Heat pump system, combo washer-dryer, and dryer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems for clothes dryers and washing-drying integrated machines face inefficiencies in drying clothes in low-temperature environments, leading to slow temperature rise and potential compressor failure due to frost buildup and incomplete refrigerant vaporization.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system with a refrigerant regulating subsystem that includes parallel branches with throttling devices and a liquid storing device, allowing for adjustable flow directions and capillary tube lengths to manage refrigerant flow and pressure, enhancing compressor load rise rate and preventing compressor failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the evaporator operates at a saturation temperature much lower than 0 DEG C in low-temperature environment, then the compressor load is low and input power is small, but the temperature rise in the washing/drying drum is extremely slow which is adverse to drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the evaporator temperature adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the evaporator temperature based on ambient temperature conditions: maintaining it below 0 DEG C in high-temperature environments for energy efficiency, and raising it above 0 DEG C in low-temperature environments to improve drying efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between low energy consumption and high productivity.
2Productivity
If the evaporator operates at a saturation temperature much lower than 0 DEG C for a long time in low-temperature environment, then frost condenses on the evaporator surfaces reducing effective area and blocking air circulation, but raising the temperature improves drying efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the evaporator temperature parameter based on ambient conditions. When ambient temperature is low (below 10 DEG C), the controller raises the evaporator temperature above 0 DEG C to prevent frost formation, thereby maintaining reliable compressor operation. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between improving drying efficiency and ensuring system reliability.
3Productivity
If a high-capacity compressor is adopted to increase drying temperature in low-temperature environment, then the drying efficiency improves, but the energy consumption of the compressor increases at room temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by dynamically adjusting the evaporator temperature based on ambient temperature. In low-temperature environments, the system operates at higher temperatures to improve drying efficiency. In high-temperature environments, it operates at lower temperatures to reduce energy consumption. This dynamic operation allows the system to achieve high productivity when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.
4Productivity
If the evaporator temperature is raised above 0 DEG C in low-temperature environment, then the drying efficiency improves and frost formation is prevented, but the compressor load increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the evaporator temperature parameter based on ambient conditions. The controller raises the evaporator temperature above 0 DEG C only when ambient temperature is below 10 DEG C, which is sufficient to prevent frost formation and improve drying efficiency without causing excessive energy consumption. This conditional parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption.
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 system increases the compressor load rise rate in low-temperature environments, improving drying efficiency and preventing compressor failures by managing refrigerant flow and pressure, thus enhancing the overall performance of heat pump systems in clothes dryers and washing-drying integrated machines.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator evaporates a liquid refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant when refrigerant in the heat pump system enters the evaporator; in this process, the evaporator absorbs surrounding heat
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator absorbs surrounding heat, as a condensing device in the air duct used for condensing the air flowing through the air duct
Implementation Method 3
the condenser changes a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a low-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant when the refrigerant in the heat pump system enters the condenser; and at the moment, the condenser releases heat to the outside
Implementation Method 4
the condenser releases heat to the outside, as a heating device in the air duct used for heating the air flowing through the air duct
Implementation Method 5
a first throttling device having an outlet connected with a pipe inlet of the evaporator
Implementation Method 6
the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser and the throttling device are sequentially communicated through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulating loop
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Provided are a heat pump system, a washing-drying integrated machine and a clothes dryer. The heat pump system includes an evaporator (3), a compressor (4), a condenser (2) and a refrigerant regulating subsystem (1); where the evaporator (3), the compressor (4), the condenser (2) and the refrigerant regulating subsystem (1) are sequentially communicated through a pipeline to form a refrigerant circulating loop; and the refrigerant regulating subsystem (1) includes a first branch (11) and a second branch (12) connected in parallel between the evaporator (3) and the condenser (2); the first branch (11) includes a first throttling device (111) having an outlet connected with a pipe inlet of the evaporator (3), and a liquid storing device (114) located between the first throttling device (111) and the condenser (2); and a second throttling device (121) is connected with the second branch (12) in series. When a temperature is high, the liquid storing device (114) enables a space for accommodating refrigerant to increase, and pressure load does not rise rapidly. When the temperature is low, the space for accommodating the refrigerant is reduced, and load of the compressor (4) rises rapidly.