Heat Pump Dryer Cooling Fan Control for Faster Heating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Heat pump laundry dryers experience prolonged heating times and increased energy consumption due to the continuous operation of the cooling fan for the compressor, which cools the high-pressure refrigerant, thereby prolonging the heating-up time and increasing energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A cooling fan is operated based on a predetermined on/off algorithm using temperature sensors in the air duct and refrigerant line, determining whether to activate the fan based on temperature values relative to predetermined limit temperatures, thereby controlling the compressor's heating time and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the cooling fan is operated continuously to cool the compressor, then the compressor temperature is maintained below a certain degree, but the heating-up time is prolonged and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fan operates periodically based on a predetermined on/off algorithm rather than continuously. The control unit monitors the compressor temperature and activates the cooling fan only when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, allowing the compressor to heat up quickly during the drying process while maintaining temperature control when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Temperature

If the cooling fan is operated continuously to cool the compressor, then the high-pressure refrigerant is cooled, but the heating stage time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant temperatureVSAvoidheating stage time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Duration of action of moving object

If a heater is placed into the processing air channel to complete the heating stage quickly, then the heating-up time is shortened, but the total energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating-up timeVSAvoidtotal energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the compressor's own operational heat to heat up the refrigerant and processing air during the drying process, rather than requiring an external heater. The compressor naturally heats up during operation, and this heat is utilized to warm the refrigerant, eliminating the need for additional heating energy while maintaining efficient drying performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution shortens the drying cycle period and decreases energy consumption by allowing the compressor to heat up quickly at the beginning of the drying process, optimizing the operation of the cooling fan according to measured temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan (9) that provides the compressor (5) to be cooled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the evaporator (6) that provides the processing air in the air duct (3) to be dehumidified

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

the condenser (7) that provides the dehumidified processing air to be heated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2764152B1Heat pump laundry dryer

Publication Date: 2015.09.16 ARCELIK AS

Figure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a heat pump laundry dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) wherein the laundry to be dried is placed, an air duct (3) wherein the processing air cycle is realized, a processing air fan (4) that provides the circulation of the processing air, a compressor (5) that realizes the refrigerant cycle, an evaporator (6) that provides the processing air in the air duct (3) to be dehumidified, a condenser (7) that provides the dehumidified processing air to be heated, a refrigerant line (8) that provides the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor (5) to pass through the condenser (7) and the evaporator (6) to be delivered to the compressor (5) again and a cooling fan (9) that provides the compressor (5) to be cooled.