Device for dehumidification, electric appliance having a device of this kind and method for dehumidification

Abstract

A device for the dehumidification of air in a processing space of a dishwasher is connected in an air-conducting manner to the processing space of the electric appliance. The device includes carbon-based fibres, which are designed as a fibre unit. The fibre unit is arranged between the processing space or an air duct connected thereto and at least one dehumidification chamber of the device. The carbon-based fibres absorb moisture from the air of the processing space, which they then release again in the dehumidification chamber. During this process, the carbon-based fibres are moved backwards and forwards between the processing space or air duct and the dehumidification chamber, preferably by slow rotation on a support.

Claims

1. A device for the dehumidification of air in a processing space of an electric appliance, wherein: said device is connectable in an air-conducting manner to said processing space of said electric appliance; said device comprises carbon-based fibres; said carbon-based fibres are designed as a fibre unit; said fibre unit is arranged between said processing space or an air duct and at least one dehumidification chamber for ensuring that said carbon-based fibres release absorbed moisture in said dehumidification chamber; said air duct is connected to said processing space for ensuring that said carbon-based fibres absorb moisture there from air of said processing space; heating means for regeneration or drying of said carbon-based fibres are provided in said dehumidification chamber; and said heating means in said dehumidification chamber are selected from a group of: induction heaters, radiant heaters, thick film heaters, and hot air heaters.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based fibres are designed to extend in elongate fashion.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fibre unit is of drum-shaped or roll-shaped design or is designed as a circulating belt, with said carbon-based fibres on an outer side.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said dehumidification chamber is connected to a water tank by a water line; and said water line proceeds from a lower end of said dehumidification chamber to said water tank arranged thereunder.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said water tank is arranged removably in said appliance.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based fibres are uncovered or exposed at, at least one end.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said carbon-based fibres are uncovered or exposed and movable over a length of at least 2 mm to 5 mm.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said carbon-based fibres are also uncovered or exposed at another end.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said carbon-based fibres in said dehumidification chamber are arranged in an upper region of said dehumidification chamber.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said carbon-based fibres in said dehumidification chamber are arranged in said upper half of said dehumidification chamber and at a distance from a lower base of said dehumidification chamber.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said dehumidification chamber is largely sealed relative to said processing space by seals against which said fibre unit rests or past which it moves.

12. A device for the dehumidification of air in a processing space of an electric appliance, wherein: said device is connectable in an air-conducting manner to said processing space of said electric appliance; said device comprises carbon-based fibres; said carbon-based fibres are designed as a fibre unit; said fibre unit is arranged between said processing space or an air duct and at least one dehumidification chamber for ensuring that said carbon-based fibres release absorbed moisture in said dehumidification chamber; said air duct is connected to said processing space for ensuring that said carbon-based fibres absorb moisture there from air of said processing space; and said fibre unit is movable between said processing space or an air channel connected to said processing space of said appliance, on the one hand, and said dehumidification chamber, on the other hand.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said movement of said fibre unit is a rotation.

14. A method for operating a device according to claim 1 or claim 12, said method comprising: moving said fibre unit with said carbon-based fibres, either into said processing space of said electric appliance or to an air duct, wherein said air duct is connected in an air-conducting manner to said processing space of said appliance, wherein said carbon-based fibres absorb moisture from said air of said processing space during said process; subsequently moving said fibre unit in such a way that said carbon-based fibres are moved at least partially into said dehumidification chamber; said carbon-based fibres release said absorbed moisture; collecting said moisture released by said carbon-based fibres; and moving said fibre unit with said carbon-based fibres once again in such a way to be connected in an air-conducting manner to said processing space of said electric appliance for renewed absorption of moisture.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: said carbon-based fibres or said fibre unit is rotated during its movement of said carbon-based fibres between said processing space and said dehumidification chamber.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said carbon-based fibres are heated or supplied with heated air to release said moisture.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said carbon-based fibres release said absorbed moisture in liquid form.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said dehumidification chamber is connected to a water tank by a water line; said water line proceeds from a lower end of said dehumidification chamber to said water tank arranged thereunder; and for said purpose of said carbon-based fibres to release said absorbed moisture in liquid form, said carbon-based fibres extend substantially vertically in said dehumidification chamber so that said moisture collects in form of water droplets at a lower end of said carbon-based fibres and drips downwards so that said water flows into said water tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in greater detail below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a highly schematized illustration of a construction of a dishwasher as an electric appliance according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show somewhat more detailed schematic illustrations of a construction of a device according to the invention for dehumidification;

(4) FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention for dehumidification in another dishwasher according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a condensation dryer according to the invention with dehumidification; and

(6) FIG. 6 shows a diagram illustrating two characteristics for water absorption capacity against relative air humidity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) In FIG. 1, a dishwasher 11 is illustrated very schematically as an electric appliance according to the invention, having, in a conventional manner, a housing 12 with a washing chamber 13 therein. The washing chamber 13 is connected on the rear side, by means of an air channel 15 as an air duct, to a device 17 according to the invention for the dehumidification of air in the washing chamber 13. Shown below the device 17 is a water tank 19, which can be removable from the dishwasher 11. However, it is not an essential feature.

(8) FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a device 17 according to the invention for dehumidification in somewhat greater detail, firstly in section from the side and then from the front. The device 17 is connected to or placed against an air channel 15. The heart of the device 17 is a fibre unit 26 in the form of a rotating drum, which rotates anticlockwise in FIG. 2. As explained above, the fibre unit 26 is provided on the outer side thereof with carbon-based fibres, e.g. in the form of a sheet-like configuration, preferably as a textile or textile material. It can be in the form of a mat or of a fabric with a large effective surface area for the best possible absorption of moisture, as explained at the outset.

(9) The device 17 has a dehumidification chamber 21, which adjoins this fibre unit 26 at the bottom or adjoins a first part thereof. Arranged towards the top right, following the passage of the fibre unit 26, is a heating chamber 23 as a second part for dehumidification. A heating element 24 is illustrated schematically in the heating chamber 23, ensuring complete regeneration or removal of moisture from and thus drying of the carbon-based fibres or of the fibre unit 26. The heating element 24 can be one of those mentioned at the outset, advantageously a radiant heater, in particular with hot air assistance.

(10) The air channel 15, the dehumidification chamber 21 and the heating chamber 23 are sealed off from one another by seals 36a, 36b and 36c. These can be relatively soft or flexible rubber seals or the like, for example, which are intended to prevent, at least to a large extent, air transfer between the various regions or chambers along the fibre unit 26.

(11) Arranged on the left in the dehumidification chamber 21 or the first part thereof is a nozzle 28, which is used to achieve a higher air humidity in this region. Injecting water into the dehumidification chamber 21 ensures that the carbon-based fibres of the fibre unit 26 release their moisture even better, and this can then drip downwards as water 31 into the indicated water tank 19.

(12) Water 31 can drain downwards out of the water tank 19 by means of a pipe 29b, which leads to a line 30. From there, the water can be carried away by means of a valve 33b and/or a pump 34b. As an alternative, water can be passed to the nozzles 28 by means of a valve 33a and the pump 34a and can then be injected or misted into the dehumidification chamber 21. This is intended to intensify moisture removal from the carbon-based fibres.

(13) A speed of rotation of the fibre unit 26 in the form of the drum should not be too high. It is regarded as important and advantageous if the dwell time of the individual carbon-based fibres in each of the three regions is several seconds, thus allowing the respective processes of moisture absorption and moisture release to take place successfully. No drives are shown for the fibre unit 26 but these can be implemented easily by a person skilled in the art.

(14) The heating element 24 in the heating chamber 23, as the second part of the dehumidification chamber, does not have to generate a particularly high temperature for complete regeneration or drying of the fibre unit 26. Temperatures of 100 C. to 400 C. are regarded as adequate and, under some circumstances, even temperatures of up to 200 C. are sufficient. By means of air assistance during heating, that is to say, as it were, by hot air, it is possible to ensure that drying is achieved even down into the textile material composed of carbon-based fibres.

(15) FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a dishwasher 111 as an electric appliance according to the invention with a further device 117 according to the invention for dehumidification. The device 117 is directly attached to a chamber wall 114 of the washing chamber 113, advantageously a rear wall. A drum-shaped rotating fibre unit 126 projects at least partially into the washing chamber 113 through a corresponding, accurately fitting opening. Once again, seals can be provided here. Vertically extending carbon-based fibres 127 are illustrated schematically on the outer side of the fibre unit 126. They can be secured relatively loosely thereon, in particular with exposed central regions and lower end regions.

(16) Illustrated behind the chamber wall 114 is a dehumidification chamber 121, in which the major part of the fibre unit 126, in particular the vertical axis of rotation thereof (illustrated by a dash-dotted line), is situated. A water tank 119 is illustrated schematically below the fibre unit 126. Water that has been released by the fibre unit 126 can be drained away or discharged from the water tank by means of a line 130 and a valve 133c.

(17) For further possible water conduction, in particular also back to the washing chamber 113, lines 130a and 130b, together with valves 133a and 133b, are illustrated. A pump 134 is also arranged in the lower line 130b.

(18) In the dishwasher 11 or 111 according to the invention, the device 17 or 117 according to the invention for dehumidification serves to accelerate the drying of dishes after the washing thereof has finished. This drying is performed with very hot air, which is blown into the washing chamber 13 or 113. Accelerated drying is very desirable here. However, the invention can also be used to similar advantage with the other appliances mentioned at the outset.

(19) FIG. 5 illustrates a condensation dryer 211 as a further electric appliance according to the invention. A dryer chamber 213 is provided in a housing 212 of the condensation dryer 211 and is connected to an, as it were, encircling air channel 215. Moist air from the dryer chamber 213 passes through the air channel 215 into a heat exchanger 238 and then into the device 217 for dehumidification. After this, the dehumidified air is pumped into a heating device 223 by a first pump 234. The dehumidified and heated air is then pumped back into the dryer chamber 213 again via the air channel 215.

(20) Without being illustrated in detail, the air, optionally after heating, is to be dehumidified as described above in the device 217 for dehumidification.

(21) A line 230, in which water is collected, runs underneath the device 217 and the heat exchanger 238. This water is pumped into a water tank 219 by means of a second pump 234. From there, the water can be extracted or discharged or, as an alternative, the water tank 219 can also be of removable design to enable it to be emptied.

(22) Two possible characteristics representing the capacity for moisture absorption or water absorption are illustrated in FIG. 6 against the relative humidity RH. The temperature is about 25 C. The thin characteristic has been recorded for fibres which comprise 0.1 M FeCl3. It can be seen here that the capacity for moisture absorption even rises up to a relative humidity of just under 80%.

(23) The thick characteristic applies to fibres comprising 0.2 M FeCl3. The special feature here is that the capacity for moisture absorption rises sharply up to a relative air humidity RH of about 60% and is almost twice as great as at a relative air humidity of 30%, for example. The characteristic then collapses, as it were, after which it rises sharply again.