Clothes drying appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes drying appliances with heat pumps face inefficiencies in energy performance and design, particularly due to the conventional positioning of heat pump components which leads to suboptimal energy usage and increased space and cost requirements.
Innovation Solution
The heat pump components, including an evaporator, condenser, and compressor, are integrated within the process air channel, with the condenser positioned downstream of the evaporator and the compressor located between them, allowing for direct heating of process air and improved cooling, potentially eliminating the need for a dedicated fan and enabling a more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor is positioned outside the process air channel in a corner of the bottom group, then the heat pump components can be assembled on a base module, but the energy performance is suboptimal and additional space is required for the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is integrated within the process air channel by removing the base module structure, merging the compressor space with the air channel volume. This eliminates the need for separate corner positioning and allows the compressor to directly utilize process air for cooling, improving energy performance while reducing overall space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The process air channel serves dual functions: it conveys process air through the heat exchangers and simultaneously provides cooling for the compressor. The compressor becomes part of the air channel system, allowing the same air flow to perform both drying function and compressor cooling, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling space.
2Reliability
If the compressor is cooled by a dedicated fan positioned in front of it, then the compressor can be effectively cooled, but additional components and space are required
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor cools itself by utilizing the process air that flows through the air channel. The compressor's position within the air channel allows it to directly absorb heat from the passing process air, eliminating the need for a dedicated cooling fan or separate cooling system. The system serves its own cooling needs through the existing air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function for the compressor is merged with the primary process air flow function. The same process air that performs the drying function also serves to cool the compressor, combining two functions into one air flow path and eliminating the need for separate cooling components.
3Ease of manufacture
If the heat pump components are positioned on a base module at the bottom of the appliance, then the components can be easily assembled, but the design is not compact and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base module structure is eliminated by integrating the compressor directly into the air channel wall. This segmentation approach removes the need for a separate bottom group assembly, allowing components to be mounted directly on the air channel structure, thereby reducing overall appliance volume while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor is nested within the air channel structure rather than being placed on the bottom surface. This nesting arrangement allows the compressor to occupy space that would otherwise be unused or partially used, creating a more compact three-dimensional layout that reduces the appliance's overall footprint.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances energy performance by utilizing heat produced by the compressor to warm the air, reduces space and costs, and allows for a smaller compressor and reduced refrigerant usage, resulting in a more efficient and compact appliance.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator heat exchanger for transferring heat from the process air into said pumping fluid by evaporating said pumping fluid
Implementation Method 2
a condenser of the heat pump are accommodated within the process air channel... a liquefier heat exchanger for transferring heat from said pumping fluid to the process air by liquefying said pumping fluid
Implementation Method 3
a compressor for compressing the pumping fluid and driving the pumping fluid through said pumping loop
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A clothes drying appliance (2) comprises a process air channel (1) and a heat pump (3, 4, 5), wherein an evaporator (3) and a condenser (5) of the heat pump (3, 4, 5) are accommodated within the process air channel (1), with the condenser (5) accommodated downstream of the evaporator (3) with respect to a direction of a process air flow and wherein a compressor (4) of the heat pump (3, 4, 5) is accommodated within the process air channel (1) downstream of the evaporator (2). The invention is particularly useful for household appliances, in particular open-loop or closed-loop drying appliances.