Condenser Dryer Heat Exchanger Flushing With Pressurized Condensate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Condensation dryers with heat exchangers in the process air duct face challenges in effective cleaning due to the accumulation of fluff, which impairs heat exchange efficiency and increases the risk of malfunction, especially in heat pumps where components are permanently connected and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A condensation dryer design incorporating a pressure flushing tank with a compressible medium and a liquid pump to build and maintain pressure, allowing for high-pressure bursts of condensed water to be discharged onto the heat exchanger for cleaning, along with a valve system for controlled pressure release and a movable piston or elastic membrane for compression, enhancing cleaning efficacy with minimal equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat exchanger is permanently connected (as in heat pumps), then the device structure is compact and reliable, but the heat exchanger becomes difficult to clean and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple cleaning zones with different fluff accumulation characteristics. The cleaning device includes multiple nozzle groups that can independently target different sections, allowing selective cleaning of heavily contaminated areas while maintaining the permanent connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A movable cleaning device with water nozzles is introduced as an intermediary between the permanent heat exchanger structure and the cleaning process. This cleaning device can be moved along the heat exchanger and activated to喷射 cleaning fluid, enabling effective cleaning without disconnecting the permanently connected heat exchanger.
2Device complexity
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient due to fluff accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device utilizes hydraulic principles by喷射 high-pressure cleaning fluid through nozzles onto the heat exchanger surfaces. This hydraulic action effectively removes accumulated fluff and debris, maintaining heat exchange efficiency without requiring complex mechanical disassembly or manual cleaning procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system changes the physical parameters of the cleaning fluid by heating it and applying it under pressure. This parameter change enhances the cleaning effectiveness against fluff accumulation, allowing the system to maintain reliability while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If the heat exchanger is removed for cleaning, then cleaning accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases and permanent connections (heat pumps) cannot be cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
A movable cleaning device with water nozzles is introduced as an intermediary between the permanent heat exchanger structure and the cleaning process. This cleaning device can be moved along the heat exchanger and activated to喷射 cleaning fluid, enabling effective cleaning without disconnecting the permanently connected heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is designed to be self-contained and movable, allowing it to service different sections of the heat exchanger autonomously. The device can be positioned, activated for cleaning, and moved to the next section without requiring external assistance or system disassembly, simplifying the overall cleaning process.
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 enables improved cleaning of the heat exchanger with increased pressure, reducing maintenance effort and preventing malfunctions by effectively removing fluff and debris, thus maintaining dryer performance.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid pump and a non-return valve are arranged in the first line in the direction from the condensed water tank to the pressure flushing tank
Implementation Method 2
the pressure flushing container is partially filled with condensed water and partially with a compressible medium, the compressible medium can be pressurized, and the pressure for compressing the compressible medium is built up by means of the liquid pump
Implementation Method 3
a valve is arranged in the second line, the pressure flushing container is partially filled with condensed water and partially with a compressible medium
Implementation Method 4
In this heat exchanger (e.g. air-to-air heat exchanger or heat sink of a heat pump), the moist process air is cooled so that the water contained in the moist process air condenses
Implementation Method 5
air (so-called process air) is directed by a blower via a heat source into a drum containing moist laundry items
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a condenser dryer (1) comprising a drying chamber (2) for objects to be dried, a process air channel (3), in which there are a heat source (4) for heating the process air, a heat exchanger (5) for cooling the process air after passing through the drying chamber (2) and a fan (6) for conveying process air, a pressure rinse container (7), a condensation water container (8), a rinsing device (9) for the heat exchanger (5) and a control device (10), wherein the pressure rinse container (7) is connected to the condensation water container (8) via a first line (11) and to the rinsing device (9) for the heat exchanger (5) via a second line (12), wherein a fluid pump (13) and a check valve (14) are arranged in the first line (11) in the direction from the condensation water container (8) to the pressure rinse container (7), and wherein a valve (15) is arranged in the second line (12), wherein the pressure rinse container (7) is filled partially with condensed water (16) and partially with a compressible medium (17), wherein the compressible medium (17) is present in a space above the condensed water (16) and pressure is applied thereto, and wherein the pressure for compressing the compressible medium (17) is built up by means of the fluid pump (13). The present invention also relates to a method for operating such a condenser dryer.