Heat-Pump Clothes Dryer Airflow for Faster Heating and Compressor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes treating apparatuses face inefficiencies in heating air for drying due to the high energy and time required to heat internal air, which is often at a lower temperature than room temperature, and the compressor is overheated during the refrigerant compression process.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treating apparatus that includes a first fan to circulate both internal and external air through a heat-exchanging passage, using a heat-exchanging unit with a first and second heat-exchanger to dehumidify and heat the air, and a compressor connected to the heat-exchanging unit, where the first fan supplies external air to cool the compressor, and an opening/closing unit to control the heat-exchanging passage for efficient air circulation and temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If internal air is heated using the heat-exchanging unit, then hot air is generated for drying clothes, but the heating process consumes much energy and takes long time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of internal air using the evaporator before heating it in the condenser. This pre-cooling action prepares the air for more efficient heating and dehumidification, reducing the overall energy required to achieve the desired hot dry air conditions for clothes drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pump system utilizes phase transitions of the refrigerant (evaporation and condensation) to transfer heat efficiently. The evaporator absorbs heat from internal air causing refrigerant evaporation, while the condenser releases heat to the same air causing refrigerant condensation, enabling efficient heat transfer and air heating with reduced energy consumption.
2Stress or pressure
If the compressor operates to compress refrigerant, then high pressure is achieved, but the compressor becomes overheated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own internal resources to cool the compressor. The evaporator utilizes cold refrigerant to absorb heat from the compressor, and the exhaust fan circulates air through the compressor housing. This self-cooling mechanism allows the compressor to maintain operational temperature while continuously compressing refrigerant to high pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant acts as an intermediary cooling medium between the evaporator and the compressor. The cold refrigerant from the evaporator serves as a cooling agent for the compressor, transferring heat away from the compressor without requiring an external cooling system.
3Productivity
If internal air is heated directly, then drying can proceed, but the air circulation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous circulation of air through the tub using the exhaust fan, ensuring that air is constantly being cooled, dehumidified, heated, and redistributed over the clothes. This continuous circulation prevents stagnant air pockets and maintains consistent drying conditions, improving overall drying efficiency and reducing the time required to complete the drying cycle.
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 solution reduces the time and energy needed to heat internal air, lowers humidity, and effectively cools the compressor, enhancing the efficiency of the drying process while reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first fan configured to supply external air of the circulation passage into the circulation passage
Implementation Method 2
a heat-exchanging unit provided in the circulation passage, and a compressor connected to the heat-exchanging unit to compress a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a compressor connected to the heat-exchanging unit to compress a refrigerant and compress the refrigerant into a state of high pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a clothes treating apparatus (100) including a cabinet (1) defining appearance and having an introduction opening (11), a clothes receiving unit (3) provided in the cabinet (1) to receive therein clothes through the introduction opening (11), a circulation passage (51, 53, 55) through which internal air of the clothes receiving unit (3) circulates, and a first fan (7) to supply external air of the circulation passage (51, 53, 55) into the circulation passage (51, 53, 55).