Apparatus and methods for improving the energy efficiency of dryer appliances
First Claim
1. An apparatus for improving the energy efficiency of a dryer appliance that utilizes heat and air in the drying process, the dryer being associated with a building containing air that has been conditioned to an interior temperature different from the temperature of the air outside the conditioned space, the dryer appliance having a cabinet with a passageway for intake air and an exhaust outlet for conveying heated drying air from the dryer cabinet, the apparatus comprising,an intake duct with a hollow interior for the passage of air, therethrough, said duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end disposed outside the conditioned space so as to allow the entry of air drawn from outside the conditioned space into said intake duct, and said second end connected in air flow communication with the dryer appliance passageway for intake air;
- an exhaust diverter valve assembly having one incoming exhaust air conduit connected to the exhaust outlet of the dryer appliance such that air exhausted from the dryer appliance passes through said incoming exhaust air conduit of said exhaust diverter valve assembly, having two outlet air conduits to selectively carry exhaust air from said exhaust diverter valve assembly to different destinations, having an exhaust diverter valve means for controlling the proportion of incoming air from said incoming exhaust air conduit that exhausts outwardly through each of said outlet air conduits between zero percent of said incoming exhaust air to one hundred percent of said incoming exhaust air flow, and having an adjustment means for adjusting said exhaust diverter valve means so as to control said proportion;
a first exhaust duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end of said first exhaust duct connected to the first of said two outlet air conduits in air flow communication therewith, and said second end of said first exhaust duct disposed outside the conditioned space of the building for the release of dryer exhaust air diverted through said first exhaust duct to the exterior of the conditioned space; and
a second exhaust duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end of said second exhaust duct connected to the second of said two outlet air conduits in air flow communication therewith, and said second end of said second exhaust duct disposed within the conditioned space of the building such that residual heat energy in the outlet air from the dryer may be recovered and utilized so as to improve the efficiency of energy use.
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Abstract
Apparatus for improving the efficiency of dryer appliances that utilize heated air for drying and are disposed within a residence or other closed conditioned space includes an intake air duct connected between the dryer appliance and a source of intake air outside the conditioned space, an exhaust outlet diverter valve to receive exhaust air from the dryer and direct the exhaust air for release within the conditioned space or alternatively outside the conditioned space. Alternative embodiments provide for drawing intake air from more than one source, with and without heat exchange, for releasing heated air to more than one location, including into a heating system return air duct, either directly or through a heat exchanger. A method of controlling the operation of the apparatus is also provided.
73 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for improving the energy efficiency of a dryer appliance that utilizes heat and air in the drying process, the dryer being associated with a building containing air that has been conditioned to an interior temperature different from the temperature of the air outside the conditioned space, the dryer appliance having a cabinet with a passageway for intake air and an exhaust outlet for conveying heated drying air from the dryer cabinet, the apparatus comprising,
an intake duct with a hollow interior for the passage of air, therethrough, said duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end disposed outside the conditioned space so as to allow the entry of air drawn from outside the conditioned space into said intake duct, and said second end connected in air flow communication with the dryer appliance passageway for intake air; -
an exhaust diverter valve assembly having one incoming exhaust air conduit connected to the exhaust outlet of the dryer appliance such that air exhausted from the dryer appliance passes through said incoming exhaust air conduit of said exhaust diverter valve assembly, having two outlet air conduits to selectively carry exhaust air from said exhaust diverter valve assembly to different destinations, having an exhaust diverter valve means for controlling the proportion of incoming air from said incoming exhaust air conduit that exhausts outwardly through each of said outlet air conduits between zero percent of said incoming exhaust air to one hundred percent of said incoming exhaust air flow, and having an adjustment means for adjusting said exhaust diverter valve means so as to control said proportion; a first exhaust duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end of said first exhaust duct connected to the first of said two outlet air conduits in air flow communication therewith, and said second end of said first exhaust duct disposed outside the conditioned space of the building for the release of dryer exhaust air diverted through said first exhaust duct to the exterior of the conditioned space; and a second exhaust duct having an open first end and an open second end, said first end of said second exhaust duct connected to the second of said two outlet air conduits in air flow communication therewith, and said second end of said second exhaust duct disposed within the conditioned space of the building such that residual heat energy in the outlet air from the dryer may be recovered and utilized so as to improve the efficiency of energy use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 37, 38)
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21. A control system for controlling the operation of a dryer appliance associated with a building having a conditioned space, the dryer appliance including an intake air passageway for supplying intake air to the dryer appliance, the dryer appliance including an exhaust outlet for conveying heated exhaust air from the dryer appliance, an exhaust diverter valve assembly with one inlet connected to the dryer exhaust outlet, two outlets for conveying exhaust air from the diverter valve assembly, and a moveable valve element for selecting the proportion of dryer exhaust air directed through each of the two outlets from the diverter valve assembly between zero percent and one hundred percent of the dryer exhaust air, comprising,
A control unit for receiving information from at least one sensor device and generating output for controlling the movement of the moveable valve element so as to determine the flow of dryer exhaust air through each of the two outlets of the diverter valve assembly; -
a sensor device operatively connected to said control unit to provide information signal input to said control unit from said sensor; and an actuator means for moving the moveable valve element in order to control the proportional flow of dryer exhaust air through the two outlets of the diverter valve assembly in response to information from said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 39)
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25. A protective control system for a dryer appliance that is dependent upon a supply of electrical power for operation, the dryer appliance having an intake duct for conveying drying air to the dryer appliance and an exhaust duct for conveying air exhausted from the dryer appliance, comprising,
a shut-down switch operatively connected between the supply of electrical power and the dryer appliance, said shut-down switch configured to open and interrupt the supply of electrical power to the dryer appliance upon receipt of a control signal; -
and a sensor device operatively connected to said shut-down switch, said sensor device selected and disposed to read information regarding the selected dryer appliance operating parameter, and to generate a signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 40)
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31. A method of controlling the operation of a dryer appliance to improve operating efficiency and reduce operating costs, the dryer appliance associated with a building structure and a conditioned space, the dryer appliance having an intake duct connected at one end to the dryer appliance for conveying dry air to the dryer appliance, with the opposite, intake end of the intake duct disposed outside the conditioned space in a source of air, the dryer appliance having an exhaust diverter valve with an exhaust air inlet connected to the dryer appliance and with two exhaust air outlets selectable by operation of the exhaust diverter valve, an exterior exhaust duct connected at one end to one of the two exhaust air outlets with the opposite end disposed outside the conditioned space so as to release exhaust air directed through the exterior exhaust duct outside the conditioned space, an interior exhaust duct connected at one end to the other of the two outlets with the opposite end disposed within the conditioned space, so as to release exhaust air directed through the interior exhaust duct within the conditioned space, and a means of actuating the exhaust diverter valve to direct exhaust air flow through a selected one of the exhaust ducts, comprising the steps of,
sensing the ambient temperature of air outside the conditioned space; -
comparing the sensed temperature of the outside air to a pre-set temperature value to determine whether the sensed air temperature is above or below said pre-selected temperature value; if the sensed air temperature is above said pre-selected temperature value, actuating the exhaust diverter valve to direct exhaust air from the dryer appliance into and through the exterior exhaust duct and release said exhaust air outside the conditioned space; and if the sensed air temperature is below said pre-selected temperature value, actuating the exhaust diverter valve to direct exhaust air from the dryer appliance into and through the interior exhaust duct and release said exhaust air within the conditioned space. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41, 42)
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Specification