A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A HEAT PUMP

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a body; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body and that has a first heat exchanger providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, and a water softening unit that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising a body; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body and that has a first heat exchanger providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, and a water softening unit that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step, characterized by a sump that is connected to the water collection tank and the water softening unit; a pump that is disposed between the water collection tank and the water softening unit, and a control unit that enables the water in the water collection tank to be transferred to the sump and/or the water stored in the sump to the water softening unit by means of the pump.

2. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by the sump that is disposed in the vicinity of the water softening unit.

3. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by a level sensor that measures the level of the water accumulated in the sump and the control unit that operates the pump, thus providing the intake of the water from the sump into the water softening unit if the value received from the level sensor is above a water level value predetermined by the producer.

4. A dishwasher as in claim 2, characterized by the control unit that enables the water to be delivered to the water softening unit to be taken from the mains if the water level received from the level sensor is below the water level value predetermined by the producer.

5. A dishwasher as in claim 2, characterized by the control unit that operates the heat pump independently from the washing and drying needs, enabling the amount of water accumulated in the sump to be increased if the water level received from the level sensor is below the water level predetermined by the producer.

6. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by a heater disposed around the sump and that provides the heating of the water stored in the sump.

Description

[0013] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0014] FIG. 1is the schematic view of a dishwasher.

[0015] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: [0016] 1. Dishwasher [0017] 2. Body [0018] 3. First heat exchanger [0019] 4. Second heat exchanger [0020] 5. Compressor [0021] 6. Heater [0022] 7. Water collection tank [0023] 8. Water softening unit [0024] 9. Sump [0025] 10. Pump [0026] 11. Control unit [0027] 12. Level sensor

[0028] The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2); a heat pump that is disposed inside the body (2) and that has a first heat exchanger (3) providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger (4) transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger (3) to the wash water and a compressor (5) fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger (3) and the second heat exchanger (4), realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank (7) that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger (3), wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger (3) is collected, and a water softening unit (8) that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step. For the regeneration of the resin that is disposed on the water softening unit (8) and that becomes saturated after more than one washing cycles, the water is transferred to the water softening unit (8) after the washing cycles predetermined by the producer.

[0029] The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a sump (9) that is connected to the water collection tank (7) and the water softening unit (8); a pump (10) that is disposed between the water collection tank (7) and the water softening unit (8), and a control unit (10) that enables the water in the water collection tank (7) to be transferred to the sump (9) and/or the water stored in the sump (9) to the water softening unit (8) by means of the pump (10). The water condensed on the first heat exchanger (3) and accumulated in the water collection tank (7) is pumped into the sump (9) by means of the pump (10) and collected in the sump (9). The water stored in the sump (9) is controllably transferred to the water softening unit (8) after the washing cycles predetermined by the producer and used in the resin regeneration process. Thus, the water condensed on the first heat exchanger (3) is prevented from increasing the moisture in the dishwasher (1) while the water consumption of the dishwasher (1) is decreased.

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sump (9) is disposed in the vicinity of the water softening unit (8). Thus, the water stored in the sump (9) is transferred to the water softening unit (8) without increasing the energy consumption.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a level sensor (12) that measures the level of the water accumulated in the sump (9) and in this embodiment, if the value received from the level sensor (12) is above a water level value predetermined by the producer, the control unit (11) operates the pump (10), thus providing the intake of the water from the sump (9) into the water softening unit (8).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the water level received from the level sensor (12) is below the water level value predetermined by the producer, the control unit (11) enables the water to be delivered to the water softening unit (8) to be taken from the mains. Thus, in case the water in the sump (9) is not sufficient, the regeneration process is enabled to be realized with the mains water.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the water level received from the level sensor (12) is below the water level predetermined by the producer, the control unit (11) operates the heat pump independently from the washing and drying needs, enabling the amount of water accumulated in the sump (9) to be increased. Thus, the amount of water sufficient for the regeneration process is enabled to be accumulated in the sump.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a heater (6) around the sump (9) and the heater (6) enables the water stored in the sump (9) to be heated and to be taken into the water softening unit (8). Thus, the effectiveness of the regeneration process is increased.

[0035] By means of the present invention, in particular by using the water condensed on the first heat exchanger (3) and collected in the water collection tank (7) in the regeneration process, the condensed water is prevented from revaporizing and increasing the moisture in the body (2) and the amount of water taken from the mains for the regeneration process is decreased.