Heat Pump Dryer Evaporator Air Guide for Bypass Loss Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heat pump laundry dryers, the efficiency of the evaporator is compromised due to air bypassing through a gap under the evaporator, leading to pressure loss and re-humidification of drying air, which decreases drying performance and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air guide is integrated into the base plate under the evaporator to redirect drying air away from accumulating water droplets, ensuring it remains dehumidified and maintains efficient air flow, while a water flow path directs accumulated water to the drain channel, preventing re-humidification and pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a gap is left under the evaporator to maintain water flow, then water drainage is improved, but drying air efficiency decreases due to air bypassing and re-humidification
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is segmented into a first base plate region (under the evaporator) and a second base plate region (away from the evaporator), with a guiding structure that divides the gap into a first gap for water flow and a second gap for air flow. This segmentation allows water and air to travel through separate paths, preventing air from contacting water while maintaining efficient water drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
A guiding structure (air guide) is introduced as an intermediary element between the evaporator and the base plate. This guiding structure serves as a mediator that directs air flow along a specific path, preventing direct contact between drying air and water droplets while still allowing water to drain effectively through the separated first gap.
2Ease of manufacture
If drying air passes through the gap under the evaporator, then water flow is maintained, but pressure loss increases and evaporator efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gap under the evaporator is segmented into a first gap (for water flow) and a second gap (for air flow), separated by a guiding structure. This segmentation ensures that air follows a controlled path that maintains pressure while water drains independently, eliminating the energy loss associated with air bypassing through water-contacting regions.
3Ease of manufacture
If air contact with water is allowed in the gap, then water drainage is facilitated, but air re-humidification occurs and drying performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate and gap are segmented into distinct regions: a first gap region where water flows from the evaporator to the drain channel, and a second gap region where air flows without contacting water. The guiding structure maintains this segmentation, ensuring water drainage is facilitated while air remains dehumidified for optimal drying performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding structure acts as an intermediary that separates the water flow path from the air flow path. It directs air to follow a trajectory that avoids water contact zones, while simultaneously allowing water to drain unimpeded through the separated first gap region, thus preventing re-humidification while maintaining drainage efficiency.
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 air guide enhances evaporator efficiency by minimizing air contact with water, maintaining dehumidified air flow and improving drying performance, thus increasing energy efficiency and reducing moisture accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
the processing air humidified by passing over the laundry in the drum (2) is passed over the evaporator (6) and the condenser (7) respectively by means of the ventilation duct (3). The evaporator (6) condenses and dehumidifies the processing air
Implementation Method 2
the processing air humidified by passing over the laundry in the drum (2) is passed over the evaporator (6) and the condenser (7) respectively by means of the ventilation duct (3). The evaporator (6) condenses and dehumidifies the processing air, and the condenser (7) heats the dehumidified processing air coming from the evaporator (6)
Data Source
Figure 1
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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, a ventilation duct (3) wherein the processing air cycle is realized, a fan (4) providing the circulation of the processing air, a compressor (5) providing the refrigerant cycle, an evaporator (6) placed into the ventilation duct (3), that condenses the humid processing air, a condenser (7) placed into the ventilation duct (3), that heats the processing air dehumidified at the evaporator (6), a pump (8) providing the condensate water to be discharged and a drain channel (9) that extends between the evaporator (6) and the condenser (7) and that provides the condensate water to be delivered from the evaporator (6) to the pump (8).