Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/30—Arrangements for energy recovery
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F31/00—Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F67/00—Details of ironing machines provided for in groups D06F61/00, D06F63/00, or D06F65/00

Definitions

• the invention relates to a laundry system for treating laundry and a method for operating a laundry system, comprising a plurality of laundry treatment machines, in particular designed as washer-extractors or cycle washing machines, which can be fed with fresh water and with which warm waste water can be generated.
• a laundry system for energy-reduced treatment of laundry comprising several laundry treatment machines, wherein the heat energy resulting from the exhaust air emitted by the laundry treatment machines the so-called vapor, is fed to a common heat exchanger.
• This energy from the exhaust air is converted into warm water or warm air in the form of fresh water or fresh air.
• a central heat exchanger is provided for this purpose, into which the moist, warm exhaust air from the laundry treatment machines is fed. Water is heated via a water circuit at the drying stage of the moist, warm exhaust air in order to then heat cold fresh water via this heated water in a closed water circuit.
• the thermal energy from the warm exhaust air is utilized by feeding it directly into a central heat exchanger and recirculating it, while hot water accumulating in the condensation process is further utilized by means of another heat exchanger by heating fresh water, which is then fed to the laundry treatment machines.
• the heated fresh water is later fed to other laundry treatment machines, for example, a continuous-flow washing machine. External use of overdue energy from the laundry treatment machines is therefore not possible.
• the object of the invention is to further utilize energy for laundry systems with multiple laundry treatment machines, in particular by externally providing heat energy.
• a method for operating such laundry systems with multiple laundry treatment machines is to be improved by allowing them to provide excess energy to an external consumer, even with optimized operation, with their required energy requirements.
• warm exhaust air and/or warm wastewater from the laundry treatment machines are to be used to externally provide the energy contained therein.
• laundry treatment machines are provided, which are designed in particular as washer-extractors or as intermittent washing machines, and which are fed with fresh water and generate warm wastewater.
• a first wastewater heat exchanger is provided, to which a freshwater line containing the fresh water and a wastewater line containing the warm wastewater are supplied.
• the cold freshwater provided by the supplier can be heated by the warm wastewater, so that heat is transferred from the warm wastewater to the cold freshwater.
• a downstream second wastewater heat exchanger is provided, via which heat can be transferred from the wastewater to a heat transfer fluid conducted in an intermediate circuit, wherein a low-temperature heat exchanger is integrated into the intermediate circuit.
• a laundry system typically includes laundry treatment machines that generate warm exhaust air and laundry treatment machines that generate warm wastewater.
• warm wastewater can also be utilized, for example, from the operation of washer-extractors or intermittent washing machines.
• the inventive concept is the multiple, cascade-like utilization of waste heat in wastewater: firstly, to heat fresh water by passing the wastewater through a first wastewater heat exchanger, and secondly, to transfer heat to a low-temperature heat exchanger, which receives heat via a heat transfer fluid in an intermediate circuit, which in turn can heat the heat transfer fluid via a second wastewater heat exchanger.
• the wastewater passes through a heat exchanger cascade, as it has been found that passing through a single heat exchanger and being transferred to a receiving fluid, for example, fresh water, still contains residual heat that can be further utilized and thus provided externally.
• a receiving fluid for example, fresh water
• the wastewater Once the wastewater has flowed through the first wastewater heat exchanger and heated the fresh water, this can still contain residual heat of, for example, 20°C.
• the wastewater can be cooled to, for example, 8°C, so that a considerable heat flow can once again be transferred via the intermediate circuit to the low-temperature heat exchanger and made available externally.
• the external device can in particular relate to an external heating network.
• the external heating network can be a public or privately operated heating network, for example a so-called district heating network, into which heat is fed from the laundry system according to the invention.
• the transfer of heat to the heating network can take place directly from the at least one heat exchanger, or a heat pump can be coupled to the at least one heat exchanger, so that heat is transferred at a higher energy level.
• the heat pump can be a component of the laundry system and whose network is operated and controlled or the heat pump is part of the public or private operator of the heating network and is connected, for example, to the laundry system via pipes.
• the low-temperature heat exchanger is therefore intended for temperatures which have a value of 10°C to 30°C, in particular 20°C, in the flow and/or a value of 0°C to 20°C, in particular 8°C to 10°C, in the return.
• a heat pump unit comprising an evaporator that can be coupled to the low-temperature heat exchanger or can form the same itself, in order to provide heat externally, i.e., to an external device.
• the evaporator of the heat pump unit is, in particular, structurally integrated with the low-temperature heat exchanger.
• the temperature of the wastewater can be between 40°C and 60°C, in particular approximately 45°C.
• the first wastewater heat exchanger can heat the freshwater to, for example, 40°C or more, in order to then feed it to the washer-extractor or the intermittent washing machine at this temperature. Once the wastewater has passed through the first wastewater heat exchanger, the temperature of the wastewater can drop to, for example, approximately 20°C. Once the wastewater has passed through the second wastewater heat exchanger, the temperature of the wastewater can cool down again, for example, to below 10°C, for example to 7°C or even lower.
• a wastewater storage tank can be provided in which the warm wastewater coming from the laundry treatment machines can be stored. Furthermore, according to a further embodiment, a A fresh water storage tank is installed to which the heated fresh water can be fed after passing through the first waste water heat exchanger and in which the heated fresh water can be stored.
• a pump designed as a centrifugal pump with a volume flow control can be installed in the wastewater line, and/or a pump designed as a centrifugal pump with a volume flow control can be installed in the freshwater line.
• the pump in the freshwater line is preferably designed as a centrifugal pump with a volume flow control.
• the use of a positive displacement pump, in particular a piston pump, is also possible.
• a pump is integrated therein, wherein the intermediate circuit can be designed to be closed, and the evaporator of the heat pump unit is in particular coupled to the low-temperature heat exchanger or the low-temperature heat exchanger is designed as a unit with the evaporator of the heat pump unit, so that the evaporator forms a component of the low-temperature heat exchanger.
• the invention further relates to a method for operating a laundry system for treating laundry, comprising several laundry treatment machines, in particular designed as a mangle, a tunnel finisher or as a dryer, which are operated with hot steam, Hot gas, thermal oil and/or electrical energy.
• the method provides, in particular, the following steps: setting up a closed fluid circuit with a heat transfer fluid circulating therein, setting up at least one condensation heat exchanger and connecting the fluid circuit to the condensation heat exchanger, transferring heat from exhaust air from the laundry treatment machines to the heat transfer fluid by means of the condensation heat exchanger, setting up at least one heat exchanger, connecting the fluid circuit to the heat exchanger and transferring heat from the heat transfer fluid to a device outside the laundry system by means of the heat exchanger, in particular via an evaporator or by means of a heat pump unit having an evaporator which is coupled to the heat exchanger or forms the heat exchanger.
• the heat pump unit is part of the laundry system and can, in particular, be operated with electricity from renewable energy sources, for example by means of a photovoltaic system, which is also part of the laundry system.
• Each laundry treatment machine can be assigned a condensation heat exchanger to which the fluid circuit is individually connected and via which heat from an exhaust air of the laundry treatment machines can be transferred to the heat transfer fluid, but it is also conceivable that a central condensation heat exchanger is set up and connected to the fluid circuit and to which the several laundry treatment machines are collectively connected.
• the process is particularly characterized by the following additional points: Setting up additional laundry treatment machines as part of the laundry system, in particular washer-extractors or cycle washing machines that are fed with fresh water and with which warm waste water is produced is, setting up a first waste water heat exchanger to which a fresh water line with the fresh water and a waste water line with the warm waste water are fed, heating the fresh water by means of the first waste water heat exchanger on the warm waste water, and/or setting up a subsequent second waste water heat exchanger and an intermediate circuit, transferring heat from the waste water to a heat transfer fluid carried in the intermediate circuit, integrating a low-temperature heat exchanger in the intermediate circuit and/or setting up a heat pump unit having an evaporator and coupling the evaporator to the low-temperature heat exchanger in order to provide heat to an external device.
• a closed fluid circuit in which a heat transfer fluid can circulate, not only to recirculate waste heat generated during operation of the laundry treatment machines for the internal operation of the laundry facility, but also to transfer heat generated during operation of the laundry system to a facility outside the laundry system, thus making it available.
• a heat transfer fluid can circulate, not only to recirculate waste heat generated during operation of the laundry treatment machines for the internal operation of the laundry facility, but also to transfer heat generated during operation of the laundry system to a facility outside the laundry system, thus making it available.
• Such an external facility could be, for example, a district heating network or a facility that provides another form of energy from the transferred heat energy, or the available heat energy could be raised to a higher level via a heat pump with low electrical input based on a corresponding coefficient of performance of the heat pump.
• the laundry system can serve as a heat energy supplier, which is already possible solely on the basis of the exhaust air generated during operation of the laundry treatment machines, since the energy is superfluous in the overall laundry system.
• a closed fluid circuit with a heat transfer fluid circulating therein can also be set up, and wherein at least one condensation heat exchanger is set up, to which the fluid circuit is connected and via which heat from an exhaust air of the laundry treatment machines can be transferred to the heat transfer fluid, and wherein at least one heat exchanger is set up, to which the fluid circuit is connected and by means of which the heat of the heat transfer fluid can be transferred to a device outside the laundry system.
• the laundry system comprises a storage tank connected to the fluid circuit and in which the heat transfer fluid, particularly cooled in the heat exchanger, can be stored.
• the heat transfer fluid is fed to the storage tank after passing through the heat exchanger and can therefore be stored there, preferably at a lower temperature.
• the storage tank can also be configured on-site as a pure thermal energy storage device for the circulating fluid, whereby this can be comparatively small, since the total amount of heat transfer fluid in the laundry system remains constant.
• the storage tank can be reduced to the size of a pressure equalization vessel.
• the storage tank can be installed in the pipeline, for example, directly upstream of the heat exchanger, thus storing the heat transfer fluid in a warm state.
• At least one steam generator is advantageously provided, and the steam generator configured to generate the hot steam can be present singly or multiple times, and the at least one steam generator has a burner unit for providing thermal energy and thus for heating the hot steam, and the burner unit can be operated, for example, with gas or oil.
• the operation of the burner unit produces hot exhaust gas, in particular flue gas from combustion, so that, within the scope of an advantageous development of the invention, at least one exhaust gas heat exchanger is set up, to which the fluid circuit is connected and via which the heat of the exhaust gas can be transferred to the heat transfer fluid.
• the fluid circuit can be connected to the exhaust gas heat exchanger in such a way that the heat transfer fluid flows through the at least one exhaust gas heat exchanger parallel to the condensation heat exchanger; however, it is also conceivable for the heat transfer fluid to flow through the exhaust gas heat exchanger before or after flowing through the condensation heat exchanger.
• the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the fluid circuit toward the heat exchanger can thus be configured such that either the at least one or more condensation heat exchangers are first flowed through, followed by the exhaust gas heat exchanger, or the heat transfer fluid flows through the at least one exhaust gas heat exchanger before the at least one condensation heat exchanger.
• a parallel and thus independent flow through the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the condensation heat exchanger can preferably occur, and a collecting line can be configured as part of the fluid circuit, via which the respective heat transfer fluid flowing through the condensation heat exchanger and the exhaust gas heat exchanger is reunited to finally be fed to the heat exchanger for external energy dissipation.
• the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in the storage tank can be, for example, 20°C to 40°C, in particular 25°C to 35°C, and preferably 30°C.
• the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in the inlet of the heat exchanger can be 50°C to 70°C, preferably 55°C to 65°C, and particularly preferably 60°C.
• a pump can be installed to circulate the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit, preferably between the storage tank and the condensation heat exchangers or the exhaust gas heat exchangers, so that the pump effectively sucks the heat transfer fluid out of the storage tank.
• the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit can be water, thermal oil, silicone oil, an alcohol-water solution, a salt-water solution, a molten salt solution, or a mixture of the aforementioned fluids.
• the heat transfer fluid can, in particular, be selected so that the fluid has a particularly high specific heat capacity.
• each of the heat treatment machines is assigned a separate condensation heat exchanger, which is connected to the heat exchanger via the common manifold mentioned above.
• Valves particularly designed as ball valves, can be installed in the manifold branches leading to the condensation heat exchangers. These valves can be individually disconnected from the manifold or connected to it. It is also conceivable to install heat meters in the manifold branches leading to the condensation heat exchangers.
• a heat pump unit can be installed as part of the laundry system, comprising an evaporator that is coupled to the heat exchanger or forms the heat exchanger to provide heat externally.
• the heat pump unit can adjust the temperature,
• the heat exchanger in the fluid circuit can be significantly increased, particularly by supplying a comparatively low electrical power to operate the heat pump unit.
• heat can be provided to the external device outside the laundry system at a significantly higher temperature than the temperature in the manifold, which can be, for example, 60°C.
• Each laundry system shown can form a self-contained system, which can be operated in accordance with Figure 1 Laundry treatment machines, such as washer-extractors or cycle washing machines, which can be fed with fresh water and produce hot waste water, and which is in accordance with Figure 2 Laundry treatment machines, for example mangles, tunnel finishers or dryers, which, according to the example shown, can be fed with hot steam and generate hot exhaust air 18 from the process.
• Laundry treatment machines such as washer-extractors or cycle washing machines, which can be fed with fresh water and produce hot waste water
• Laundry treatment machines for example mangles, tunnel finishers or dryers, which, according to the example shown, can be fed with hot steam and generate hot exhaust air 18 from the process.
• the two illustrated and inherently closed systems also represent a single embodiment, according to which the two Figures 1 and 2
• the laundry systems shown form an overall system.
• Laundries are usually equipped with both washer-extractors and intermittent washing machines, and laundries also have mangles, tunnel finishers or dryers, so that all these laundry treatment machines can form the entire laundry system.
• the laundry system only relates to laundry treatment machines relating to mangles, tunnel finishers or dryers, or only to laundry treatment machines comprising washer-extractors or intermittent washing machines, but in particular comprising all types of laundry treatment machines.
• the external heat supply according to Figure 1 and external heat supply according to Figure 2 be installed jointly in the laundry system via the respective heat pump units 28 and 40 and jointly provide heat energy externally.
• the laundry system 100 comprises laundry treatment machines 30, 31 that can be fed with fresh water 32 and that can generate warm wastewater 33 during operation.
• Such laundry treatment machines 30, 31 include, for example, washer-extractors or automatic intermittent washing machines.
• the system shown has as essential components a first waste water heat exchanger 34, to which a fresh water line 35 with the fresh water 32 and a waste water line 36 with the warm waste water 33 are supplied.
• a pump 48 can be set up, which takes fresh water 32 from a fresh water reservoir 49 in which cold fresh water 32 is stored, wherein the fresh water 32, for example, also This can be rainwater or water purified and recycled from the wastewater 33.
• the first wastewater heat exchanger 34 With the first wastewater heat exchanger 34, the heat of the warm wastewater 33 can be transferred to the cold fresh water 32, after which the fresh water 32 heated thereby can be fed to a fresh water storage tank 45.
• a second wastewater heat exchanger 37 is set up downstream of the first wastewater heat exchanger 34, and that pre-cooled wastewater 33 is fed to the second wastewater heat exchanger 37. This is integrated into an intermediate circuit 38, and the wastewater 33, which is still at an elevated temperature, transfers further heat to the intermediate circuit 38 in the second wastewater heat exchanger 37. This is shown as an example in two parts.
• the intermediate circuit 38 carries a heat transfer fluid, which is heated in the second wastewater heat exchanger 37 and, in the heated state, transfers heat to a low-temperature heat exchanger 39, which is integrated into the intermediate circuit 38.
• the low-temperature heat exchanger 39 which can also be designed as a plate heat exchanger, can, for example, offer a heat transfer capacity of 250 kW, whereby the heat transfer fluid in the intermediate circuit 38 can have a temperature of approximately 20°C. After passing through the low-temperature heat exchanger 39, this fluid can cool down to 8°C, for example.
• the illustration shows the further configuration of a heat pump unit 40 with an evaporator 41, so that the low-temperature heat exchanger 39 transfers heat to the evaporator 41 in a further closed fluid circuit, so that when electrical energy is added, further heat energy can be transferred to an external device E.
• the further closed circuit between the low-temperature heat exchanger 39 and the heat pump unit 40 has a pump 43 for circulating the heat transfer fluid in the intermediate circuit 38.
• the wastewater 33 which has cooled to, for example, 8°C by passing through the second wastewater heat exchanger 37, is then fed to a wastewater channel 42, which can also be filtered and further cleaned in a manner not shown in detail.
• the warm wastewater 33 produced by the laundry treatment machines 30, 31 can initially be temporarily stored in a wastewater storage tank 44. From this wastewater storage tank 44, which can be provided on-site, the warm wastewater 33 can be pumped to the first and second wastewater heat exchangers 34, 37 by means of a pump 46, in particular a centrifugal pump, with a volume flow control for regulating the wastewater flow.
• the wastewater heat exchangers 34, 37 can be designed as tube-in-tube heat exchangers and operate according to the countercurrent principle.
• the fresh water 32 heated by the first wastewater heat exchanger 34 is fed to the fresh water warm storage tank 45, from which the heated fresh water 32 is extracted by a pump 47 and fed to the laundry treatment machines 30, 31.
• the fresh water 32 in the fresh water warm tank 45 can, for example, have a temperature of 40°C to 45°C.
• the pump 47 can be designed as a centrifugal pump with a pressure maintenance control in order to always provide the necessary fresh water pressure to the laundry treatment machines 30, 31.
• the pump 48 for extracting the fresh water 32 from the fresh water storage tank 49 is designed in particular as a centrifugal pump with a volume flow control so that the fill level of the fresh water warm storage tank 45 is always maintained, which is necessary to supply the laundry treatment machines 30, 31.
• the pump 48 supplies the appropriate amount of cold fresh water 32 through the first Wastewater heat exchanger 34 passes through it precisely when the warm wastewater 33 is also available, in particular when the wastewater storage tank 44 has a required fill level.
• the first wastewater heat exchanger 34 can be operated in advance such that a necessary amount of heated fresh water 32 is always present in the freshwater warm storage tank 45, specifically at the highest possible temperature.
• FIG 2 shows the view of a laundry system 100, which, as mentioned at the beginning, can be a device in itself, but preferably this device is in addition to the laundry system 100 according to Figure 1 to see.
• the laundry system 100 shows, by way of example, three laundry treatment machines 10, 11, 12, which correspond to a category in which the laundry treatment machines generate hot exhaust air 18 during operation, for example, when the laundry treatment machines are designed as a mangle, a tunnel finisher, or as a dryer.
• three laundry treatment machines 10, 11, 12 are shown, each generating exhaust air 18.
• a condensation heat exchanger 17 is provided in operative connection with each of the laundry treatment machines 10, 11, 12, to which the respective hot exhaust air 18 is transferred.
• hot steam 13 is required, which is provided via steam generators 14.
• Three steam generators 14 are shown by way of example, and the hot steam 13 generated thereby is supplied to the respective laundry treatment machines 10, 11, 12 via a line connection, whereby only one Steam generator 14 can be set up, which feeds all laundry treatment machines 10, 11, 12.
• a fluid circuit 15 is provided in which a heat transfer fluid 16 is guided.
• the fluid circuit 15 is designed to be closed, so that the heat transfer fluid 16 can circulate in the fluid circuit 15.
• the fluid circuit 15 has a storage tank 20 and a pump 24, so that the heat transfer fluid 16 can be supplied to the storage tank 20, particularly in the cooled state.
• the storage tank 20 can serve, in particular, as a buffer tank.
• a heat exchanger 19 is integrated into the fluid circuit 15, which is particularly designed as a plate heat exchanger, for example, with a heat transfer capacity of 500 kW to 750 kW at a flow temperature of the heat transfer fluid of 60°C.
• a plate heat exchanger can, for example, represent an interface to a municipal utility, or the heat is transferred to private consumers.
• the principle of the condensation heat exchanger 17 is based on the fact that during the condensation of the water vapor in the exhaust air 18, latent condensation energy is released, the so-called condensation enthalpy, which is achieved by cooling the exhaust air 18 by lowering the temperature below the dew point of the water vapor in the exhaust air 18, so that the condensation enthalpy can be released.
• This amount of heat can then be transferred to the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit.
• the heat transfer fluid 16 is transferred to the heat exchanger 19 via a collecting line 25 as part of the fluid circuit 15.
• valves 26 and/or heat meters 27 can also be installed as shown.
• the valves 26 can also be designed as ball valves, for example, and the heat meters 27 can transmit information about the flowing heat quantity to a central control system. In this way, the function of each individual condensation heat exchanger 17 can be retrieved. For example, if no heat quantity is measured by the heat meter 27, the valve 26 can close.
• the steam generators 14 are operated with burner units 21, which are fed in particular with a fossil energy source 50, for example natural gas or petroleum.
• a fossil energy source 50 for example natural gas or petroleum.
• the combustion process in the burner units 21 produces hot exhaust gas 23, which must therefore also be considered an energy source.
• exhaust gas heat exchangers 22 are also provided, which are also connected to the fluid circuit 15, so that the heat transfer fluid 16 can also flow through the exhaust gas heat exchangers 22.
• the hot exhaust gas 23 is guided into the respective exhaust gas heat exchanger 22, so that the heat transfer fluid 16 can be heated as it passes through the exhaust gas heat exchanger 22 due to the heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas 23.
• Heat meters 27 can also be installed in these lines, which are connected to the collecting line 25. In this respect, the heat transfer fluid 16 heated by the exhaust gas heat exchangers 22 can also be fed to the heat exchanger 19 via the collecting line 25.
• the heat exchanger 19 is connected to a heat pump unit 28, and the heat pump unit 28 has an evaporator 29 which transfers heat from the heat exchanger 19 via a likewise closed fluid circuit 51.
• a heat transfer fluid guided therein can absorb heat from the heat exchanger 19 and transfer it to the heat pump unit, so that a larger amount of heat can be provided to an external device E with less electrical energy supplied.
• the heat exchanger 19 and the evaporator 29 are designed together as a single unit or that the heat exchanger 19 is part of the heat pump unit 28.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

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• 2024
  • 2024-01-30 DE DE102024102522.0A patent/DE102024102522A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-01-21 EP EP25153189.3A patent/EP4596782A3/fr active Pending

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