Dryer with heat pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers face inefficiencies in energy usage, as they either waste thermal energy by discharging high-temperature, humid air or require additional heating due to heat loss during condensation processes, leading to reduced thermal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dryer incorporating a heat pump system with an evaporator and condenser configuration that reuses thermal energy from discharged air, enhancing energy efficiency by recycling waste energy for heating the drum air, potentially eliminating the need for additional heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temperature air is discharged to the outside, then drying function is achieved, but thermal energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers thermal energy from the high-temperature air discharged from the drum by passing it through an evaporator where the heat is transferred to the refrigerant. This recovered thermal energy is then utilized to preheat the air before it enters the drum, thereby reducing the energy loss that would otherwise occur through direct discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hot air discharge (energy waste) into a beneficial effect by using the evaporator to extract thermal energy from the discharged air. The heat that would be wasted is instead transferred to the refrigerant cycle, transforming the energy loss into useful heating capacity for the drying process.
2Loss of substance
If air is cooled below dew point for condensation, then moisture is removed, but heat energy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the heat energy from air that has been cooled for condensation by passing it through the evaporator. The thermal energy that would be lost during the cooling and condensation process is transferred to the refrigerant, allowing the air to be reheated and reused in the drying cycle, thereby recovering the heat energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat energy loss during condensation into a beneficial effect by using the evaporator to capture the thermal energy from the cooled air. The heat that is removed during condensation is not discarded but rather transferred to the refrigerant cycle, transforming the energy loss into useful heating capacity.
3Temperature
If additional heater is provided for reheating air, then drying temperature is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the evaporator serve multiple functions: it acts as both a heat recovery device that captures thermal energy from discharged air and as a heating device that provides the necessary heat to maintain drying temperature. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate additional heater, thereby maintaining the required drying temperature while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the heat pump system to serve itself by using the evaporator to recover and reuse the thermal energy from the discharged air within the same drying cycle. The system's own waste heat is captured and reused to maintain drying temperature, eliminating the need for external additional heating devices.
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 heat pump system increases energy efficiency by effectively recycling thermal energy, reducing the need for external heating and minimizing energy loss, thereby improving the dryer's overall thermal efficiency and energy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator configured to exchange heat with air being exhausted through the exhaust duct
Implementation Method 2
a condenser installed behind a rear side of the drum that is opposite of a front side of the drum in which the opening is defined, the condenser being configured to heat air inhaled from a rear surface of the cabinet
Implementation Method 3
energy contained in the discharged hot air is reused in heating up air being supplied to the drum, thereby increasing energy efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer with a heat pump that includes a cabinet, a drum installed within the cabinet, and an exhaust duct configured to exhaust air from the drum to outside of the cabinet. The dryer also includes a fan configured to inhale air from the drum and pump the air to the exhaust duct, an evaporator configured to exchange heat with air being exhausted through the exhaust duct, and a condenser disposed at a rear side of the drum. The dryer further includes an intake passage member configured to guide air that has passed through the condenser into the drum and a compressor and an expansion apparatus configured to define a heat pump along the evaporator and condenser.