Çamaşır kurutma makinalarındaki havların su ile temizleme tasarımları
Water-powered designs for cleaning the lint in tumbledryers
Yazar: YUNUS EKREM TEKEŞ
Danışman: PROF. DR. CEVAT ERDEM İMRAK
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi / Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü / Makine Ana Bilim Dalı / Konstrüksiyon Bilim Dalı
Derece: Yüksek Lisans, 2019
Konu: Makine Mühendisliği = Mechanical Engineering
Dizin: Kurutucular = Dryers

Özet:
Isı pompalı kurutma makinası ürünlerinde kullanıcı müdahalesi gerekmeden filtre ve
evaporatörde biriken havın otomatik olarak temizlenmesine ve sürdürülebilir enerji
verimliliğinin sağlandığı sistemin geliştirilmesine proje olanak verecektir.
Tekstilden kopan havların makine içerisinde çalışan komponentlere zarar vermesini
ve verimlerini engellemek amacıyla piyasada bulunan bütün bacalı, kondenserli ve
ısı pompalı kurutma makinalarında bir veya daha fazla hav filtresi kullanılmakta ve
bu filtrelerin her kurutma çevriminden sonra müşteri tarafından temizlenmesi
istenmektedir. Proje kapsamında gerçekleştirilecek çalışmalar ile çamaşır kurutma
makinalarında müşteri müdahalesine ihtiyaç duymayan tam otomatik bir hav
temizleme sisteminin geliştirilmesi hedeflenmektedir. Bu etkileri ortadan kaldıracak
şekilde filtre ve evaporatörde biriken havların makinadan uzaklaştırılması için su ile
otomatik temizleme yöntemlerinin geliştirilmesi ele alınacak konu başlıklarıdır.
Bu çalışmamızda patent araştırması bizler için önem taşımaktadır. İncelenen literatür
taramasında çok fazla patentlerin olduğu tespit edilmiştir. A, B ve C olan patentler
çıkarılmıştır. Bu A, B ve C düzeyinde patentler bizlere tasarımlarda değişiklik
yapmamız gereken yerleri tespit etmemizi ve diğerlerinden farklılaşmamız gerektiren
yerleri göstermiştir. Bu incelenen patentlerden de açıkça anlaşıldığı gibi tüm
firmaların bu konu üzerinde ne kadar ciddi bir araştırma yaptığını bizlere
göstermektedir.
Farklı farklı kaynaklardan su ile yıkama yöntemleri incelenmiştir. Bu patentlerin ve
filtre yıkama çeşitlerine göre bizim için ideal yöntemler geliştirilmiştir.
Bu yöntemler incelendikten sonra istemiş olduğumuz sonuça göre konular
belirlenmiş ve patentlere aşarak çeşitli konseptler belirlenmiştir. Konseptler tek tek
uygulanarak avantaj ve dezavantlajları çıkarılmıştır.
Konsept seçimini yaptıktan sonra merkez Ar-Ge'den prototipler temin edilmiştir.
Temin edilen prototiplerle test düzeneği hazırlanmış ve performans testleri bu
prototip makinalar üzerinde yapılmıştır.
Sistem geliştirme ve tasarım çalışmaları ile kurutma çevrimi boyunca oluşan lif
birikiminin otomatik temizlenmesi sağlanarak makinanın kullanım kolaylığının
arttırılması, kendi kendini temizleyen filtre ve müşterinin havlarla temasını keserek
memnuniyeti hedeflenmektedir.
Bu proje kapsamında gerçekleştirilecek olan çalışmalar neticesinde öncelikli olarak
geliştirilecek olan evaporatör yıkama sistemi ve filtreleri otomatik temizleyen bir
yıkama sisteminin ısı pompalı kurutuculara uygulaması yapılmıştır. Bu sayede
kurutma makinalarında olmayan kullanım kolaylığını arttırıcı su ile filtre temizlik
özelliği makinalara kazandırılmış olacaktır.

Abstract:
The reduction in domestic residence associated with urbanisation in the world and Turkey, and the difficulties and constraints that modern city life brought, cause a gradual abandonment of the traditional methods for laundry drying and increase the demand of tumble drier machines with each passing day.
In recent years, it is observed that, due to increasing production units, there is an increase in the researches that white goods manufacturers carry out on tumble driers. Accordingly, many companies intensify their works on heat-pump driers so as to stand out in competition and adapt to energy regulations. Now, it is observed that companies that release new heat-pump drier products that have distinct characteristics from their competitors would be advantageous. 
As a result of the work to be carried out within the scope of this study, it is hoped to ensure that, first of all the filters between the evaporator and the cover would, with the aid of unique systems, be integrated onto the scale of the heat-pump drier. In this way, a feature that increases the ease of use of the product will be integrated onto the product at a lower cost compared to the fully automatic washing machine.
Today, the judicious use of energy is gaining importance every day. In line with this, efforts to reduce the use of energy have been intensifying, especially in the white goods sector. The examination of the mechanical losses; the optimisation of self-cleaning filter system; and improvement of customer convenience and energy consumption of the new tumble driers, whose use is on the increase in modern times, will constitute the primary purpose of this study.
Laundry drying machines are sold with labels that show their energy efficiency class. Energy classes are divided into seven: A+++, A++, A+, A, B, C and D. The A Class represents the most efficient class and it keeps improving energy efficiency by reducing energy wastage day by day. The major objective of this study is the optimisation of a self-cleaning filter system, improvement of customer convenience and energy consumption in tumble driers that possess A class energy efficiency. 
In the second stage of the study, the process of applying a washing system that automatically cleans the evaporator and the filter, to the heat-pump machines will be carried out. In this way, a feature that increases ease of use that previosuly was not available in drying machines will be added to the machines. 
The operating principle of the tumble driers is to discharge away the laundry moisture by passing the wet laundry through hot air. Later on this hot and humid air is then condensed with different methods. 
The dehumidified air is again heated and proceeds on by penetrating the laundry over the tumbler pores. This way the cycle is completed. 
The drying machines collect the fluffs found on the laundry and the foreign particles, and leave ironing-ready laundry. The laundry comes out in a way dried enough to be worn. These drying machines are produced in the market in three different ways as funnelled, condensing and heat pumps.
Without user intervention in the operation of heat-pump tumble driers, the project will allow for automatic cleaning of the fluffs accumulated in the filter and evaporator, and the development of a system in which sustainable energy efficiency is ensured. 
With the aim of inhibiting the worn-out textile fluffs from damaging the operative components of the machine, all the funnelled, condensing and heat-pump tumble driers in the market use one or more fluff filters, and these filters are regularly cleaned by the customer after each drying. Under the scope of this project, we aim to develop a fully automatic fluff cleaning system that will not need the intervention of the customer in operating the drying machines. In order to expel the fluff accumulated in the filter and evaporator, the development of water-powered automatic cleaning methods will be the discussion topics in this study.
Energy efficiency coefficient is being studied on A and above machines. 
In this sudy, self-cleaning filters are made in order to push the level of these machines to better energy efficiency coefficients. In order not to reduce the efficiency of the fluffs in the drying machines, works are being carried out on the discharging and cleaning of fluffs using condensed water or mains water. 
When using condensed water, throttling valves are preferred in order to obtain extra pumps and the required flow rate (delivery). Since the mains water is at an average pressure of 7-10 bar, it is more successful in providing the required flow rate.
Throughout the drying process, the particles that are called fluffs are torn out from the textiles which are subject to mechanic effects due to the temperature and the movement of the tumbler. In the event that the filter is not used, the fluff is deposited in the components of the channel through which the process air passes, and with time this accumulation adversely affects the performance and lifespan of the machine. In this study, it is aimed to reduce the number of filters in heat-pump machines by using filters that have higher performance relative to the existing filters, and to clean the fluffs automatically by washing the heat exchanger with the filter. 
In this study, patent searching matters a lot. In the literature review a large number of patents have been found. Patents A, B and C have been issued. These A, B and C patents show us the instances where we need to make changes to the designs and instances where we need to be different from others. As seen from all the examined patents, it is clear how serious firms are in carrying out research on this topic.
The preferability rates of these methods specified in the patents vary according to the components to be cleaned. While mechanic methods stand out in filter-cleaning systems, aqueous solutions are preferred in systems where the heat exchanger is cleaned. 
Since the heat exchangers direct the water to the reservoir by condensing the hot and humid air, the heat exchangers are washed with water more than acquired. 
In the examined patents, methodologically, control patents with mechanical, disposable, air and water-used methods were identified in the submitted applications for the cleaning systems that use exchanger, filter or both. 
Methods of washing with water have been investigated from different sources. In line with these patents and various forms of filter washing, ideal methods have been developed.
Towels that make fluffs and customer interventions are mostly preferred for cleaning filters. In this way, it will be more difficult to remove the filters because of the excess fluffs. Washings were carried out under forced test conditions.
The washing was carried out once at the end of the drying cycle. The water directed on the filter was operated for 20 seconds with the help of the paused machine nozzles. With this splash water the filters were washed and the fluffy water was drained and sent to the water tank.
There is a filter in the front bearing area of the funnelled and condensing driers. However, in the heat-pump machines since the accumulation of fibre in the evaporator is critical, there is one filter in the front bearing area and two other filters in front of the evaporator. The filters in the front bearing areas need to be washed after each cycle, while those in front of the evaporator need to be washed after five cycles. 
In standard test conditions the fluffs from the filters in the cover area should not reach the heat exchangers. 
However, due to the poor nature of the seals and the high rate of losses, it is necessary to use a filter in front of the heat exchangers (that is the evaporator). 
That is why customers have to wash the filter found at the lower end of the machine.
After examining these methods, the topics and various concepts, obtained by going beyond patents, were identified according to the sought results. By applying the concepts individually, its advantages and disadvantages were determined. 
As a result of the literature review and the preliminary studies, various ideas were put forward. These ideas are organised in four different concepts.
After the selecting the concept, prototypes were sourced from the R & D (Research and Development) centre. With these prototypes a test setup was arranged and the performance tests were carried out on the prototype machines.
The following are what were obtained from different concepts at the end of the study. 
Fluffs that are not able to be cleaned accumulate after a while and cause clogging of the filter. With a flexible filter these are easy to clean. 
The maintenance and cleaning apparatus on the filter will get easier when the filter becomes removable. 
Serviceability will get easier with flexible filter. 
In the existing products, it is required that the customer cleans the filter after each cycle. With the obtained method from this study, there will be no need to clean the filter after every cycle. According to the test results, it will be enough to clean the filter two times a year. 
Fluffs will be cleaned by means of a collecting vessel or mesh or bag that will come from the plinth or cover area.
This bag will be disposable. It is made of mesh and water and air can pass through it.
The bag can also be washed and used again. 
Since the cleaning system will use the water in the water tank there is no need for additional water. 
In the mains-based concept the valve filter and the heat exchangers will be washed with water.
No extra pump usage will be required due to the mains pressure. The water can be directed to the filter and evaporator by the help of water routers and valves. 
In cases where the fluffs are mixed with water the customer does not come into contact with the fluffs. 
With these system development and design studies, it is aimed at increasing the ease of use of the machine by automatically cleaning the fluffs that are formed during drying, and to develop a self-cleaning filter and also to increase the customer's satisfaction by cutting his contact with the fluffs. 
As a result of the work that is to be carried out within the scope of this project, first of all the application of the evaporator washing system and the washing system that automatically cleans the filter, to the heat-pump tumble driers was performed. In this way, a water-enabled cleaning feature that increases the ease of use and which is not found in tumble machines, will be integrated to machines.