System and method for heating washing water for use in industrial textile washing machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial textile washing machines rely on steam boilers for heating water, which are energy-inefficient, noisy, and pose environmental and safety risks due to pressure buildup and potential explosions.

Innovation Solution

A system that regenerates heat from used washing water using a heat exchanger and heat pump, eliminating the need for steam boilers by transferring heat energy to unfouled water, thereby reducing energy consumption and emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a steam boiler is used to heat washing water, then the water can be heated to required temperature, but energy consumption increases and environmental pollution occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing water temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers waste heat from discharged fouled washing water and reuses it to preheat fresh cold water. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded, converting it into a useful resource for heating incoming water, thereby reducing the energy required by the steam boiler and lowering overall energy consumption and emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers heat from fouled washing water that is discarded after use. The heat exchanger extracts thermal energy from the hot discharged water before it is released to the environment, and transfers this recovered heat to the cold fresh water supply, preventing waste of thermal energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Temperature

If a steam boiler is used to heat washing water, then the water can be heated to required temperature, but noise and environmental pollution increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing water temperatureVSAvoidnoise and emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers waste heat from discharged fouled washing water and reuses it to preheat fresh cold water. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded, converting it into a useful resource for heating incoming water, thereby reducing the energy required by the steam boiler and lowering overall energy consumption and emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Temperature

If a steam boiler is used to heat washing water, then the water can be heated to required temperature, but safety risks increase due to pressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing water temperatureVSAvoidsafety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device that transfers thermal energy from the fouled washing water to the fresh cold water without requiring direct contact between the two water streams or the use of high-pressure steam generation. This indirect heat transfer mechanism eliminates the safety risks associated with steam boiler pressure buildup while still achieving the required water heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 efficiently heats water to ready-to-use temperatures without steam boilers, improving energy efficiency and environmental sustainability while minimizing noise and safety hazards.

Implementation Method 1

a first inlet for conducting fouled washing water discharged from said washing device through the heat exchanger to the heat transfer liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

transfer heat to an heat transfer liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

at least one heat pump for transferring the heat to the unfouled washing water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate a refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP4245909A1System and method for heating washing water for use in industrial textile washing machines
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 TBR BV
  • EP4245909A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4245909A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4245909A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for regeneration of heat released by industrial textile washing machines for washing textile, in particular laundry. The invention also relates to a method for regeneration of heat released by industrial textile washing machines, in particular by making use of the system according to the invention.