Filterless air-handling system for a heat pump laundry appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry appliances with heat pump systems face challenges in effectively removing particulate matter from air without the use of filters, which can lead to reduced efficiency and increased maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A filterless air-handling system that utilizes a condensing heat exchanger to heat air, an evaporating heat exchanger to cool fluid, and a shower area where the cooled fluid intersects with the heated air to wash out particulate matter, eliminating the need for filters by using the intersection of airflow and fluid paths to dehumidify and clean the air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is used to remove particulate matter from air, then air cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtration function from a traditional filter component and integrates it into the heat exchanger system. The heat exchanger surfaces perform both thermal exchange and particulate capture functions, eliminating the need for a separate filter component and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: thermal exchange (heating or cooling air) and particulate matter removal. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate filtration components, directly addressing the contradiction by maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is used to remove particulate matter from air, then air cleaning effectiveness is improved, but maintenance requirements and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the filtration function from a replaceable filter component and integrating it into the permanent heat exchanger structure, the system eliminates the need for filter installation, removal, and replacement operations, significantly reducing maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger system performs self-cleaning through its operational cycles, utilizing airflow patterns and thermal processes to prevent particulate accumulation that would require manual intervention. The system maintains its cleaning function without external maintenance input.
3Use of energy by moving object
If heat exchangers are used to heat and cool air, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filtration function with the heat exchange system, combining multiple functions (heating, cooling, and particulate removal) into a single integrated system. This consolidation achieves energy efficiency through heat recovery while avoiding the complexity of separate standalone systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger system is designed to perform multiple thermal functions (heating and cooling) along with particulate matter removal, achieving high energy efficiency through heat recovery and reuse while maintaining a unified system architecture that manages complexity through functional integration.
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 system efficiently removes particulate matter from the air, reduces moisture content, and increases fluid temperature, allowing for recycling and reuse, while maintaining appliance efficiency without the need for filters, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
A condensing heat exchanger heats the process air to define heated process air
Implementation Method 2
An evaporating heat exchanger cools the fluid to define a cooled fluid
Implementation Method 3
An evaporating heat exchanger cools the fluid to define a cooled fluid
Implementation Method 4
the cooled fluid is showered through the heated process air after the heated process air exits the drum to wash particulate matter out of the heated process air
Implementation Method 5
The heated process air increases a fluid temperature of the cooled fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry appliance includes a blower that directs process air along an airflow path. A condensing heat exchanger heats the process air to define heated process air. A drum receives the heated process air to dry laundry. A pump directs fluid along a fluid path. An evaporating heat exchanger cools the fluid to define a cooled fluid. A refrigerant circuit directs a refrigerant between the condensing and evaporating heat exchangers. A shower area in which the cooled fluid is showered through the heated process air after the heated process air exits the drum to wash particulate matter out of the heated process air. The pump directs the fluid towards the evaporating heat exchanger in order to cool the fluid, and directs the cooled fluid to the shower area.