Dishwashers having phase change materials
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsKEELEY M. KABALA, CHAD T. VANDERROEST
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Abstract
Dishwashers having phase change materials are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a door movably mounted to the tub to selectively open and close the opening, and a phase change material part of at least one of the tub or the door, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is below a maximum temperature of the cycle of operation, and wherein the phase change material releases heat during a drying portion of the cycle.
Claims17
A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:
- a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening;
- a door movably mounted to the tub to selectively open and close the opening;
- and
- a phase change material part of at least one of the tub or the door, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is below a maximum temperature of the cycle of operation, and wherein the phase change material releases heat during a drying portion of the cycle.
A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub, a door, and a phase change material that is part of at least one of the tub or the door, the method comprising:
- transferring heat energy from the tub to the phase change material by effecting a rapid increase in latent thermal storage by the phase change material;
- and
- transferring heat from the phase change material to the tub by effecting a rapid decrease in latent thermal storage by the phase change material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.