Patent Description:
At present, commonly used dishwashers usually use water from spray arms to clean tableware placed on bowl baskets. Since water needs to be heated to a certain temperature in the process of washing the tableware, an electric heating method is usually used to heat the water. Electric heaters and water pumps are arranged at the bottom of the dishwashers, the heated water is pumped into the spray arms by the water pumps, and the water flows back to water cups after the tableware is cleaned. The water is filtered and reheated for cyclic cleaning. In order to meet the energy-saving requirement, a heat pump device is used for heating in a patent. However, at present, a refrigerant in the heat pump device is generally heated by air through thermal conduction, and the noise is obvious. <CIT> relates generally to a dishwasher and a method for operating a dishwasher, whereby an improved heat input into the heat storage unit of the heat pump device is enabled. <CIT> relates generally to a heat pump heating system that absorbs heat in an energy storage device, eliminates the fan, and has lower noise. <CIT> relates generally to an apparatus capable of efficient cooling without increasing the size of the apparatus. <CIT> relates generally to a system for maintaining a low-pressure outlet environment under forced circulation flow conditions. <CIT> relates generally to a heat exchange device, a heat pump system and a washing appliance. <CIT> relates generally to a dishwasher with a liquid storage container.

In the following, each of the described methods, apparatuses, embodiments, examples, and aspects, which do not fully correspond to the invention as defined in the claims is thus not according to the invention and is, as well as the whole following description, present for illustration purposes only or to highlight specific aspects or features of the claims. Embodiments not falling under the scope of the claims should be interpreted as examples useful for understanding the invention. The present invention at least provides a heat exchange device and a dishwasher, to greatly reduce the noise generated by heating a refrigerant.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a heat exchange device including an evaporator, a first liquid storage tank, a second liquid storage tank, and a power unit. The evaporator defines a medium inlet and a medium outlet. The first liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium inlet. The second liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium outlet, the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second liquid storage tank defines a liquid inlet and an exhaust hole. The power unit is arranged between the evaporator and the first liquid storage tank, or between the evaporator and the second liquid storage tank, and configured to drive a liquid medium to circulate among the first liquid storage tank, the evaporator, and the second liquid storage tank.

The second liquid storage tank and the evaporator are arranged on a mounting surface of the first liquid storage tank, and a distance from the highest point of the second liquid storage tank to the mounting surface is greater than a distance from the highest point of the evaporator to the mounting surface.

In some embodiments, a mounting groove is defined in the mounting surface, and the evaporator is embedded in the mounting groove; and a first outlet is defined in the mounting groove, and the outlet is in communication with the medium inlet.

In some embodiments, the first liquid storage tank defines a first inlet, and the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first inlet; and the first liquid storage tank includes two opposite corners on a diagonal of the first liquid storage tank, the first outlet is located on one of the two opposite corners, and the first inlet is located on the other of the two opposite corners.

In some embodiments, the medium inlet is located on a side wall of the evaporator, and the medium outlet is located on the top end of the evaporator.

In some embodiments, an input end of the power unit is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator, and the output end of the power unit is in communication with the second liquid storage tank.

In some embodiments, the second liquid storage tank defines a second inlet and a second outlet, the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the first liquid storage tank, and the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator; and the liquid inlet is located on a side of the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank away from the second inlet of the second liquid storage tank, and the exhaust hole is located on a side of the second inlet of the liquid storage tank away from the second outlet of the second liquid storage tank.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange device includes a heater arranged in at least one of the first liquid storage tank and the second liquid storage tank.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a dishwasher, and the dishwasher includes the aforementioned heat exchange device.

In some embodiments, the dishwasher includes a heat pump device and a water cup, the heat pump device includes a condenser, a third outlet of the water cup is in communication with a water inlet of the condenser, and a water draining outlet of the water cup is configured to discharge waste water; and the water inlet of the condenser is located at a level higher than the third outlet of the water cup of the dishwasher, and the third outlet of the water cup is located at a level higher than the water draining outlet of the water cup.

In some embodiments, a second refrigerant outlet of the condenser, a second refrigerant inlet of the condenser, the water inlet of the condenser, a medium outlet of the evaporator, a first refrigerant outlet of the evaporator, and a first refrigerant inlet of the evaporator face towards the same direction.

In some embodiments, an input end of the power unit is in communication with the medium outlet of the evaporator, and an output end of the power unit is in communication with the second liquid storage tank.

In some embodiments, the medium outlet of the evaporator faces towards the power unit.

In some embodiments, the evaporator includes a container, a refrigerant pipe, and an inner pipe; the inner pipe is inserted into the container, and the refrigerant pipe is arranged between the container and the inner pipe; and the refrigerant pipe is spirally arranged in the container.

In some embodiments, the length of the second liquid storage tank is smaller than the length of the first liquid storage tank, and/or the width of the second liquid storage tank is smaller than the width of the first liquid storage tank; the second liquid storage tank is located in partial area of the mounting surface; and the power unit and the evaporator are located in the remaining area of the mounting surface.

In some embodiments, the power unit is a pump.

The effects of the present invention are as follows. The dishwasher provided by some embodiments of the present invention uses the liquid medium to heat the refrigerant in the heat pump device. That is, the cold energy of the refrigerant in the heat pump device is absorbed by using the liquid cooling circulation mode, which greatly reduces the noise generated by heating the refrigerant and reduces the energy consumption compared with the heating mode by using the electric heating only. The liquid storage tank of the heat exchange device includes the first liquid storage tank and the second liquid storage tank. The power unit is configured to provide power for a liquid medium to circulate among the first liquid storage tank, the evaporator, and the second liquid storage tank, so that the liquid medium is fully circulated through the two liquid storage tanks and the power unit, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device.

The accompanying drawings here are incorporated into the specification and form a part of the present specification. These drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and are used together with the specification to illustrate the technical solution of the present disclosure.

The technical solution in some embodiments of the present disclosure may be clearly and completely described in combination with accompanying drawings in some embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Reference herein to "embodiment" means that, particular features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The phrase appearing in various positions in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described in the present disclosure may be combined with other embodiments.

In order to solve the problem of significant noise generated by heating the refrigerant through using the air in existing heat pump devices, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dishwasher <NUM>, and the dishwasher <NUM> utilizes liquid medium to heat the refrigerant in the heat pump device. That is, the cold energy of the refrigerant in the heat pump device is absorbed by using a liquid cooling circulation mode, which greatly reduces the noise that is generated by heating the refrigerant, and may reduce energy consumption compared with the heating mode by using the electric heating only.

As shown in <FIG> is a structural schematic view of the dishwasher <NUM> in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The dishwasher <NUM> includes a washing water spraying device, a heat pump device, and a heat exchange device.

The heat pump device is configured to heat the washing water by the refrigerant. The washing water spraying device is configured to spray the washing water heated by the heat pump device into a cleaning cavity of the dishwasher <NUM> through a spraying arm <NUM>, so as to wash dishes and the like in the cleaning cavity. In addition, the heat exchange device is configured to heat the refrigerant to ensure the heating efficiency of the refrigerant to the washing water.

The heat exchange device includes an evaporator <NUM>, a liquid storage tank <NUM>, and a power unit <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> includes a liquid medium channel and a refrigerant channel that are not in communication with each other or that are non-communicated with each other. The liquid medium channel may be connected to the refrigerant channel in a heat transfer manner or may be in heat transferring connection with the refrigerant channel. In this way, the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel may absorb the heat of the liquid medium in the liquid medium channel, and thus the refrigerant may be heated by the liquid medium. The power unit <NUM> is arranged between the evaporator <NUM> and the liquid storage tank <NUM>, so as to drive the liquid medium to circulate and flow between the liquid storage tank <NUM> and the liquid medium channel of the evaporator <NUM>. In this way, the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel of the evaporator <NUM> may be heated by the circulating liquid medium, thereby improving the heat exchange capability of the heat pump device. The circulating liquid medium circularly flowing in the heat exchange device may be water, salt water, or glycol solution (such as a mixture of glycol and water), etc..

The heat pump device may include a compressor <NUM> and a condenser <NUM>. The condenser <NUM> may include a washing water channel and a refrigerant channel that are not in communication with each other or that are non-communicated with each other. The washing water channel may be connected to the refrigerant channel in a heat transfer manner. In this way, the washing water in the washing water channel may absorb the heat of the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel, and thus the washing water may be heated by the refrigerant. The compressor <NUM> is in communication with or fluidly connected to a first refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> in the heat exchange device. The compressor <NUM> is also in communication with a second refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM>. A second refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM> is in communication with a first refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>. In this way, the compressor <NUM>, the refrigerant channel in the evaporator <NUM>, the refrigerant channel in the condenser <NUM>, and connecting pipelines among the compressor <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, and the condenser <NUM> together form a circulation channel of the refrigerant. In this way, the liquid refrigerant heated by the circulating liquid medium in the evaporator <NUM> may flow to the compressor <NUM>; the compressor <NUM> may heat and pressurize the liquid refrigerant to change the liquid refrigerant into the high-temperature gas refrigerant or a gas refrigerant with a high temperature; the high-temperature gas refrigerant may enter the refrigerant channel of the condenser <NUM> through the second refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM>, and exchange heat with the washing water in the washing water channel of the condenser <NUM>, so as to heat the washing water; and after the heat of the high-temperature gas refrigerant is absorbed by the washing water, the high-temperature gas refrigerant may be changed into a low-temperature liquid refrigerant or a liquid refrigerant with a lower temperature and flow out of the condenser <NUM> through the second refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM>, and then enters the evaporator <NUM> through the first refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>, so as to continue to heat the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator <NUM> by the liquid medium in the evaporator <NUM>. This cycle is repeated to continuously heat the washing water flowing through the condenser <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the heat pump device may further include a throttling unit <NUM>. The second refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM> is in communication with or fluidly connected to the first refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> through the throttling unit <NUM>, so as to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant through the throttling unit <NUM>. The throttling unit <NUM> may be a throttling valve.

The washing water spraying device includes a circulating water pump <NUM>, the spraying arm <NUM>, and a water cup <NUM>. The circulating water pump <NUM> is arranged between the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump device and the spraying arm <NUM>. The spraying arm <NUM> is in communication with at least one nozzle (such as an upper nozzle <NUM> and a lower nozzle <NUM>), so as to pump the washing water in the condenser <NUM> into the at least one nozzle through the spraying arm <NUM>. A third outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM> is in communication with the water inlet of the condenser <NUM>, so that when at least one nozzle sprays the washing water into a cleaning cavity and the washing water flows into the bottom of the cleaning cavity, the washing water may enter the condenser <NUM> through the third outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM> that is arranged at the bottom of the cleaning cavity, so as to continue the heating cycle.

In some embodiments, the dishwasher <NUM> may further include a drainage system for draining waste water from the cleaning cavity after the washing stage is completed. The drainage system may include a pump. A water inlet of the pump is in communication with a drainage outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>. A water outlet of the pump is in communication with a waste water outlet <NUM> of the dishwasher <NUM>, so that the waste water in the water cup <NUM> may be drained out of the dishwasher <NUM> through the pump.

In some embodiments, the power unit <NUM> in the heat exchange device may be used as the pump of the drainage system, so as to realize a pump with a drainage function and a liquid medium circulation function. As shown in <FIG>, when the heat pump device is in operation, the liquid medium circulation is also in operation at the same time. In this case, liquid valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) are switched on, drain valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) are switched off. The circulation of the liquid medium is as follows. The liquid medium enters an input end of the pump through the liquid valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) from a medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>, flows out from an output end of the pump under the drive of the pump, and enters the liquid storage tank <NUM>, continues to flow in the liquid storage tank <NUM> and then enters a medium inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>, so that the liquid medium circulation is completed. When the washing circulation is completed, a drainage process is entered, at this time, the liquid valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) are switched off, the drainage valves (<NUM>, <NUM>) are switched on, and the waste water flows from the water draining outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>, flows through the pump, and flows out from the waste water outlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the pump of the drainage system and the power unit <NUM> of the heat exchange device are not the same element.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the dishwasher <NUM> may further include a water softener <NUM>, so as to soften the washing water by the water softener <NUM> and transport the softened washing water into the water cup <NUM> through the pipelines. In some embodiments, the water softener <NUM> may be in communication with a water return port <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>, so as to transport the softened washing water into the water cup <NUM> through the water return port <NUM>.

The dishwasher <NUM> may further includes a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the heat exchange device, the heat pump device, the drainage system, etc..

The present disclosure further provides the following improvements to the heat exchange device on the basis of the overall structure of the dishwasher <NUM> described above.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the liquid storage tank <NUM> of the heat exchange device includes a first liquid storage tank <NUM> and a second liquid storage tank <NUM>, so as to allow the liquid medium to fully flow through the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM>, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device. In some embodiments, the first liquid storage tank <NUM> is in communication with the medium inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>. The second liquid storage tank <NUM> is in communication with the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>. The second liquid storage tank <NUM> is further in communication with the first liquid storage tank <NUM>. In this way, the liquid medium in the heat exchange device first flows from the first liquid storage tank <NUM> to the evaporator <NUM>, then flows from the evaporator <NUM> to the second liquid storage tank <NUM>, and then flows from the second liquid storage tank <NUM> back to the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, so that the liquid medium may circulate in the heat exchange device. The power unit <NUM> may be arranged between the evaporator <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM>. An input end of the power unit <NUM> is in communication with the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>, and an output end of the power unit <NUM> is in communication with the second liquid storage tank <NUM>, thereby providing power for the liquid medium to circulate between the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, and the second liquid storage tank <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power unit <NUM> may be arranged between the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM>, thereby providing power for the liquid medium to circulate between the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, and the second liquid storage tank <NUM>.

The first liquid storage tank <NUM> may define a first outlet <NUM> and a first inlet <NUM>, so that the first liquid storage tank <NUM> is in communication with the medium inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> through the first outlet <NUM>, and in communication with the second liquid storage tank <NUM> through the first inlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first outlet <NUM> and first the inlet <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> may be respectively located on the two opposite corners on a diagonal of the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, so that the liquid medium may fully flow in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, the temperature of the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> may be relatively balanced, and the heating efficiency of the heat exchange device may be improved.

In some embodiments, the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be provided with a second outlet <NUM> and a second inlet <NUM>, so that the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be in communication with the first inlet <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> through the second outlet <NUM>, and in communication with the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> through the second inlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the second outlet <NUM> and the second inlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> are respectively located on two opposite ends of the second liquid storage tank <NUM>, so that the liquid medium may fully flow in the second liquid storage tank <NUM>, the temperature of the liquid medium in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be relatively balanced, and the heating efficiency of the heat exchange device may be improved.

The first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> are arranged in an upper and lower arrangement manner. That is, one of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> is arranged above the other of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM>. In this way, the flow efficiency of the liquid medium in the heat exchange device is accelerated by using the downward flow property of the liquid medium. According to the present invention, the second liquid storage tank <NUM> is arranged above the first liquid storage tank <NUM>.

A liquid inlet <NUM> may be defined in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above. Since the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> are in communication with each other, the liquid medium may be filled into the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below through the liquid inlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above. When the liquid medium is filled to the highest water level in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above through the liquid inlet <NUM>, the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below is also filled with the liquid medium. The second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above may define a liquid inlet <NUM> at the highest point thereof. In this way, the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be filled with the liquid medium through the liquid inlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the liquid inlet <NUM> may be arranged on one side of the second outlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above away from the second inlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, or the liquid inlet <NUM> may also be arranged on one side of the second inlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above away from the second outlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above.

In some embodiments, an exhaust hole <NUM> may be defined in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above. In this way, gas in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above may be exhausted or discharged through the exhaust hole <NUM> during the circulation of the liquid medium. The exhaust hole <NUM> may be arranged at one side of the second inlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above away from the second outlet <NUM> of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, which facilitates timely exhausting redundant or excess gas in the liquid storage tank <NUM> during the circulation of the liquid medium. In some embodiments, the exhaust hole <NUM> and the liquid inlet <NUM> may be respectively located on two opposite ends of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, to reduce the occurrence of exhausting the liquid medium just filled into the liquid storage tank <NUM> to the outside of the liquid storage tank <NUM> through the exhaust hole <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below may be used as a support member configured to support the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the heat pump device, and the like. That is, the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below may be arranged on the bottom of the dishwasher <NUM>, and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the heat pump device, and the like are arranged above the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below.

According to the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, a mounting surface <NUM> is formed on the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below, so that the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the heat pump device, and the like may be arranged on the mounting surface <NUM>.

In order to balance the weight distribution of the dishwasher <NUM>, the size of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above may be smaller than the size of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. For example, at least one of the length and the width of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is smaller than at least one of the length and the width of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below, that is, the length of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is smaller than the length of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below; or the width of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is smaller than the width of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below; or the length of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is smaller than the length of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below and the width of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is smaller than the width of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. In this way, the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above may be located in partial area of the mounting surface <NUM>; the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the heat pump device, and other components may be located in the remaining area of the mounting surface <NUM>. The mounting surface <NUM> is divided into two adjacent areas: a left area and a right area adjacent to each other, or a front area and a rear area adjacent to each other. One of the divided two areas may be used as the partial area of the mounting surface <NUM> to arrange the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, and the other of the divided two areas is used as the remaining area of the mounting surface <NUM> to arrange the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, and the heat pump device, and the like. In some embodiments, the mounting surface <NUM> is divided into two adjacent areas: a front area and a rear area. The second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is arranged on the rear area, and the power unit <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the heat pump device, and the like are arranged on the front area, to further improve the balance of the weight distribution of the chassis of the dishwasher <NUM>.

The evaporator <NUM> is also located on the mounting surface <NUM>. For the evaporator <NUM>, the distance from the highest point of the evaporator <NUM> to the mounting surface <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below is smaller or less than the distance from the highest point of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above to the mounting surface <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. In other words, the distance between the evaporator <NUM> and the cleaning cavity may be greater than the distance between the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above and the cleaning cavity. Generally speaking, the highest point of the evaporator <NUM> is lower than the highest point of the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above, so that the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below and the evaporator <NUM> may be filled with the liquid medium after the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above is filled with the liquid medium. In this way, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of insufficient heat exchange due to the lack of the liquid medium in the evaporator <NUM>.

At least part of the evaporator <NUM> may be embedded in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. In this way, when the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below is filled with the liquid medium, the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below may automatically flow into the evaporator <NUM>, so that the liquid medium may circulate among the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> only by arranging the power unit <NUM> between the evaporator <NUM> and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> located above.

In some embodiments, a mounting groove <NUM> is defined in the mounting surface <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. The evaporator <NUM> is embedded in the mounting groove <NUM>. In this way, at least part of the evaporator <NUM> may be embedded in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below. In some embodiments, the first outlet <NUM> is defined in the mounting groove <NUM>. The first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below is in communication with the medium inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> through the first outlet <NUM>. In this way, the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below may automatically flow into the evaporator <NUM> when the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below is filled with the liquid medium.

As shown in <FIG>, the evaporator <NUM> may be cylindrical. The medium inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> is located or defined on a side wall of the evaporator <NUM>. In this way, the first outlet <NUM> may be defined on the wall of the mounting groove <NUM> at a position adjacent to the medium inlet <NUM>. The length of a first pipeline (not shown in the figure) communicating the first outlet <NUM> with the medium inlet <NUM> may be reduced, and the first pipeline may be conveniently arranged. In some embodiments, the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> is located on the top end of the evaporator <NUM>. The medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> may face towards the power unit <NUM>. Thus, it is convenient to arrange a second pipeline (not shown in the figure) that is in communication with the medium outlet <NUM> and the power unit <NUM>. The first refrigerant inlet <NUM> and the first refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> may also be located on the top end of the evaporator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the evaporator <NUM> includes a container <NUM> and a refrigerant pipe <NUM>. The container <NUM> is configured to contain the liquid medium. The refrigerant pipe <NUM> is spirally arranged in the container <NUM>. In this way, the liquid medium contained in the container <NUM> may exchange heat with the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe <NUM>. The contact area between the refrigerant pipe <NUM> and the liquid medium in the container <NUM> may be increased through spiral arrangement of the refrigerant pipe <NUM>, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. In some embodiments, the evaporator <NUM> may further includes an inner pipe <NUM>. The inner pipe <NUM> is inserted into the container <NUM>, and the refrigerant pipe <NUM> is arranged between the container <NUM> and the inner pipe <NUM>. An outlet (i.e., the medium outlet) of the inner pipe <NUM> and the medium inlet are located on the same end of the container <NUM>. In this way, the liquid medium first enters the container <NUM> from one end of the container <NUM>, then the liquid medium flows to the other end of the container <NUM>, and then the liquid medium flows through the inner pipe <NUM> and flows back to the one end of the container <NUM>, and further flows out of the evaporator <NUM> from the one end of the container <NUM>. In this way, the liquid medium may fully flow in the evaporator <NUM>, the temperature balance of the liquid medium in the evaporator <NUM> is improved, and the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator <NUM> is improved.

The power unit <NUM> may also be arranged on the mounting surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power unit <NUM> may also be embedded in the mounting groove <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a protruding communication part may be formed in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below, to communicate the input end of the power unit <NUM> with the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> through the communication part. Thus, a mounting position having a size adapted to or matching with a size of the power unit <NUM> is formed on the mounting surface <NUM> of the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below through the communication part, and the power unit <NUM> may be exactly embedded in the mounting position, so as to fix the power unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet may be defined on the communication part. The liquid inlet of the communication part is in communication with the medium outlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM>, and the liquid outlet of the communication part is in communication with the input end of the power unit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the power unit <NUM> may be a power element, such as a pump, etc..

The heat exchange device may include a heater <NUM> arranged in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and/or the second liquid storage tank <NUM>. That is, the heat exchange device may include a first heater arranged in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, and/or a second heater arranged in the second liquid storage tank <NUM>. The liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and/or the liquid medium in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be heated by the first heater and/or the second heater, so that the temperature of the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> and the temperature of the liquid medium in the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be maintained in a suitable temperature range capable of heating the refrigerant in the evaporator <NUM>.

The first heater may be a heating tube assembly or a heating wire assembly. In some embodiments, the first heater may be a heating wire assembly, so as to control the temperature of the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> within a suitable temperature range (for example, from <NUM> degrees Celsius to <NUM> degrees Celsius), thereby improving the accuracy of controlling the temperature of the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first heater may include a first heating wire and a first heat conductive tape or band that are connected in a heat transfer manner. In this way, the heat of the first heating wire may be uniformly conducted to the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> through the first heat conductive tape, to achieve the purpose of uniformly heating the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> by the first heater. In some embodiments, the first heating wire may be wrapped in the first heat conductive tape, so that the first heating wire is not directly contacted with the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, and the first heating wire may uniformly and indirectly conduct heat to the liquid medium through the first heat conductive tape, thereby improving the uniformity of the temperature of the liquid medium in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first heater may be arranged in the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, and may also be arranged outside of the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, which is not limited here.

In some embodiments, the second heater may also include a second heating wire and a second heat conductive tape that are connected in a heat transfer manner. The relative positions of the second heating wire, the second heat conductive tape, and the second liquid storage tank <NUM> may be the same as the relative positions of the first heating wire, the first heat conductive tape, and the first liquid storage tank <NUM>, which are not repeated here.

On the basis of the overall structure of the dishwasher <NUM> and the heat exchange device, the present disclosure makes the following improvements to the connecting mode of the heat exchange device and the heat pump device.

As shown in <FIG>, in the assembling process of the dishwasher <NUM>, the heat pump device and the evaporator <NUM> may be embedded in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below as a whole. That is, the heat pump device and the evaporator <NUM> are first assembled together to form an assembled part, and then the assembled part is embedded in the first liquid storage tank <NUM> located below as a whole, so as to realize modularization and simplification.

In some embodiments, the water inlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM> may be at a level higher than the third outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>. The third outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM> may be at a level higher than the water draining outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>, so that the residual washing water in the water cup <NUM> (the washing water below the third outlet <NUM> of the water cup <NUM>) cannot enter the condenser <NUM> at the end of the circulation, and the washing water in the condenser <NUM> is completely drained, so that no residual water is remained in the condenser <NUM> at the end of the circulation.

In some embodiments, the condenser <NUM> may be arranged above the evaporator <NUM>, so as to facilitate the arrangement of the connection pipeline (not shown in the figure) between the condenser <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM>, and easily meet the requirements of the heights of the mounting positions of the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>. The water inlet <NUM>, the second refrigerant inlet <NUM>, and the second refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM>; and the medium inlet <NUM>, the first refrigerant outlet <NUM>, and the first refrigerant inlet <NUM> of the evaporator <NUM> may all face towards the same direction, such as face towards the power unit <NUM>, and the connection pipeline between the condenser <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM> may be conveniently arranged. In some embodiments, the water inlet <NUM>, the second refrigerant inlet <NUM>, and the second refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the condenser <NUM> may be all located on the top end of the condenser <NUM>, so that an axis of the condenser <NUM> is substantially parallel to the width direction of the first liquid storage tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> may be arranged side by side, and the axis of the condenser <NUM> may be substantially parallel to the axis of the evaporator <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A heat exchange device comprising:
an evaporator (<NUM>), defining a medium inlet (<NUM>) and a medium outlet (<NUM>);
a first liquid storage tank (<NUM>), in communication with the medium inlet (<NUM>);
a second liquid storage tank (<NUM>), in communication with the medium outlet (<NUM>), wherein the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>) is in communication with the first liquid storage tank (<NUM>), and the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>) defines a liquid inlet (<NUM>) and an exhaust hole (<NUM>); and
a power unit (<NUM>), arranged between the evaporator (<NUM>) and the first liquid storage tank (<NUM>), or between the evaporator (<NUM>) and the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>), and configured to drive a liquid medium to circulate among the first liquid storage tank (<NUM>), the evaporator (<NUM>), and the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>);
characterised in that the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>) and the evaporator (<NUM>) are arranged on a mounting surface (<NUM>) of the first liquid storage tank (<NUM>), and a distance from the highest point of the second liquid storage tank (<NUM>) to the mounting surface (<NUM>) is greater than a distance from the highest point of the evaporator (<NUM>) to the mounting surface (<NUM>), wherein the first liquid storage tank (<NUM>) is located below the mounting surface (<NUM>).