Dishwasher appliance having energy recovery features

Abstract

Dishwasher appliances are provided. A dishwasher appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior, and a tub disposed within the interior and defining a wash chamber for the receipt of articles for cleaning The dishwasher appliance further includes a sump and a fluid circulation conduit. The dishwasher appliance further includes a closed-loop adsorption assembly in fluid communication with the wash chamber. The closed-loop adsorption assembly includes an inlet defined in the tub, an outlet defined in the tub, and a desiccant assembly in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The desiccant assembly includes an inner passage for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, an intermediate passage surrounding the inner passage, an outer passage surrounding the intermediate passage, and a desiccant module disposed in the intermediate passage. Fluid received in the inner passage is flowable through the intermediate passage to the outer passage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior;   a tub disposed within the interior and defining a wash chamber for the receipt of articles for cleaning;   a sump for collecting liquid from the chamber;   a fluid circulation conduit for circulating liquid in the tub; and   a closed-loop adsorption assembly in fluid communication with the wash chamber, the closed-loop adsorption assembly comprising:
 an inlet defined in the tub; 
 an outlet defined in the tub; and 
 a desiccant assembly in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the desiccant assembly comprising an inner passage for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, an intermediate passage surrounding the inner passage, an outer passage surrounding the intermediate passage, and a desiccant module disposed in the intermediate passage, 
 wherein fluid received in the inner passage is flowable through the intermediate passage to the outer passage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant assembly further comprises a heating unit. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the heating unit is disposed within the inner passage. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop adsorption assembly further comprises a fan. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the fan is disposed upstream of the desiccant assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the fan is disposed downstream of the desiccant assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant module comprises a granular desiccant. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the desiccant is zeolite. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop adsorption assembly further comprises:
 an inlet conduit extending between the inlet and the desiccant assembly for flowing fluid from the wash chamber to the inner passage; and   an outlet conduit extending between the desiccant assembly and the outlet for flowing fluid from the outer passage to the wash chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant assembly further comprises an inner conduit defining the inner passage, an intermediate conduit defining the intermediate passage, and an outer conduit defining the outer passage, and wherein the inner conduit and the intermediate conduit are perforated. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inner passage, the intermediate passage, and the outer passage each have a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inner passage, the intermediate passage, and the outer passage each have a generally square cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum thickness of the intermediate passage is between approximately 15 millimeters and approximately 50 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum length of the intermediate passage is between approximately 200 millimeters and approximately 400 millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . A dishwasher appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior;   a tub disposed within the interior and defining a wash chamber for the receipt of articles for cleaning;   a sump for collecting liquid from the chamber;   a fluid circulation conduit for circulating liquid in the tub;   a closed-loop adsorption assembly in fluid communication with the wash chamber, the closed-loop adsorption assembly comprising:
 an inlet defined in the tub; 
 an outlet defined in the tub; 
 a desiccant assembly in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the desiccant assembly comprising an inner passage for receiving fluid from the wash chamber, an intermediate passage surrounding the inner passage, an outer passage surrounding the intermediate passage, a desiccant module disposed in the intermediate passage, and a heating unit disposed in the inner passage, wherein fluid received in the inner passage is flowable through the intermediate passage to the outer passage 
 wherein the inner passage, the intermediate passage, and the outer passage each have a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile, a maximum thickness of the intermediate passage is between approximately 15 millimeters and approximately 50 millimeters, and a maximum length of the intermediate passage is between approximately 200 millimeters and approximately 400 millimeters. 
   
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the closed-loop adsorption assembly further comprises a fan. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the desiccant module comprises a granular desiccant. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the desiccant is zeolite. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the desiccant assembly further comprises an inner conduit defining the inner passage, an intermediate conduit defining the intermediate passage, and an outer conduit defining the outer passage, and wherein the inner conduit and the intermediate conduit are perforated. 
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the inner passage, the intermediate passage, and the outer passage each have a generally square cross-sectional profile.