Laundry System Closed-Loop Heat Recovery for External Energy Provision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry systems with multiple treatment machines inefficiently utilize thermal energy from exhaust air and wastewater, limiting external energy provision to other facilities.
Innovation Solution
A closed fluid circuit with a heat transfer fluid circulates through condensation and exhaust gas heat exchangers, transferring heat to an external heating network or facility, enhanced by a heat pump, and utilizing wastewater heat through multiple heat exchangers to further increase energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal energy from exhaust air is utilized by feeding it directly into a central heat exchanger for internal recirculation, then internal energy efficiency is improved, but external energy provision capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger system into multiple independent heat exchangers (first heat exchanger for exhaust air, second heat exchanger for process water, third heat exchanger for cooling water) that can operate in parallel. This segmentation allows different heat sources to be utilized separately while maintaining the ability to provide heat externally through any of the heat exchangers, thus resolving the contradiction between internal energy efficiency and external energy provision capability.
2Productivity
If multiple heat exchangers are introduced to utilize different heat sources, then energy utilization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs multiple heat exchangers that can serve dual purposes: each heat exchanger can provide heat for internal process needs (heating fresh water, cooling down exhaust air) and simultaneously serve as an external heat source for district heating networks. This multi-functionality increases energy utilization efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the same components serve multiple functions.
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 effectively recirculates and enhances waste heat for internal operations while providing surplus energy to external consumers, optimizing energy utilization and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one condensation heat exchanger is set up, to which the fluid circuit is connected and via which heat from exhaust air from the laundry treatment machines can be transferred to the heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat exchanger is set up, to which the fluid circuit is connected and by means of which the heat of the heat transfer fluid can be transferred to an external device outside the laundry system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry system (100) for treating laundry, comprising a plurality of laundry treatment machines (10, 11, 12), in particular designed as a mangle, a tunnel finisher, or a dryer, which can be fed with hot steam (13), hot gas, thermal oil, and/or electrical energy. According to the invention, a closed fluid circuit (15) with a heat transfer fluid (16) circulating therein is provided, and wherein at least one condensation heat exchanger (17) is provided, to which the fluid circuit (15) is connected and via which heat from an exhaust air (18) of the laundry treatment machines (10, 11, 12) can be transferred to the heat transfer fluid (16), and wherein at least one heat exchanger (19) is provided, to which the fluid circuit (15) is connected and by means of which the heat of the heat transfer fluid (16) can be transferred to an external device (E) outside the laundry system (100).