Modular air drier

Abstract

With respect to an especially efficient use of energy required for drying, a drier for drying items to be dried, comprising a receptacle for the items to be dried, an air guide for guiding air to the receptacle and a heating device for heating the air is designed and further developed in such a way that the receptacle comprises a plurality of modules (1, 2, 3, 4), arranged one behind the other, for heating, drying or cooling the items to be dried, and that at least one module (1, 2, 3, 4) is associated with a conveying device (5) for conveying the items to be dried from this module (1, 2, 3) or any module (1, 2, 3) to the next module (2, 3, 4).

Claims

1. A drier for drying laundry items to be dried, comprising a receptacle for the laundry items to be dried, an air guide for guiding air to the receptacle, and a heating device for heating the air, characterized in that the receptacle comprises a plurality of modules, arranged in succession, for heating, drying, controlling a moisture content, or cooling the items to be dried, and that at least one module of the plurality of modules is associated with a conveying device for conveying the items to be dried from the at least one module to a next module in the succession, characterized in that a module for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried is arranged before a module for cooling the items to be dried.

2. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that exhaust air from a module or a plurality of modules provides at least partially an air supply for a module arranged in front, or a multitude of modules arranged in front, and/or can be used as combustion air of the heating device.

3. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that heat from the exhaust air of one module or a plurality of modules can be transferred at least partially to the air supply and/or air circulation mode of a module, or a plurality of modules arranged in front, by means of one or a plurality of heat exchangers (8).

4. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that an air supply of a module for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried comprises at least partially air, which is heated by means of a heat exchanger, which obtains thermal energy from the exhaust air of a module for heating the items to be dried and/or from the exhaust air of a different module or module for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried.

5. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that an air supply of a module for cooling the items to be dried can be extracted from an installation room or from ambient air.

6. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that an exhaust air duct can comprise one or a plurality of dividing and/or switching elements.

7. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that a combustion air duct comprises a pressure equalization valve.

8. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that a conveying device is arranged between two modules, respectively, wherein the conveying device comprises a conveyor belt or a slide or slide chute, or that the conveying device designed in the form of internal mechanics of a module or integrated in a module.

9. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply device for the items to be dried is arranged before the receptacle, wherein the supply device for the items to be dried comprises a weighing device for the items to be dried.

10. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one module is configured in the form of a cycle drier.

11. A drier according to claim 1, characterized in that the drier comprises a control and regulating device, which controls or regulates a flow and/or amount of the air supply and/or exhaust air to or from the modules and/or the heating of the air supply to the modules and/or of air located in one or a plurality of modules, depending on a predeterminable moisture content of the items to be dried.

Description

(1) There are different possibilities to design and further develop the teaching of the present invention. On the one hand, this is shown by the subordinate claims and, on the other hand, by the subsequent description of preferred embodiments of the invention depicted in the drawing. In the context of describing the preferred embodiments of the invention by means of the drawing, also generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are described. In the drawing, it is shown

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic view of an embodiment of an inventive drier,

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic and detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which has a heating device comprising a plurality of heating burners, and

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic and detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a variation with a heating device having a heater, which heats electrically or with steam.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a construction of an embodiment of an inventive drier for drying items to be dried. The drier has a receptacle for the items to be dried, an air guide for guiding air to the receptacle (not shown) and a heating device for heating the air (not shown). With respect to an especially efficient use of energy required for drying, the receptacle has a plurality of modules 1, 2, 3 and 4, arranged one behind the other, for heating, drying, controlling the moisture content and cooling the items to be dried. A conveying device 5 for transporting the items to be dried between the modules 1, 2, 3 and 4 is respectively arranged between the modules 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4.

(6) A supply device 6 for the items to be dried is arranged before the module 1, by means of which supply device the module 1 is loaded with the items to be dried. The items to be dried are loaded into the drier via the supply device 6 for the items to be dried. After module 4, the items to be dried are removed. FIG. 1 shows the supply of items to be dried in this cascaded drier according to the first embodiment comprising a plurality of modules 1 to 4.

(7) FIGS. 2 and 3 show schematic and detailed representations of the basic embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2 shows a heating device with a plurality of heaters 7 based on a combustion process, and FIG. 3 shows a heating device with a plurality of heaters heated with steam or electrically. The difference in the configuration of the heating device results in differences of the embodiments of the air supply flow and/or exhaust air flow to or from the modules 1 to 4.

(8) For reasons of clarity, FIGS. 2 and 3 do not show the supply device 6 for the items to be dried depicted in FIG. 1. The following description basically refers to both embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein constructive differences due to differently configured heating devices shall be explained.

(9) The module 1 for heating is basically formed by a well-known cycle drier with infrared temperature measurement or the detection of a different measuring parameter for determining the moisture content of the items to be dried. The items to be dried are located in a pivoted and motor-powered drum in the module 1. This drum forms the receiving portion for the items to be dried. The module 1 comprises a fan, which guides air in the receiving area through the items to be dried. To heat the air, the module 1 has a heating device. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this heating device is formed by a burner 7, which is based on a combustion process, thus supplying heat to the module 1. Furthermore, the module 1 has an air-to-air heat exchanger 8, which is coupled into a circulating air flow integrated in the module 1. The burner 7 is also integrated in the module 1. In the same way, the module 2 for drying and the module 3 for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried have integrated burners 7.

(10) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the heating device comprises a plurality of air heaters 9 heated with steam or electrically. Insofar, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, comprises a heating device, which has air heaters 9 instead of burners 7. The air heaters 9 are also integrated in the modules 1, 2 and 3.

(11) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, an exhaust gas system is provided for discharging combustion air of the burners 7, wherein the module 1 of the burners 7, the heat exchangers 8 and the exhaust gas system are configured in such a way that it is possible to perform the drying process in the module 1 with a circulating air portion of 100%. Such an air circulation mode with a circulating air portion of 100% in the module 1 is also possible in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

(12) The module 2 for drying also basically corresponds to a cycle drier with an infrared temperature measurement or a detection of a different measuring parameter for determining the moisture content of the items to be dried. The items to be dried are dried with an energy supply and a variable air supply portion in one or a plurality of these modules; it is possible to integrate more than one module 2 for drying in the drier. At the same time, the air supply of the module 2 is the exhaust air of the respectively subsequent module, in the present case the module 3 for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried.

(13) The module 3 for controlling the moisture content of the items to be dried also basically corresponds to a cycle drier with an infrared temperature measurement or a detection of a different measuring parameter for determining the moisture content of the items to be dried. The already dried items are dried again in module 3, if different parameters, such as fabric temperature, heating or cooling speed and/or direct exhaust moisture measurement indicate too much residual moisture in the items to be dried. The air supply of the module 3 is a preheated air supply from a heat exchanger 10. This heat exchanger 10 obtains thermal energy from the exhaust air of modules 1, 2 and possibly 3. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 10 can obtain heat from the exhaust air of the module 4, because the exhaust air from this module 4 can be, or is coupled into a fresh air supply.

(14) The module 4 for cooling also basically involves a cycle drier. However, in contrast to the remaining modules 1, 2 and 3, it has no heating device and no circulation air flaps. The supplied air of the module 4 is extracted from the installation room or outside air, from outside a building shell. According to FIG. 2, the exhaust air of the module 4 serves the burners 7 of the other modules 1, 2 and 3 as combustion air. If none or only a little air is required, the exhaust air escapes from the module 4 or from the cooling process via a pressure equalization valve 11 into the air supply duct before the heat exchanger 10. If no exhaust air from the module 4 is available, air for the burners 7 is drawn via the pressure equalization valve 11. In comparison to the fans in the other modules 1, 2 and 3, the performance of a fan of the module 4 is reduced.

(15) The exhaust air of the module 3 is guided to a dividing/switching flap 12, which supplies the exhaust air directly to the module 2 or the heat exchanger 8 of the module 1. It is also possible, to guide the exhaust air by means of the dividing/switching flap 12 partially to the module 2 and partially to the heat exchanger 8. The dividing/switching flap 12 is controlled in a continuously regulated manner, which results in appropriately opening or closing the dividing/switching flap 12 and distributing the exhaust air of the module 3, to avoid over-drying or heat-damaging the items to be dried.

(16) Furthermore, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises in the exhaust air duct leading out of the module 4 a thermally active compound as an optional regenerator 13. In both embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, an air filter 14 and/or lint filter is also arranged in the exhaust air duct leading of the module 4.

(17) In the inventive drier, the items to be dried and a dry air flow essentially go through the process steps in counter-current. The transported material is reloaded from one module 1, 2 or 3 to a different module 2, 3 or 4 after an expiration of adjustable time units or cycles. The modules 1, 2, 3 and 4 are loaded on the front side, unloaded on the rear side.

(18) In module 1, the items to be dried are heated in a circulation process to maintain high moisture and high heat transfer performances. For this purpose, the module 1 has an integrated air-to-air heat exchanger 8, to which on the side of the exhaust air heat from the subsequent modules 2 and 3 is applied. On the other side, the supplied heat is released to the air circulation of the module 1.

(19) If the transferred heat is not sufficient for reaching the desired temperature of the items to be dried, additional energy is supplied by means of a burner 7 or air heater 9. When using a burner 7, a required portion of aircombustion gasis discharged.

(20) The exhaust heat contained in the exhaust air and/or the gases from the module 1 and cooled exhaust air of the modules 2 and 3 are cooled again after the initial heat exchanger 8 in a downstream heat exchanger 10. The heat thus transferred is supplied to the air supply of the module 3.

(21) The heated items to be dried are reloaded into the module 2 by means of an internal or external conveying device 5. The exhaust air of the subsequent module, a further module 2 or module 3, is supplied to this module 2. Due to the largely completed drying process, this hot exhaust air contains only little moisture and can be loaded with moisture in module 2. In addition, thermal energy is supplied.

(22) If in module 2 one of the parameters, the temperature of the items to be dried, the exhaust air temperature and the air supply temperature, is exceeded, or the temperature difference exceeds within a predeterminable time unittemperature increase speeda predetermined limit value, the heat supply of the burner 7 or the air heater 9 and the incoming air supply are partially or completely interrupted by means of the dividing/switching flap 12.

(23) The exhaust air from one or a plurality of modules 2 is supplied to the preceding module 1 or to the air-to-air heat exchanger 8 of the module 1. A portion of the exhaust heat remaining in the exhaust air after the heat exchanger 8 is supplied by means of a second air-to-air heat exchanger 10 to the air supply of the module 3. The cooled exhaust air is discharged as outgoing air, for example, via the roof.

(24) When using air heaters 9, which can be operated in all embodiments not only electrically, but also with steam, it is possible to eliminate the use of exhaust heat from the module 4 in the burners 7, and the components pressure equalization valve 11 and optional regenerator 13, for example, in the form of a thermally active mass. Then, the exhaust air from the module 4 is supplied to the air supply before the second heat exchanger 10 and, if not needed, it is discharged via the air supply duct, as shown in FIG. 3.

(25) The mainly independently regulated modules 1 to 4 are coordinated by means of a control and regulating device 15 used as integrated control system. This integrated control system controls the loading and unloading processes of the modules 1 to 4, the control of bypass flaps, for example, 11 and 12, and coordinates the energy consumption.

(26) For example, the process of unloading the modules 1 to 4 can be performed by tipping the entire system with stationary modules 1 to 4 without fan support. Furthermore, it is possible to perform a single tipping discharge without fan support. Moreover, the stationary modules 1 to 4 can also be unloaded with fan support.

(27) FIG. 3 includes a graphic simplification: analogous to the current commercial cycle driers air circulation and air supply is regulated via flaps on the intake side of the fan. Representing the air supply separate from the circulating air in the modules 2 and 3 serves to improve clarity.

(28) In a further advantageous embodiment, it is possible to implement a plurality of variations for supplying heat in a drier. This means that it is possible to implement burners 7, electrical or steam-powered air heaters 9 in a single drier. Depending on the requirements and task of the individual modules 1 to 3, the one or other type of heater or heating device can be used in an especially advantageous manner.

(29) With respect to further advantageous embodiments of the inventive drier, reference is made to the general part of the description and the enclosed claims to avoid repetitions. It should be emphasized that the embodiments described above only have the purpose of discussing the claimed teaching, but not to restrict those teaching to the embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(30) 1 Module for heating 2 Module for drying 3 Module for controlling the moisture content 4 Module for cooling 5 Conveying device 6 Supply device for the items to be dried 7 Burner 8 Heat exchanger 9 Air heater 10 Heat exchanger 11 Pressure equalization valve 12 Dividing/switching flap 13 Regenerator 14 Air filter 15 Control or regulating device