• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    CLOTHING TREATMENT APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME. A laundry treatment apparatus with a heating pump and an operating method thereof are described. For a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried, an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum, an air exhaust means configured to form a path of exhausted air flow from the drum, a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum through an air section means, an evaporator arranged to cool the exhausted air from the drum through an air exhaust medium, a compressor configured to compress an introduced refrigerant from the evaporator, and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of openness, the method of operation includes measuring a temperature (Tei) of a refrigerant introduced into the evaporator, and a temperature ( Tci) of a refrigerant introduced in the compressor, and decrease a degree of opening of the variable expander when a temperature difference (Tci-Tei) then re the two measured temperatures are lower than the first one (...).
    公开号:BR112013006468B1
    申请号:R112013006468-4
    申请日:2011-09-27
    公开日:2020-11-10
    发明作者:Hyuksoo Lee；Sungmin Ye；Byeongjo Ryoo
    申请人:Lg Electronics Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Technical Field
    The present invention relates to a clothing treatment apparatus with a heating pump and an operating method thereof, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method capable of detecting an operational state of a heating pump system of a treatment apparatus of clothing, and capable of allowing the heating pump system to maintain a steady state. Fundamentals of technique
    Generally, a laundry treatment apparatus having a drying function, such as a washing machine or clothes dryer, serves to dry clothing having been thoroughly washed and dehydrated, by introducing clothing into a drum, by providing hot blast into the drum, and then by evaporating moisture from the garment.
    Hereafter, the laundry treatment apparatus will be explained with the taking of a clothes dryer as an example. The clothes dryer includes a drum installed rotatingly in a body and having clothing inserted there, a drive motor configured to drive the drum, a blowing fan configured to blow air into the drum, and a heating means configured to heat air introduced into the drum . The heating medium can use heat from the high temperature electrical resistor generated from an electrical resistor, or combustion heat generated from the flue gas.
    Air exhausted from the drum is in a state of medium temperature and high humidity due to the moisture in the clothing inside the drum. According to a method for processing air of medium temperature and high humidity, the clothes dryer can be classified into a type of condensation (type of circulation) and a type of exhaust. The condenser type clothes dryer is configured to condense moisture included in the air of a medium temperature and a high humidity, by circulating and cooling the air to a temperature less than a dew point through a condenser, without exhausting the air to the outside. And, the exhaust type dryer is configured to directly exhaust the average temperature - high humidity air that passes through the drum to the outside.
    In the case of a condenser type clothes dryer, the air must be cooled to a temperature lower than that of the dew point in order to condense the exhausted air in the drum. And, the air must be heated by the heating medium before being replenished in the drum. Here, the air can lose its thermal energy while it is cooled. In order to heat the air to a temperature high enough to carry out a drying process, additional heat, etc. is required.
    In the case of an exhaust type clothes dryer, it is also required to exhaust the air from a medium temperature and a high humidity to the outside, to introduce external air from a high temperature, and to heat the external air to a desired temperature in between. of heating. In particular, high temperature air exhausted to the outside includes thermal energy transmitted by the heating medium. However, thermal energy is exhausted to the outside, resulting in reduced thermal efficiency.
    In order to overcome these problems, a clothing treatment device capable of improving energy efficiency by collecting energy required to generate hot blast and exhausted energy to the outside without being used is proposed. As an example of the laundry treatment apparatus, a laundry treatment apparatus having a heating pump system is being introduced recently. The heating pump system is provided with two heat exchangers, a compressor and an expander, and improves energy efficiency by collecting energy from the exhausted hot burst and reusing the energy to heat air supplied to the drum.
    More specifically, the heating pump system is provided with an evaporator on one exhaust side, and with a condenser on a suction side near the drum. And, the heating pump system transmits thermal energy to a refrigerant through an evaporator, and transmits thermal energy from the refrigerant to the air introduced in the drum through the condenser, thus generating hot burst with the use of abandoned energy. Here, the heating pump system can additionally include a heater configured to reheat heated air while passing through the condenser. Description of the invention Technical problem
    This heating pump system must maintain a steady state during a drying process in order to improve energy efficiency. Consequently, a state of the heating pump system must be continuously checked, and each component must be checked based on the checked state of the heating pump system in order to maintain a steady state. Solution of the problem
    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of checking a condition of a heating pump system and maintaining a steady state.
    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a laundry treatment apparatus capable of checking a condition of a heating pump system and maintaining a steady state.
    To achieve this and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as a modality and in general terms described here, a method for operating a laundry treatment apparatus is provided comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dry; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening, the method comprising: measuring a temperature (Tei) of a refrigerant introduced into the evaporator, and a temperature (Tci) of an introduced refrigerant in the compressor; checking a variable degree of opening of the expander when a temperature difference (Tci-Tei) between the two measured temperatures is less than a first predetermined value; and decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander according to a level of the degree of opening of the variable expander, where, in the step of decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, an amplitude of decreasing the degree of opening when the degree of opening it is small is narrower, than that when the degree of openness is large.
    In the present invention, the heating pump system can be controlled so as to maintain a steady state steadily, by controlling an amount of refrigerant flow by changing a variable degree of opening of the expander. In the case of a laundry treatment appliance having
    As a drying function, the amount of heat transmitted to the heating pump system from the evaporator can be very variable according to the amount of clothing accommodated in the drum and the moisture in the clothing. Therefore, the variable expander may need to be controlled in accordance with the rate of progress of a drying process.
    More specifically, a refrigerant can be introduced into the compressor through the evaporator in a gaseous state, not a liquid state, in the aspect of a compressor operating and life condition. For this, a sufficient amount of heat can be transmitted to the evaporator. However, if a sufficient amount of heat cannot be transmitted to the evaporator, a flow amount of a refrigerant passing through the evaporator can be increased such that the refrigerant is sufficiently vaporized.
    Heat transmitted to the refrigerant from the evaporator can be acquired from the exhaust air exhausted from the drum. However, the amount of heat transmitted to the evaporator by exhaust air can be variable according to the rate of progress of a drying process. More specifically, during an initial drying process, exhausted air can absorb a large amount of moisture from clothing, thus having a high humidity and a low temperature. Therefore, most of the thermal energy of the exhausted air can be implemented in the form of latent heat, and only part of it can be implemented in the form of sensitive heat. This can cause the amount of heat that can be acquired by the evaporator to be relatively small. Therefore, since it is found that the refrigerant has not been sufficiently vaporized during an initial drying process, an amount of refrigerant flow through the evaporator must be rapidly increased.
    More specifically, during an initial drying process, sensitivity to vaporization of the refrigerant with respect to changing the degree of opening of the variable expander may be low. Consequently, it is preferable to sufficiently increase the change in amplitude of the degree of opening.
    On the one hand, once the drying process has been carried out to some degree, the amount of moisture included in the garment can become small. Since exhaust air energy is implemented in the form of sensitive heat, the amount of heat transmitted to the refrigerant through the evaporator can become relatively large. In this case, unlike the initial drying process, sensitivity to vaporization of the refrigerant with respect to changing a degree of opening of the variable expander may be high. Consequently, it may be preferable to decrease a change in the amplitude of the degree of openness for an energy efficiency of the laundry treatment apparatus.
    In the present invention, vaporization of the refrigerant can be verified by using a change of each quantity of the state of a refrigerant introduced into the compressor, and a refrigerant introduced into the evaporator. For example, refrigerant vaporization can be detected by using a temperature difference. Once a refrigerant has been sufficiently vaporized (it has received a sufficient amount of heat), the refrigerant introduced into the compressor may have a high temperature. Therefore, refrigerant vaporization can be indirectly verified based on the temperature difference measured in advance when the heating pump system is in a steady state.
    The rate of drying progress can be indirectly verified through a variable degree of opening of the expander. Once the drying process has started, the variable expander can be controlled to be opened to the maximum so that a sufficient amount of heat is transmitted to the air sucked through the condenser. As the drying process is completed, a variable degree of opening of the expander can be gradually decreased. Therefore, a rate of progress of the drying process can be verified by checking the degree of openness of the variable expander. Alternatively, the rate of progress of the drying process can be verified by detecting the humidity of the exhausted air. More specifically, the rate of progress of the drying process can be verified based on the fact that the exhausted air has a high humidity during the initial drying process, but has a low humidity as soon as the drying process is carried out more.
    Since it is determined that the temperature difference is less than a reference value, this means that the vaporization of the refrigerant is not sufficient. Therefore, an amount of refrigerant flow can be eliminated by decreasing one degree of opening of the variable expander. Here, an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening can be differently adjusted according to a verified degree of opening of the variable expander. For example, an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening can be adjusted in proportion to a variable degree of openness of the expander. This can improve energy efficiency, and keep the heating pump system stable.
    Alternatively, a range between a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree of the variable expander can be divided into at least two sections, and a range of decreasing degree of opening can be adjusted in correspondence to any section. Here, an amplitude of decrease in the degree of openness corresponding to a section having a large degree of openness can be adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a small degree of openness.
    Like the variable expander, a linear expansion valve (LEV) can generally be used. A variable degree of openness of the expander can be controlled in proportion to the number of pulses of an applied signal. Therefore, the step of decreasing a degree of opening of the variable expander implemented as soon as the linear expansion valve (LEV) can include decreasing the number of pulses of a signal applied to the variable expander.
    The method may additionally comprise reducing the degree of opening of the variable expander by half or less than when the drying process starts before starting the compressor. This can prevent a large amount of liquid refrigerant remaining in the evaporator or compressor after the previous drying process has finished being introduced into the compressor. Here, the degree of opening of the variable expander can be reduced to a minimum.
    The method may additionally comprise changing the degree of opening of the variable expander to a maximum value after driving the compressor for a specified time in a state that the degree of opening has been decreased. This can allow the heating pump system to be activated to the maximum, and thus maximize the amount of residual heat recovered from the exhaust air. Here, the predetermined time by which the compressor is activated in a state that the degree of opening has been decreased can be adjusted as the time taken for the heating pump system to enter a stationary state after being activated long enough that the liquid refrigerant does not exist.
    In some cases, the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) between the two measured temperatures can exceed a second value. More specifically, when an excessive amount of heat has been transmitted to the exhaust air refrigerant through the evaporator, the refrigerant can be overheated to reduce the efficiency of the system and shorten the life of the compressor. Accordingly, the method may additionally comprise increasing the degree of opening of the variable expander such that a temperature of the refrigerant returns to a normal range. In the step of increasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, an amplitude of increase in the degree of opening may become variable according to the degree of opening of the variable expander. An amplitude of increase in the degree of openness when the degree of openness is small can be adjusted to be narrower than that when the degree of openness is large.
    A range between a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree of the variable expander can be divided into at least two sections, and a range of increase in the opening degree can be adjusted to match any section. Here, an amplitude of increase in the degree of opening corresponding to the section a section having a small degree of opening can be adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a large degree of opening.
    In the step of decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, in a case that an amplitude of decreasing the degree of opening of the degree of opening is determined according to a humidity of the exhausted air, an amplitude of decrease of the degree of opening when a humidity detected is low can be adjusted to be narrower than that when a detected humidity is high. A range between maximum humidity and minimum humidity of the exhaust air can be divided into at least two sections, and a range of decreasing openness can be adjusted to match any section. Here, an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a low humidity can be adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a high humidity.
    To achieve this and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as a modality and in general terms described here, a laundry treatment apparatus is also provided, comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried thereon; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a varying degree of openness.
    The controller can divide a range between a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree of the variable expander into at least two sections. Here, an amplitude of change in the degree of openness corresponding to the section a section having a large degree of openness can be adjusted to be wider than that corresponding to a section having a small degree of openness.
    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as a modality and in general terms described here, a laundry treatment apparatus is also provided, comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried thereon; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening, the apparatus further comprising first and second temperature sensing means configured to detect temperatures of the refrigerants introduced into the compressor and evaporator, respectively; a moisture detection means configured to detect moisture from the exhausted exhaust air of the drum; and a controller configured to change a degree of openness of the variable expander based on a temperature difference between the temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensing means, where the controller is configured to determine an extent of change in the degree of openness based on the humidity detected by the moisture detection means.
    The controller can divide a range between a maximum humidity and a minimum humidity of the exhaust gas in at least two sections. Here, an amplitude of change in the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a high humidity can be adjusted to be wider than that corresponding to a section having a low humidity. Advantageous Effects of the Invention
    In the present invention, when the heating pump system is in an abnormal state, an abnormal state can be quickly detected and the heating pump system can be made to return to a steady state. This can improve the reliability of the system, and improve energy efficiency. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the laundry treatment apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a controller of the laundry care apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating processes for controlling the degree of openness of a variable expander; and FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the change in the degree of opening of a variable expander, the degree of opening controlled by the processes shown in FIG. 4. INVENTION MODE
    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompaniment to the illustrations. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention encompasses modifications and variations of this provided invention they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
    The description will now be given in detail of a drainage device and a refrigerator having the same according to a modality, with reference to the accompanying illustrations.
    Hereinafter, a laundry treatment apparatus having a heating pump, and an operational method thereof according to the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the aggregated illustrations. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal structure of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the laundry treatment apparatus of FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes dryer as a clothes treatment apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the laundry treatment apparatus, but is applicable to any laundry treatment apparatus for drying clothes by supplying hot air to a drum, for example, a washing machine having a drying function, etc. The laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises a body 100 which forms the appearance of a clothes dryer, and a drum 110 rotatably installed in the body. The drum is rotationally supported by a support (not shown) on the front and back sides.
    An air suction duct 120 which forms part of an air suction flow path towards the interior of the drum 110 is installed on a bottom surface of the drum 110, and the end of the air suction duct 120 is connected to the end of a rear duct 122. The rear duct 122 is extending in a top-down direction of the body 100 between the air suction duct 120 and the drum 110, thereby introducing air that has passed through the suction duct of air 120 in the drum 110. Consequently, formed is an air suction flow path through which air is introduced into the drum 110 through the air suction duct 120 and the rear duct 122.
    Air supplied via the air suction flow path is introduced into the body through an air suction port (not shown) formed on a rear surface or the bottom surface of the body, and then it is transferred to the air suction duct. 120. For this air transfer, an air suction fan 185 is installed at the end of the air suction duct 120. That is, air inside the body is introduced into the air suction duct 120 by rotation of the suction fan 185. This can reduce pressure inside the body, thereby causing external air to be introduced into the body through the air suction port.
    A condenser 130 is installed on the front side of the air suction fan (upper flow side based on an air flow path). Condenser 130 constitutes a heating pump together with an evaporator 135, a compressor 150 and an expander 160 to be explained later. A refrigerant tube 134 is arranged in a zigzag shape, and radiation fins 132 are installed on the surface of the refrigerant tube 134. Since the air suction fan 185 is positioned on a lower flow side of condenser 130, air sucked in by the air suction fan 185 undergoes heat exchange with a refrigerant in contact with the radiation fins 132 of the condenser 130. Then, the air is introduced into the drum in an increased temperature state. Like the variable expander 160, used is a linear expansion valve (LEV) whose degree of opening is controlled by an electrical signal.
    A heater 170 is installed in the rear duct 122 in order to additionally heat air that has not been sufficiently heated by the condenser 103. The heater 170 can be installed in the air suction duct 120. This heated air as it passes through the condenser 130 and the heater is introduced into the drum in the form of hot air, and then serves to dry an object to be dried and accommodated in the drum.
    Then, the hot air is exhausted to an exhaust air duct 140 by an air exhaust fan 180 positioned below the drum 110, and then undergoes heat exchange with a low temperature refrigerant passing through the evaporator 135 disposed at the end of the exhaust air duct 140. Then, the air is exhausted to the outside of the body 100. Through these heat exchange processes, the air is exhausted to the outside of the body in a state of reduced temperature and humidity. Part of the thermal energy from the exhausted air is transmitted to the refrigerant through the evaporator 135, and is retransmitted to the air sucked through the condenser. That is, thermal energy from the exhausted air is collected to be reused to generate hot air. This can reduce the amount of energy consumption.
    If a sufficient amount of heat is not acquired from the evaporator 135, part of a refrigerant discharged from the evaporator is introduced into the compressor 150 in a liquid state. Once the liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 150, the compressor may be damaged or it may have reduced energy efficiency. Consequently, a temperature difference of the refrigerant having passed through the evaporator 135 is detected to indirectly verify a drying state of the refrigerant. In the preferred embodiment, a first temperature sensor 136 is provided on one side of the evaporator 135, and a second temperature sensor 137 is provided on one side of the compressor (referring to FIG. 2).
    If the refrigerant acquires a sufficient amount of heat from the evaporator 135, a difference in refrigerant temperature between the front and back sides of the evaporator 135, ie T2-T1 (when a temperature on the inlet side of the evaporator is T1, and a compressor inlet side temperature 150 is T2) has a higher value than the predetermined value (first value). The first value is set as a minimum value when the heating pump system operates normally.
    On the one hand, if the refrigerant acquires an excessive amount of heat from evaporator 135, the temperature difference of the refrigerant (T2-T1) is not within the normal range. In this case, the value (T2-T1) exceeds a second value set as a maximum value when the heating pump system operates normally.
    In the case that the value (T2-T1) is not within the normal range between the first value and the second value, a degree of opening of the variable expander 160 is controlled to change an amount of refrigerant flow and to change the value (T2 -T1). FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the controller 200 of the laundry treatment apparatus of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 200 provided in any position of the body 100 is electrically connected to the two temperature sensing sensors 136 and 137, and receives a detection signal, thus verifying that the heating pump system operates normally based on the value (T2 -T1). If it is determined that the heating pump system does not operate normally, a degree of opening of the variable expander 160 is controlled to allow the heating pump system to be a steady state.
    The numeral reference 138 denotes a humidity sensor installed on an exhaust air duct through which exhausted air from the drum passes. The operation of humidity sensor 138 will be explained later. With reference to FIG. 4, processes for controlling the degree of opening of the variable expander 160 by the controller will be explained. Referring to FIG. 4, once a drying process starts, controller 200 initializes variable expander 160, and then sets a pulse of a signal applied to variable expander 160 as a. Here, the value a indicates a value corresponding to half or less than the number of pulses applied to the variable expander when the variable expander 160 is opened to the maximum, which is set to 80 in the preferred mode. The reason why the degree of opening of the variable expander 160 is initially decreased in order to prevent a large amount of liquid refrigerant remaining in the condenser or evaporator during the previous drying process is introduced into the compressor 150.
    Then, it is checked whether the compressor 150 is operating or not. If compressor 150 is determined to be in a non-operating state, the variable expander valve is maintained as is. On the one hand, if it is determined that the compressor 150 is in an operating state, the degree of opening of the variable expander is maximized. For this, the maximum number of pulses of a signal applied to the variable expander is set to 460. Here, the maximum number of pulses is merely exemplary, and can be varied according to the type and specifications of the expander used.
    After adjusting the maximum number of pulses, T1 and T2 are detected by the two temperature sensors. Then, T2-T1 is calculated based on T1 and T2 detected. If the value (T2-T1) is between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value, the controller determines that the heating pump system is in a steady state. Then, the controller repeatedly detects the values, T1 and T2.
    If the temperature difference is less than the first value, this means that a sufficient amount of heat is not supplied from the evaporator and thus the refrigerant is introduced into the compressor in a liquid state. Consequently, the degree of openness of the variable expander is decreased to reduce an amount of refrigerant flow. Here, the controller checks the number of pulses of a signal applied to the variable expander, and differently adjusts an amplitude of decrease in the degree of openness of the variable expander according to the number of pulses checked.
    More specifically, the controller divides the range between the maximum value (460) and the minimum value (40) of the number of pulses of the variable expander in the following 4 sections. First section: 300 ~ 460, Second section: 200 ~ 300, Third section: 100 ~ 200, Fourth section: 40 ~ 100
    Exhausted exhausted air from the drum contains a large amount of moisture during the initial stage of the drying process. Consequently, latent heat type of thermal energy is higher than sensitive heat type of thermal energy. This can lead to heat transfer not being easily implemented. In the case that the value (T2-T1) is determined to be less than the first value during the initial stage of the drying process, the variable expander must have an opening degree decrease amplitude such that the quantity of the refrigerant condition can be controlled at an appropriate level. On the contrary, as the drying process is carried out, the amount of moisture included in the exhaust air becomes small. As a result, the amount of heat-sensitive type of the energy is increased. In this case, the extent of decrease in the degree of opening of the variable expander is relatively narrowed to control the quantity of the refrigerant state to a sufficient level.
    In the aspect of a change in the quantity of the condition of the refrigerant, it is advantageous to increase the extent of decrease in the degree of opening. However, if the amount of refrigerant flow is increased, it is not preferred in the aspect of energy efficiency since the amount of residual heat recovered from the evaporator is also decreased. Consequently, in order to quickly change the amount of refrigerant state into a state where the decrease in amplitude of an energy efficiency is minimized, a decrease in the amplitude of the amount of refrigerant flow must be determined based on a rate of a rate verified progress (process degree) of the drying process.
    FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the change of an opening degree of a variable expander according to the rate of progress of a drying process. As shown in FIG. 5, the first section between the four sections corresponds to the initial stage of the drying process, and the fourth section corresponds to the final stage of the drying process. Therefore, in the first section, a pulse decrease amplitude of a signal applied to the variable expander is set to 30, a relatively large value. However, as the drying process is carried out, the pulse decrease amplitude is increased to be set to 2.
    After decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, the controller repeatedly detects the values, T1 and T2.
    In the event that the value (T2-T1) exceeds the second value, the number of pulses of a signal applied to the variable expander is increased as shown in FIG. 5.
    In the case that the value (T2-T1) is not within a normal range despite controlling the degree of opening of the variable expander, it is determined that problems have occurred in the device. Consequently, an abnormal state of the apparatus is reported to a user through a display 210 provided in a manipulation panel (not shown).
    Alternatively, a sump heater to heat oil can be provided in the compressor. The sump heater indicates a heater to heat oil stored in the compressor, and is implemented to obtain an oil viscosity suitable for operating the compressor by heating the oil during the initial stage of the compressor. In order to control the operation of the crankcase heater, a third temperature sensor can be installed on a discharge side of the compressor in order to detect a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor. Based on the detected temperature, the operation of the crankcase heater can be controlled.
    An operating state of the heating pump can be influenced by the peripheral circumstances of a place where the laundry equipment has been installed. Consequently, temperature measurements can be performed with consideration of the peripheral circumstances. For this, an additional temperature sensor to measure the peripheral temperature can be additionally installed, and values measured by the first to the third temperature sensor can be suitably processed to be used to control the device.
    The drying process can be determined based on the humidity of the exhaust air exhausted from the drum, not based on the degree of openness of the variable expander. The humidity sensor 138 is used to measure the humidity of the exhausted air of the drum, thus checking the rate of progress of the drying process. A range of humidity of the air exhausted during the drying process can be divided into 4 sections, and each section can be adjusted to have a different amplitude of pulse reduction.
    Both temperature sensor 136 and 137, or humidity sensor 138 can be implemented, or both can be implemented. In the latter case, the temperature sensor can be used to check the rate of progress of the drying process, and the humidity sensor can be used only when the temperature sensor operates normally. Alternatively, the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor can be used entirely to check a rate of progress of the drying process, respectively. After comparing the results obtained when using the two sensors respectively with each other, the degree of opening of the variable expander can be controlled based on a comparative result.
    权利要求:
    Claims (17)
    [0001]
    1. A method for operating a laundry treatment apparatus comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening, characterized by the fact that: the method comprises: measuring a temperature (Tei) of a refrigerant introduced into the evaporator, and a temperature ( Tci) of a refrigerant introduced in the compressor; and calculate a temperature difference (Tci-Tei) between the two measured temperatures; comparing the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) with a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value, where the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value; change a degree of opening of the variable expander based on the result of the comparison, by: maintaining a degree of opening of the variable expander when the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) is greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value; decrease the degree of opening of the variable expander when the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) is less than the first predetermined value; and increasing the degree of opening of the variable expander when the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) is greater than the second predetermined value; wherein, in the step of decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, an amplitude of decreasing the degree of opening when the degree of opening is small is adjusted to be narrower than when the degree of opening is large.
    [0002]
    2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a range between a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree of the variable expander is divided into at least two sections, and an amplitude of decreasing opening degree it is adjusted in correspondence to each section, in which an amplitude of decreasing the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a large degree of opening is adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a small degree of opening.
    [0003]
    3. Method, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises reducing the degree of opening of the variable expander by half or less than when the drying process starts before the compressor is activated.
    [0004]
    4. Method, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the degree of opening of the variable expander has a minimum value before the compressor is activated.
    [0005]
    5. Method, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises changing the degree of opening of the variable expander to a maximum value after activating the compressor.
    [0006]
    6. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, in the step of increasing the opening degree of the variable expander, an amplitude of increasing the opening degree when the opening degree is small is adjusted to be narrower than when the degree of openness is large.
    [0007]
    7. Method according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that a range of a maximum degree of opening and a minimum degree of opening of the variable expander is divided into at least two sections, and an amplitude of increase in the degree of opening it is adjusted in correspondence to each section, in which an amplitude of increase in the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a small degree of opening is adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a large degree of opening.
    [0008]
    8. Method for operating a laundry treatment apparatus comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried thereon; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening, characterized by the fact that: the method comprises: detecting a humidity of the exhausted exhausted air from the drum; and decrease the degree of opening of the variable expander according to the detected humidity of the exhaust air, in which, in the step of decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, an amplitude of decrease of the degree of opening when the detected humidity is low is adjusted to be narrower than that when the detected humidity is high, in which a range between maximum humidity and minimum humidity of the exhaust air is divided into at least two sections, and an amplitude of decreasing the degree of opening is adjusted in correspondence to each section, and in which an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a low humidity is adjusted to be narrower than that corresponding to a section having a high humidity.
    [0009]
    9. Method, according to claim 8, characterized in that it additionally comprises decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander by half or less than when a drying process starts before starting the compressor.
    [0010]
    10. Method, according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the degree of opening of the variable expander has a minimum value before the compressor is activated.
    [0011]
    11. Method according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises changing the degree of opening of the variable expander to a maximum value after activating the compressor.
    [0012]
    12. Clothes treatment apparatus, comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening; characterized by the fact that: the device additionally comprises: first and second temperature detection means configured to detect temperatures of the refrigerants introduced in the compressor and evaporator, respectively; and a controller configured to change a degree of opening of the variable expander based on a temperature difference between the temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensing means, where the controller is configured to: calculate a temperature difference (Tci- Tei) between the two measured temperatures; comparing the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) with a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value, where the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value; maintain a variable expander opening degree (160) when the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) is greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value, decrease the variable expander opening degree (160) when the difference temperature (Tci-Tei) is less than the first predetermined value; and increase the degree of opening of the variable expander (160) when the temperature difference (Tci-Tei) is greater than the second predetermined value, in which the controller is configured to determine an amplitude of change in the degree of opening based on a current openness of the variable expander.
    [0013]
    13. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the controller divides a range between a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree of the variable expander in at least two sections, and an amplitude of changing the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a large degree of opening is adjusted to be wider than that corresponding to a section having a small degree of opening.
    [0014]
    14. Clothes treatment apparatus, comprising: a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried; an air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; an air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; a condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of opening; characterized by the fact that: the device additionally comprises: a moisture detection means configured to detect moisture from the exhaust exhausted air of the drum; and a controller configured to change a degree of openness of the variable expander based on the humidity detected by the moisture detection means, wherein the controller is configured to differentially determine an amplitude of change in the degree of openness based on a humidity detected by the moisture detection means, in which the controller divides a range between a maximum humidity and a minimum humidity of the exhaust gas in at least two sections, and an amplitude of change in the degree of opening corresponding to a section having a high humidity is adjusted to be wider than that corresponding to a section having a low humidity.
    [0015]
    15. Method for operating a laundry treatment appliance, characterized by the fact that it comprises: drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried; air suction means configured to form an air flow path introduced into the drum; air exhaust means configured to form an exhaust air flow path from the drum; condenser arranged to heat air sucked into the drum by means of air suction; an evaporator arranged to cool exhausted air from the drum by means of air exhaust; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant introduced from the evaporator; and a variable expander configured to expand a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable degree of openness, the method comprising: measuring the time during which the drying process has been carried out; and decrease the degree of opening of the variable expander as soon as the drying process is carried out according to the elapsed time, in which, in the step of decreasing the degree of opening of the variable expander, an amplitude of decrease of the degree of opening is adjusted to become narrower over time, where a section for the drying process is divided into at least two sections according to the time elapsed, and an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening is adjusted in correspondence to each section, in that an amplitude of decrease in the degree of opening corresponding to the section is adjusted to be narrower over time.
    [0016]
    16. Method according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises reducing the degree of opening of the variable expander by half or less than when the drying process starts before starting the compressor.
    [0017]
    17. Method, according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that it additionally comprises changing the degree of opening of the variable expander to a maximum value after activating the compressor.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP2622122B1|2021-06-23|
    CN103140619A|2013-06-05|
    EP2622122A2|2013-08-07|
    EP2719820A3|2017-12-13|
    AU2011308252A1|2013-04-04|
    KR20120033780A|2012-04-09|
    RU2513972C1|2014-04-20|
    US20120079735A1|2012-04-05|
    WO2012044039A3|2012-07-19|
    BR112013006468A2|2016-07-26|
    EP2719820A2|2014-04-16|
    AU2011308252B2|2015-03-12|
    EP2622122A4|2017-12-13|
    WO2012044039A2|2012-04-05|
    CN103140619B|2015-10-07|
    KR101224053B1|2013-01-21|
    US8595954B2|2013-12-03|
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    法律状态:
    2018-04-03| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2019-06-04| B06T| Formal requirements before examination [chapter 6.20 patent gazette]|
    2020-06-09| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-11-10| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 27/09/2011, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    KR10-2010-0095486|2010-09-30|
    KR1020100095486A|KR101224053B1|2010-09-30|2010-09-30|Clothes treating apparatus with a heat pump system and operating method thereof|
    PCT/KR2011/007099|WO2012044039A2|2010-09-30|2011-09-27|Clothes treating apparatus with heat pump system and operating method thereof|
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