Method and arrangement for the energy-saving operation of dishwashers

The method as claimed in the preceding claim, having the following additional step:

• i) at least one operating state variable is detected;
• j) at least one operating state variable is allocated a nominal value;
• and
• k) as soon as the value of the at least one operating state variable differs from the respectively associated nominal value by more than a predetermined tolerance, a load regulation phase is started.

An apparatus for energy-saving operation of a dishwasher (110;

• 410), in particular for washing dishes (9;
• 414) or medical appliances, with the dishwasher (110;
• 410) having a total number N≧2 of electrical load elements (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438), having:
• a) means (310) for assignment of a maximum electrical total power pmax to a group of n electrical load elements (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438);
• b) means (310, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340;
• 452, 454, 456, 458) for assignment of a finite number mi of discrete electrical power levels pij to each electrical load element i in the group of n electrical load elements (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438),
• with there being a maximum power level pimax for each i, where pij≦pmax,
• where the sum of all maximum power levels pimax form a worst total power
• p
• worst
• =
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 
• p
• imax
• 
• 
• where
• 
• 
• p
• max
• <
• p
• worst
• ,
• and
• where a regular power level pireg exists for each i, where 0<pireg<pimax for all i, j, and where
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 
• p
• ireg
• =
• p
• max
• ;
• c) means (310) for selection of an optimum combination of power levels pij(B), as a function of an operating state B of the dishwasher (110;
• 410),
• where the selected power level pij(B) for each i is matched to the power demand of the load element i (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) in the operating state B, and
• where:
• ∑
• i
• =
• 1
• n
• 
• 
• p
• ij
• 
• (
• B
• )
• ≤
• p
• max
• ,
• for all operating states B;
• and
• d) means (310, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340;
• 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458) for setting the electrical power of each load i (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) in the group of n electrical load elements (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) to the respective power level pij(B), with the maximum power level pimax being assigned, at least during one of the operating states of the dishwasher (110;
• 410), to at least one load element (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) in the group of n electrical load elements (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438).

The apparatus as claimed in the preceding claim, additionally having:

• e) means (310) for starting the dishwasher (110;
• 410) by which means a starting phase is started;
• f) means (318, 320) for detection of at least one temperature of at least one washing liquid, in particular a temperature of water in at least one water tank (13, 17, 21;
• 416, 430) and/or water circuit;
• g) at least one heating element (14, 18, 22, 26;
• 418, 432), which heats the at least one washing liquid and forms the load element 1 (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) where 1ε{1, . . . , n}, as well as means (322, 324, 326, 328;
• 448, 450) for operation of the at least one heating element (14, 18, 22, 26;
• 418, 432) at the maximum power level pimax associated with this heating element, as well as means (322, 324, 326, 328, 330;
• 444, 446, 448, 450) for operation of at least one load element q (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438), which is not the same as the at least one heating element, where qε{1, . . . , n} and q ≠1 at a lower power than the regular power level pqreg associated with this load element q (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438);
• and
• h) means (310) for starting a switched-on phase as soon as the at least one temperature of the at least one washing liquid has reached or exceeded a predetermined nominal value,
• where the power of all the load elements i (14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 26, 33;
• 418, 420, 432, 438) is set to the respectively associated regular power level pireg.

The apparatus as claimed in the preceding claim, additionally having:

• i) means (318) for detection of at least one operating state variable;
• l) means (310) for assignment of in each case one nominal value to at least one operating state variable;
• and
• m) means (310) for starting a load regulation phase as soon as the value of the at least one operating state variable differs by more than a predetermined tolerance from the respectively associated nominal value.