EP2075368A1 - Method for removing a condensate in a household device for caring for pieces of laundry - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves collecting condensates falling during operation of a household device e.g. air evacuation drier (1), in a collection container (21). A filling level of the condensates in the container is monitored. A signal e.g. optical or acoustic signal, is produced when the filling level is fallen below a filling level-threshold, as an indication for implementing a condensation disposal process e.g. bake-out process. Air absorbing the condensates is guided from the household device through an air discharge opening (9).

Description

The invention relates to a method for disposing of a condensate in a domestic appliance for the care of laundry, is collected in the operation of the domestic appliance condensate collected in a sump, wherein the level of condensate collected in the sump is monitored and when a level threshold is exceeded generates a signal indicative of performing a Kondensatentsorgungsvorgangs, or when a level threshold is exceeded, a condensate removal operation is started.

Such a method is apparent from each of the patent documents EP 1 659 207 A1 and EP 1 816 252 A1 , In each of these documents, a domestic appliance in the form of a tumble dryer is described, which has a collecting container for receiving condensate, which is obtained during the drying of laundry items. The collecting container is associated with a sensor arrangement, with which in particular a level of the condensate in the collecting container can be determined. An indicator is also provided for alerting a user of the domestic appliance to the level when it requires intervention by the user, for example, to empty the collector. Parallel to this display, a running in the household appliance drying process can also be interrupted.

In general, a tumble dryer is operated as a vented dryer or as a condensation dryer. An exhaust air dryer passes heated air once through the laundry items to be dried in the drum and discharges these moisture laden air through an exhaust hose from the exhaust air dryer and out of the room in which it is installed. A condensation dryer whose operation is based on the condensation of moisture evaporated from the laundry by means of warm process air does not require an exhaust hose and allows energy recovery from the heated process air, for example by using a heat pump. However, with such a condensation dryer it is generally necessary to collect the accumulated condensate and either to pump it off or to dispose of it by manually emptying collection containers. From the DE 40 23 000 C2 is a Laundry dryer with a heat pump circuit, in which a supply air opening is arranged in the process air duct between the condenser and the evaporator, which can be closed with a controllable closure device.

In the case of an exhaust air dryer, on the other hand, moisture laden air is generally passed out of the dryer after passage through a laundry drum. Compared to a condensation dryer, an exhaust air dryer can be made simpler and thus cheaper. An exhaust air dryer draws air from its environment during operation and uses it directly for drying. Such ambient air is usually relatively dry with a relative humidity of significantly less than 100%, and therefore can absorb a relatively large amount of moisture. By comparison, the circulating process air in a condensation dryer can generally only be dehumidified to 100% relative humidity at the lowest temperature present in the process air cycle, which limits its ability to absorb moisture from the objects to be dried and thus imposes some restrictions on the drying process.

Even in an exhaust air dryer heat recovery is basically possible, however, any such heat recovery implies a cooling of the exhaust air, whereby condensate can precipitate out of the exhaust air and must be disposed of. According to the DE 30 00 865 A1 is a clothes dryer designed as exhaust air dryer with heat recovery. The tumble dryer comprises a drum accommodating and moving the laundry into which a supply air stream heated by a heating element flows, while the moist hot air is conducted as exhaust air via an outlet. In the supply air flow, a heat exchanger is arranged in front of the heating element, which is flowed through by the moist hot exhaust air from the container.

In an exhaust air dryer with heat recovery flows usually ambient air (eg, 20 ° C and 60% relative humidity, so-called supply air) in the heat exchanger surface of an air-to-air heat exchanger and is there under cooling from the drying chamber or the Drum heated warm process air heated up. Depending on the cooling capacity or the heat exchange, condensate is produced, which is collected or pumped away in a container. The amount of accumulating Condensate is a measure of the heat energy released in the heat exchanger and thus a measure of the improvement in energy efficiency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method in which a condensate accumulated in a domestic appliance can be easily and reliably disposed of and high reliability of the domestic appliance is ensured when collecting the condensate.

This object is achieved in each case by a method having the features of claim 1 or 2. Preferred developments of these methods are subject-matter dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for disposing of a condensate in a domestic appliance for the care of laundry, is collected in the operation of the domestic appliance accumulating condensate in a sump, wherein the level of the condensate collected in the sump is monitored and when exceeding a Level threshold, a signal is generated as an indication for performing a Kondensatentsorgungsvorgangs, wherein a condensate removal process, a baking process is performed.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for disposing of a condensate in a domestic appliance for the care of laundry, is collected in the operation of the domestic appliance accumulating condensate in a sump, wherein the level of the condensate collected in the sump is monitored and when exceeding a Level threshold, a condensate removal operation is started, wherein as a condensate removal process, a baking process is performed.

In any case, a condensation process of the condensate is performed as a condensate removal operation. As a result, the disposal of the condensate, which accumulates in the sump, is particularly effective, simple and reliable.

It can be provided that the condensate removal process is started automatically by the device. Even if there is no user on the device or any previously performed reference was not registered by means of a signal, thereby the overflow of the collecting container can be avoided. It proves to be particularly advantageous if this condensate removal process is started, in particular automatically, after the completion of a care process of the items of laundry. With regard to the processes of the care process on the one hand and the condensate removal process on the other hand, this allows a temporal stringing together, so that both processes can be carried out optimally.

Also preferably, in the bake process, heated and dry air is passed over the surface of the collected condensate into the sump, through which condensate is taken up and removed from the sump. The condensate receiving air is further preferably passed through the exhaust port of the household appliance. In particular, the collecting container is coupled to a secondary channel, which is arranged to form a main channel, in which the heat exchanger device is arranged, and the air is passed through the secondary channel, at least proportionally, in particular completely.

The baking process is preferably carried out only when a drum is emptied of laundry.

The heating process is also preferably carried out by means of a heating device or by means of the heating device and a heat exchange device, in particular a heat pump, of the domestic appliance.

Further preferably, the level in the collecting container is continuously monitored during operation of the domestic appliance. As a result, overfilling of the collecting container can be avoided.

Preferably, the signal gives an indication to a user to start a condensate removal operation by the user after completing a care process of the laundry items. The information by means of the signal is thus designed so that a user of the domestic appliance is also informed during the execution of the care process that a condensate disposal should take place, it being indicated by the signal that this condensate disposal after completion of the ongoing Care process should be carried out and dispose of this condensate or a corresponding disposal process should be started after completion of the care process. The user is thus informed in time when such a condensate removal process should be started, so that even during the care process there is still a time margin for starting. Since the condensate removal process is subject to specific requirements in particular, it is particularly advantageous that this is performed only after completion of a care process, and the care process is not affected thereby.

Preferably, an optical and / or acoustic signal is generated as an indication. As a result, a user can clearly be given a corresponding display or message.

Also preferably, it can be provided that the condensate removal process is started automatically by the device. Even if no user is on the device or a possibly previously performed notice was not registered by means of a signal, thereby the overflow of the collection container can be avoided.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if this condensate removal process is started, in particular automatically, after the completion of a care process of the items of laundry. With regard to the processes of the care process on the one hand and the condensate removal process on the other hand, this allows a juxtaposition, so that both processes can be carried out optimally.

Also preferably, within the scope of a method according to the invention, process air is conducted out of the domestic appliance during operation of the domestic appliance via a process air guide through a drum for absorbing moisture from the laundry items and after exiting the drum through an exhaust air opening; Thus, the application of the invention in a tumble dryer or washer dryer of the exhaust air type opens up.

Further preferably, in such an application, the condensate is proportionally formed by the condensate collected in the collecting container is expelled in a mist-like manner through the exhaust opening with the discharged process air, whereupon it in a thereto condensed again subsequent exhaust pipe and runs back into the sump.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Trockners mit Wärmerückgewinnung, welcher zur Ausführung der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren ausgelegt ist; und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung für ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines Trockners mit welchem die erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren durchgeführt werden können.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of a dryer with heat recovery, which is designed for carrying out the method according to the invention; and

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a dryer with which the inventive method can be performed.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 is shown as a sketch of a household appliance for the care of laundry, which is designed as a vented dryer 1. The dryer 1 has a process air channel 2 and a drum 3, which is rotatable about an axis 4. Process air is guided by means of a blower 5 via a heater 6 through the drum 3 and a lint filter 7. The process air is drawn in through a supply air opening 8 and pushed out through an exhaust air opening 9. In the supply air opening 8 air passes directly from an environment of the dryer 1. To the exhaust port 9 is connected an exhaust hose 10, with which the exhaust air from the dryer 1 away and from a room in which it is placed, is discharged. In addition, a heat exchange device 11, 12 is present. In the respective inlet channel, the process air drawn in through the inlet air opening 8 is transferred from the process air flowing out of the drum 3 and the lint filter 7. After passing through the drum 3, the moist and warm process air to be discharged from the drum 3 is cooled. By contrast, the process air to be supplied to the heating device 6 is preheated. The fully heated by the heater 6 process air is passed into the drum 3, where it comes into contact with the laundry to be dried and then flows to the lint filter 7. Then, the process air flow branches. A main part enters the main channel, which passes through the heat exchanger 11, 12, where it gives heat to fresh retracted supply air, which flows through the inlet channel of the heat exchange device 11, 12. As mentioned, the amount of heat transferred in this case must be measured on the basis of a concrete specification with regard to the energy balance of the dryer 1 and does not necessarily correspond to the full amount of heat available in the main duct. One of the findings derived from this is that the full stream of process air flowing out of the drum 3 does not have to be used for heat exchange. Therefore, it is possible to use a part of the process air flow to dispose of condensate, which is generated during the cooling of the process air in the main channel. For this purpose, a secondary channel 13 is provided in which a corresponding part of the process air is introduced past the heat exchanger device 11, 12. Condensate, which accumulates in the main channel, passes through a corresponding channel 14 to the side channel 13th

For the transport of the condensate is expediently a natural gradient, which can be formed by appropriate construction of the main channel and an arrangement of the secondary channel 13 below the main channel, exploited. The first branch 15 in the process air duct 2, at which the process air stream divides into a first process air stream to the main channel and a second process air stream to the secondary channel 13 and at which the secondary channel 13 branches off from the main channel, is dimensioned so that the second process air stream about 30% of the total Available process air includes. In the secondary channel 13, the second process air stream absorbs evaporating condensate and reunites at the second branch 16, at which the secondary channel 13 opens again into the main channel, again with the first process air stream. In the side channel 13, a evaporator 17 is arranged in the form of a Ultraschallverneblers. A particular advantage of this nebuliser 17 is that it allows the condensate to be distributed in the process air without the process air having to meet specific thermodynamic requirements, in particular having a certain elevated temperature and a certain reduced relative humidity in order to evaporate condensate present as liquid and to be able to record like that. The removal of the condensate takes place as a mist, d. H. as a dispersion of liquid in gas.

This mist-like process air is passed through the auxiliary channel 13 and the exhaust port 9 in the exhaust hose 10. Especially when the dryer 1 is positioned unfavorably and relatively long exhaust ducts 10 or many sheets are formed in this regard, low temperatures on the exhaust pipe or unfavorable wind constellations cause the exhaust nozzle to the fact that the generated fog-like process air flow condensed very strong on the walls of the exhaust hose 10 and the water runs back into the dryer 1. In particular, it can then run back into the secondary channel 13 and also in the secondary channel 13 arranged collecting container 21, in which the collecting via the channel 14 condensate, run back.

In Fig. 2 a second embodiment is shown, but the components of the dryer 1 are not shown above the fan 5 and the lint filter 7, since they are the components according to Fig. 1 correspond.

The essential difference from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is that the heat exchange device 11, 12 is not in a simple countercurrent or cross-flow heat exchanger 11, 12, but is formed by an evaporator 11 and a condenser 12, and a heat pump 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, which additionally Compressor 18, a throttle 19 and a conduit system 20 for a recirculating and cyclically vaporized, to be compressed, to be liquefied and to be expanded refrigerant. The main channel and the sub-channel 13 function as in the dryer 1 of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 However, the heat pump 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 allows a free adjustment of the temperature level in the main channel 11 and the inlet channel 12, and thus offers further options for optimizing the energy balance of the dryer. 1

Although both embodiments are explained with an exhaust air dryer and an open process air duct, it can be provided that the process air can be circulated at least partially also in the dryer 1.

In the Fig. 2 explained heat pump can be designed as a compressor heat pump or as a Peltier heat pump. In accordance with FIG. 2 equipped with a compressor heat pump dryer 1, the cooling of the warm, laden with moisture process air substantially in the evaporator 11 of the heat pump, where the heat transferred to evaporate a refrigerant used in the heat pump cycle is used. The refrigerant of the heat pump evaporated due to the heating is supplied to the condenser 12 of the heat pump via the compressor 18, where heat is released due to the condensation of the gaseous refrigerant which is used to heat the process air. The refrigerant circulates in a closed circuit in which it passes from the condenser 12 via the throttle 19 back to the evaporator 11.

In both embodiments, it is provided that the dryers 1 are designed to carry out processes for disposing of a condensate. The level of the condensate collected in the sump 21 is monitored, and when a level threshold is exceeded, a preferably acoustic signal is generated as an indication of performing a condensate removal operation. The level in the collection container 21 is continuously monitored, the signal being an indication to a user of the dryer 1 to start by the user a condensate removal process after completing a care process of the laundry items.

In this connection, in the condensate removal process, a bakeout program or a bakeout process is started in which by means of the heat exchange arrangement 11, 12 according to the embodiment in FIG Fig. 1 or with the heat pump 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 according to the embodiment in Fig. 2 in connection with the heating device 6, which incidentally also in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 As mentioned, condensate is disposed of from the sump 21.

It can also be provided that the heating program is performed only with the heater 6. In the condensate removal process, the baking process is carried out to the effect that warm and relatively dry air is passed through the condensate collection tray or the collection container 21 and can be absorbed by this air large amounts of condensate and conveyed out of the device. The heating step is preferably supported or shortened by the fact that the heated air flow is conducted completely and thus 100% via the auxiliary channel 13. This can be done by a flap which closes the main channel in this baking process.

In principle, it is advantageous if the collecting container 21 is dimensioned so that the condensate of at least two successive drying processes under unfavorable boundary conditions in the bottom group of the dryer 1 finds room.

It can also be provided that in the Fig. 1 and 2 explained dryer 1 are provided for carrying out a method in which is monitored to dispose of a condensate, the level of condensate collected in the sump 21 and a condensate removal operation is started when a level threshold is exceeded. In this context it can be provided that the methods are designed so that the condensate removal process is started by the device itself and started automatically. Here, too, it is preferably provided that the condensate removal process is started after the completion of a drying process of the laundry items, and a bakeout process already explained above is carried out as the condensate removal process.

Claims (13)

A method for disposing of a condensate in a domestic appliance (1) for the care of laundry, in which accumulating in operation of the domestic appliance (1) condensate is collected in a collecting container (21), wherein the level of condensate collected in the collecting container (21) is monitored and when a level threshold is exceeded, generating a signal indicative of performing a condensate removal operation;
characterized in that
As a condensate removal process, a baking process is performed. A method for disposing of a condensate in a domestic appliance (1) for the care of laundry, in which accumulating in operation of the domestic appliance (1) condensate is collected in a collecting container (21), wherein the level of condensate collected in the collecting container (21) is monitored and when a level threshold is exceeded, a condensate removal operation is started,
characterized in that
As a condensate removal process, a baking process is performed. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the bake process heated and dry air is passed over the surface of the collected condensate in the sump (21) through which condensate from the sump (21) is received. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the condensate receiving air is passed through the exhaust port of the household appliance (1). A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the collecting container (21) with a parallel to a main channel, in which a heat exchange device (11, 12) is arranged, side channel (13) coupled, and the air during the Kondensatentsorgungsvorgang at least proportionally, in particular completely, through the secondary channel (13) is passed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bake-out process is performed only in a drum (3) emptied of laundry items. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the baking process by means of a heating device (6) or by means of the heating device (6) and a heat exchange device (11, 12), in particular a heat pump, the domestic appliance (1) is performed. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the level in the collecting container (21) is continuously monitored. A method according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the signal gives the indication to a user to start by the user a condensate removal process after the completion of a care process of the laundry items. Method according to one of claims 1 or 8 or 9, characterized in that as an indication of an optical and / or acoustic signal is generated. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the condensate removal process is started after the completion of a care process of the laundry items. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that process air during operation of the domestic appliance (1) via a process air guide (2) by a drum (3) for receiving moisture from the laundry items and after exiting the drum (3) by a Exhaust opening (9) from the household appliance (1) is passed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the condensate is formed proportionally by the fact that the in the collecting container (21) Collected condensate is expelled fog-like through the exhaust port (9) with the discharged process air and condenses again in a subsequent exhaust duct (10) and runs back into the sump (21).

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