Heat Pump Washer Dryer Cooling Circuit for Refrigerant Heat Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump tumble dryers face inefficiencies due to the buildup of excess heat in the refrigerant circuit, which requires inefficient cooling methods or additional complex components to manage waste heat effectively.
Innovation Solution
A tumble dryer design featuring a cooling device with a pipe system in the condenser for coolant flow, utilizing water as a coolant and a control system to manage cooling based on drum rotation direction, allowing for efficient and targeted heat dissipation without external water connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressor is enclosed in a capsule housing to prevent refrigerant leakage, then refrigerant tightness is improved, but waste heat accumulates in the housing causing refrigerant temperature to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule housing is segmented into two functional zones: an inner compression chamber for the compressor and an outer cooling chamber for heat dissipation. This segmentation allows the heat generated by the compressor to be directed to the cooling chamber where cooling fins and process air facilitate heat removal, preventing temperature buildup while maintaining refrigerant containment.
2Temperature
If fans are used to cool the compressor through the capsule housing, then refrigerant temperature is reduced, but cooling efficiency is low due to indirect heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
Process air serves as an intermediary cooling medium that flows through the capsule housing and absorbs heat from the compressor via the cooling fins. This intermediary approach allows efficient heat transfer from the compressor to the process air, which then carries the heat away in the exhaust stream, improving cooling efficiency compared to direct ambient air cooling.
3Temperature
If additional heat exchangers or cooling systems are added to remove excess heat, then refrigerant temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The process air serving multiple functions: it cools the evaporator in the condenser, drives the drum rotation, and simultaneously cools the compressor through the capsule housing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling systems for the compressor, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own process air and exhaust flow to cool the compressor, rather than requiring external cooling resources. The process air naturally flowing through the system is diverted to cool the compressor, and the exhaust fan's operation automatically removes the heated air, creating a self-sufficient cooling mechanism.
4Productivity
If the process air fan is optimized for one direction only, then fan efficiency is improved, but cooling capacity varies when drum rotation direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed to dynamically adapt to drum rotation direction. The capsule housing with its cooling fins and the process air flow path are configured to maintain effective heat transfer regardless of whether the drum rotates forward or backward, allowing the optimized fan to operate at peak efficiency in both directions while still providing adequate cooling.
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
Enables quick stabilization of the refrigerant temperature, optimizing energy use and reducing waste heat, while maintaining a simple and compact design with a single drive motor for the fan and drum.
Implementation Method 1
dehumidified in a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
reheated by a heater
Implementation Method 3
a compressor with a compressor
Implementation Method 4
a condenser and circulates through a throttle
Implementation Method 5
Cooling device comprising a pipe system in the condenser, which is designed for a coolant to flow through to dissipate heat from the condenser
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The tumble dryer (1) has a motor (10) arranged in a housing (2), where a drum (3) is mounted over a horizontal or inclined axis in rotating manner. A cooling device has a pipe system in a radiator (16), which is formed to flow through a coolant for removing heat from the condenser. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a dryer.