry system (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the heat exchanger plates (21) are each formed from two sheet metal elements (22) arranged on top of each other, between which the heat transfer fluid (16) can be guided, wherein at least one sheet metal element (22) or both sheet metal elements (22) is or are formed by an internal high-pressure forming process in such a way that the heat transfer fluid (16) can be guided between the two sheet metal elements (22).

5. Laundry system (1) according to claim 4, characterized by thatthe sheet metal elements (22) are tacked together at regular intervals between each other and distributed over the surface of the heat exchanger plates (21) via a large number of tack points (23).

6. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that The condensation heat exchanger (20) has an inlet (18) for introducing the exhaust air (13) from the central collecting duct (14) and an outlet (19) for discharging the exhaust air (13), wherein a condensate drain (25) is provided in the inlet (18) and / or in the outlet (19) and / or in a housing (24) of the condensation heat exchanger (20).

7. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thata condensate return line (26) is provided, via which the condensate from the condensate drain (25) of the condensation heat exchanger (20) is supplied at least indirectly to at least one laundry treatment machine, for example a washing machine (30), or to a water supply.

8. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heat pump (27) comprises an evaporator unit (45), a condenser unit (46), an expansion valve (47) and a compressor (48), wherein the evaporator unit (45) is coupled to the closed piping system (49) and such that a working fluid (54) of the heat pump (27) can be evaporated by means of the heat transfer fluid (16).

9. Laundry system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by thatthe evaporator unit (45) of the heat pump (27) is formed directly by means of the condensing heat exchanger (20), wherein a piping system (49) is provided through which the working fluid (54) of the heat pump (27) can be guided through the heat exchanger plates (21) and evaporates in them.

10. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that exactly one central heating register (31) is provided which can be heated by means of the heat pump (27) and / or wherein at least one dryer (10) and / or at least one tunnel finisher (11) is connected to the central heating register (31) and / or wherein the central heating register (31) additionally has at least one internal heat source (40a) and / or is connected to a further external heat source (40).

11. Laundry system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by thatSeveral heating registers (31) are installed, which can be heated jointly by means of the heat pump (27) and which can supply several laundry treatment machines such as dryers (10) and / or tunnel finishers (11) and / or mangles (12) to the heating registers (31).

12. Laundry system (1) according to claim 12, characterized by that decentralized, each dryer (10) and / or tunnel finisher (11) and / or defect (12) is assigned a heating register (31) and / or is set up as a structural unit with this or these, each connected to the heat pump (27).

13. Laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatan energy control module (34) is installed, via which the energy required to operate the heat pump (27) can be determined, in particular depending on a current network charge (35) and / or an electricity exchange tariff (36) and / or an achievable coefficient of performance of the heat pump (27), preferably by means of a smart electricity meter (37).

14. Method for operating a laundry system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: - setting up an energy control module (34), - determining a current daily electricity exchange tariff and / or a current daily network charge, - determining whether the heat pump (27) is operated more intensively or exclusively or whether the internal pressure hot water boiler (32) is operated more intensively or exclusively.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized by thatthe determination is made as to whether the heat pump (27) or the internal pressure hot water boiler (32) or the steam boiler is operated with renewable energies and / or with fossil energies.

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