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US 10,299,655 B2Granted
Caloric heat pump dishwasher appliance
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael Alexander Benedict, David G. Beers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dishwasher appliance includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating and cooling a wash chamber of a tub. A field generator is positioned such that caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system. A pump circulates a heat transfer fluid between a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages.
Claims18
A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
- a tub defining a wash chamber, the tub extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction;
- a first heat exchanger coupled to the tub for delivery of heat to and from the wash chamber of the tub, the first heat exchanger extending between a first inlet and a second inlet, the first inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the bottom portion of the tub, the second inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the top portion of the tub;
- a second heat exchanger;
- and
- a caloric heat pump system configured for heating and cooling the wash chamber of the tub at the first heat exchanger, the caloric heat pump system comprising
- a plurality of caloric material stages;
- a field generator positioned proximate the caloric material stages, the field generator positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system;
- and
- a pump for circulating a heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers and the caloric material stages,
- wherein the pump is operable to flow the heat transfer fluid into the first heat exchanger at the first inlet of the first heat exchanger and out of the first heat exchanger at the second inlet of the first heat exchanger in a heating mode, and the pump is operable to flow the heat transfer fluid into the first heat exchanger at the second inlet of the first heat exchanger and out of the first heat exchanger at the first inlet of the first heat exchanger in a cooling mode.
7 more elements
A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
- a tub defining a wash chamber, the tub extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along a vertical direction;
- a first heat exchanger coupled to the tub for delivery of heat to and from the wash chamber of the tub, the first heat exchanger extending between a first inlet and a second inlet, the first inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the bottom portion of the tub, the second inlet of the first heat exchanger positioned at the top portion of the tub;
- a second heat exchanger disposed within a machinery compartment below the tub such that the second heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first heat exchanger;
- a caloric heat pump system configured for heating and cooling the wash chamber of the tub via the first heat exchanger, the caloric heat pump system comprising
- a plurality of caloric material stages disposed within the machinery compartment below the tub;
- a field generator positioned proximate the caloric material stages, the field generator positioned such that the caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system;
- and
- a pump disposed within the machinery compartment below the tub, the pump configured for circulating an aqueous heat transfer fluid between the first and second heat exchangers and the caloric material stages,
- wherein the pump is operable to flow the heat transfer fluid into the first heat exchanger at the first inlet of the first heat exchanger and out of the first heat exchanger at the second inlet of the first heat exchanger in a heating mode, and the pump is operable to flow the heat transfer fluid into the first heat exchanger at the second inlet of the first heat exchanger and out of the first heat exchanger at the first inlet of the first heat exchanger in a cooling mode.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.