Heat exchange device and dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12533004-B2
Application number	US-202318509659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2023
Priority date	Nov 9, 2021
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

The present application provides a heat exchange device and a dishwasher. The heat exchange device includes an evaporator, a first liquid storage tank, a second liquid storage tank and a power unit. A medium inlet and a medium outlet are defined in the evaporator, the first liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium inlet, and the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium outlet and the first liquid storage tank. A liquid inlet and a gas discharge port are defined in the second liquid storage tank. The power unit is arranged between the evaporator and the first liquid storage tank, or between the evaporator and the second liquid storage tank, so as to drive a liquid medium to circularly flow between the first liquid storage tank, the evaporator and the second liquid storage tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchange device, comprising:
an evaporator, defining a medium inlet and a medium outlet; a first liquid storage tank in communication with the medium inlet; a second liquid storage tank in communication with the medium outlet, wherein the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second liquid storage tank defines a liquid inlet and an exhaust hole; and a power unit, arranged between the evaporator and the first liquid storage tank, or between the evaporator and the second liquid storage tank, and configured to drive a liquid medium to circulate among the first liquid storage tank, the evaporator, and the second liquid storage tank, wherein the second liquid storage tank and the evaporator are arranged on a mounting surface of the first liquid storage tank, and a distance from the highest point of the second liquid storage tank to the mounting surface is greater than a distance from the highest point of the evaporator to the mounting surface.

2 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a mounting groove is defined in the mounting surface, and the evaporator is embedded in the mounting groove; and
a first outlet is defined in the mounting groove, and the first outlet is in communication with the medium inlet.

3 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first liquid storage tank defines a first inlet, and the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first inlet; and
the first liquid storage tank comprises two opposite corners on a diagonal of the first liquid storage tank, the first outlet is located on one of the two opposite corners, and the first inlet is located on the other of the two opposite corners.

4 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the medium inlet is located on a side wall of the evaporator, and the medium outlet is located on a top end of the evaporator.

5 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second liquid storage tank defines a second inlet and a second outlet, the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator; and
the liquid inlet is located on a side of the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank away from the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank, and the exhaust hole is located on a side of the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank away from the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank.

6 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange device comprises a first heater arranged in the first liquid storage tank and/or a second heater arranged in the second liquid storage tank.

7 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an input end of the power unit is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator, and an output end of the power unit is in communication with the second liquid storage tank.

8 . The heat exchange device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the medium outlet of the evaporator faces towards the power unit.

9 . A dishwasher, comprising:
a heat exchange device, comprising:
an evaporator, defining a medium inlet and a medium outlet;
a first liquid storage tank, in communication with the medium inlet;
a second liquid storage tank, in communication with the medium outlet, wherein the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second liquid storage tank defines a liquid inlet and an exhaust hole;

a power unit, arranged between the evaporator and the first liquid storage tank, or between the evaporator and the second liquid storage tank, and configured to drive a liquid medium to circulate among the first liquid storage tank, the evaporator, and the second liquid storage tank;
a condenser and a water cup, wherein a third outlet of the water cup is in communication with a water inlet of the condenser, and a water draining outlet of the water cup is configured to discharge sewage; and
the water inlet of the condenser is located at a level higher than the third outlet of the water cup of the dishwasher, and the third outlet of the water cup is located at a level higher than the water draining outlet of the water cup.

10 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a second refrigerant outlet of the condenser, a second refrigerant inlet of the condenser, the water inlet of the condenser, a medium outlet of the evaporator, a first refrigerant outlet of the evaporator, and a first refrigerant inlet of the evaporator face towards the same direction.

11 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second liquid storage tank and the evaporator are arranged on a mounting surface of the first liquid storage tank, and a distance from the highest point of the second liquid storage tank to the mounting surface is greater than a distance from the highest point of the evaporator to the mounting surface.

12 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a mounting groove is defined in the mounting surface, and the evaporator is embedded in the mounting groove; and
a first outlet is defined in the mounting groove, and the outlet is in communication with the medium inlet.

13 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first liquid storage tank defines a first inlet, and the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first inlet; and
the first liquid storage tank comprises two opposite corners on a diagonal of the first liquid storage tank, the first outlet is located on one of the two opposite corners, and the first inlet is located on the other of the two opposite corners.

14 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the medium inlet is located on a side wall of the evaporator, and the medium outlet is located on a top end of the evaporator.

15 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second liquid storage tank defines a second inlet and a second outlet, the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator; and
the liquid inlet is located on a side of the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank away from the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank, and the exhaust hole is located on a side of the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank away from the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank.

16 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the heat exchange device comprises a first heater arranged in the first liquid storage tank and/or a second heater arranged in the second liquid storage tank.

17 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein an input end of the power unit is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator, and an output end of the power unit is in communication with the second liquid storage tank.

18 . The dishwasher as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the medium outlet of the evaporator faces towards the power unit.

Assignees

• Midea Group [Shanghai] Co Ltd
• Guangdong Midea White Home Appliance Tech Innovation Center Co Ltd
• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Wenpeng
• Liu Hecheng
• Yang Wenyong

Classifications

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• F24H9/1809 Primary

  for water heaters · CPC title

• F24H9/00

  Details · CPC title

• F24H4/02

  Water heaters · CPC title

• A47L15/4291 Primary

  Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water · CPC title