Condensing system for combination washer/dryer appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11802364-B2
Application number	US-202217691357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2022
Priority date	Apr 16, 2021
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A fluid condensing system for a combination washer/dryer appliance includes a metal condenser coil positioned within a condenser. Water liquid pulses through the metal condenser coil for maintaining the metal condenser coil at a cold temperature as water vapor in the hot exhaust air from the combination washer/dryer appliance condenses on the surface of the condenser coil. A common sump collects the water condensate from the condenser, the cooling fluid exiting the condenser coil, and wash water from the combination washer/dryer appliance. The water condensate, cooling fluid, and wash water is reclaimed and recycled through both a condenser coil recirculation loop and a wash water dispenser system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A condensing system for a laundry appliance, comprising:
an exhaust air recirculation loop including an air inlet conduit and an air outlet conduit, the air inlet conduit extending between an exhaust air inlet port and a condenser inlet port, the air outlet conduit extending between a condenser outlet port and a drying air return port;
a condenser connected to and arranged in fluid communication with the condenser inlet port of the air inlet conduit and the condenser outlet port of the air outlet conduit, the condenser including a water condensate outlet positioned to drain water condensate collecting in the condenser;
a condenser coil positioned within the condenser, the condenser coil including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a condenser coil recirculation loop including a fluid supply line connected to the fluid inlet of the condenser coil and a fluid return line connected to the fluid outlet of the condenser coil;
a condenser drain line connected to the water condensate outlet; and
a common sump arranged in fluid communication with both the fluid return line and the condenser drain line such that the common sump is configured to collect fluid exiting the condenser coil and the water condensate draining from the condenser,
wherein the common sump is arranged in fluid communication with both the fluid supply line of the condenser coil recirculation loop and a fresh water inlet of the laundry appliance such that the common sump is configured to supply the fluid and water condensate returning to the common sump to both the condenser coil and the fresh water inlet for use in a washing cycle of the laundry appliance.

2. The condensing system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid and water condensate returning to the common sump is supplied to the fresh water inlet where it combines with fresh water before being used in the washing cycle of the laundry appliance.

3. The condensing system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a fluid transfer conduit connected to and extending between the common sump and the fresh water inlet.

4. The condensing system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a pump located in fluid communication with the common sump and the fluid transfer conduit, wherein the pump is configured to pump the fluid and water condensate out of the common sump and into the fluid transfer conduit.

5. The condensing system of claim 4 , wherein the fresh water inlet includes at least one valve that is arranged to permit fluid flow out of the fluid transfer conduit in a first position and permit the flow of fresh water into the fluid transfer conduit in a second position.

6. The condensing system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a controller that is arranged in electronic communication with at least one of the pump and the valve of the fresh water inlet, the controller being programmed to control at least one of the pump and the valve of the fresh water inlet to supply the fluid to the condenser coil in pulses to maintain the condenser coil at a cold temperature as water vapor in hot exhaust air from the air inlet conduit condenses on the condenser coil.

7. The condensing system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid supply line of the condenser coil recirculation loop is arranged in fluid communication with at least one of the pump and the fluid transfer conduit.

8. The condensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan positioned to direct cooling airflow over the condenser to further cool the condenser and promote the condensation of water vapor inside the condenser.

9. The condensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor positioned in the air inlet conduit adjacent to the condenser inlet port to take temperature measurements of hot exhaust air flowing into the condenser.

10. The condensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a Peltier cell attached to the condenser, the Peltier cell including a cold side arranged to promote the condensation of water vapor within the condenser and a hot side arranged to reheat drying air exiting the condenser through the condenser outlet port.

11. A combination washer/dryer appliance, comprising:
an appliance housing;
an appliance door pivotally mounted to the appliance housing;
a drum and tub assembly positioned inside the appliance housing, the drum and tub assembly including a tub and a drum that is rotatably supported within the tub;
a fresh water inlet disposed within the appliance housing and configured to be connected to a fresh water source;
an exhaust air recirculation loop including an air inlet conduit and an air outlet conduit, the air inlet conduit extending between an exhaust air inlet port and a condenser inlet port, the air outlet conduit extending between a condenser outlet port and a drying air return port;
a condenser connected to and arranged in fluid communication with the condenser inlet port of the air inlet conduit and the condenser outlet port of the air outlet conduit, the condenser including a water condensate outlet positioned to drain water condensate collecting in the condenser;
a condenser coil positioned within the condenser, the condenser coil including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a condenser coil recirculation loop including a fluid supply line connected to the fluid inlet of the condenser coil and a fluid return line connected to the fluid outlet of the condenser coil;
a condenser drain line connected to the water condensate outlet; and
a common sump arranged in fluid communication with both the fluid return line and the condenser drain line such that the common sump is configured to collect fluid exiting the condenser coil and the water condensate draining from the condenser,
wherein the common sump is arranged in fluid communication with both the fluid supply line of the condenser coil recirculation loop and the fresh water inlet such that the common sump is configured to supply the fluid and water condensate returning to the common sump to both the condenser coil and the fresh water inlet for use in a washing cycle of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

12. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:
a wash tub drain line connected in fluid communication with and extending between the tub and the common sump, the wash tub drain line configured to receive wash water draining from the tub and carry the wash water to the common sump.

13. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 12 , further comprising:
a wash water dispensing system connected to the fresh water inlet, the wash water dispensing system is arranged inside the appliance housing and is configured to receive fresh water from the fresh water inlet and dispense wash water into the tub; and
a fluid transfer conduit connected in fluid communication with the common sump and the wash water dispensing system, wherein the fluid, water condensate, and wash water returning to the common sump is supplied to the wash water dispensing system for use during the washing cycle of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

14. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 13 , further comprising:
a pump located in fluid communication with the common sump and the fluid transfer conduit, wherein the pump is configured to pump the fluid, water condensate, and wash water out of the common sump and into the fluid transfer conduit.

15. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 14 , wherein the fluid supply line of the condenser coil recirculation loop is arranged in fluid communication with the fluid transfer conduit.

16. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kakehi Sachie
• Mancini Mauro
• Vaive Nicholas

Classifications

• D06F39/085 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of pumps · CPC title

• D06F58/24 Primary

  Condensing arrangements · CPC title

• D06F34/26

  Condition of the drying air, e.g. air humidity or temperature · CPC title

• D06F39/006

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• D06F39/04

  Heating arrangements · CPC title