Dishwashing appliance having an air-drying dehumidification assembly

Abstract

A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a pump, a spray assembly, a fluid recirculation duct a sorption segment, and an electric heating assembly. The tub may be housed within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The spray assembly may be housed within the wash chamber of the tub in fluid communication with the pump. The fluid recirculation duct may define a duct path extending from a path inlet to a path outlet to recirculate air. The sorption segment may be disposed along the duct path and include a reversibly dehydratable material. The electric heating assembly may be disposed outside of the wash chamber in thermal communication with the sorption segment to selectively heat the sorption segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwashing appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub housed within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber, the tub comprising a sump defining a bottom portion of the wash chamber;   a pump configured to deliver a wash fluid to the wash chamber;   a spray assembly housed within the wash chamber of the tub in fluid communication with the pump to receive wash fluid therefrom;   a fluid recirculation duct defining a duct path extending from a path inlet to a path outlet to recirculate air within the wash chamber, the path inlet defined in fluid communication between the wash chamber and the path outlet, and the path outlet defined in fluid communication between the path inlet and the wash chamber downstream from the path inlet;   a sorption segment disposed along the duct path and comprising a reversibly dehydratable material; and   an electric heating assembly disposed outside of the wash chamber in thermal communication with the sorption segment to selectively heat the sorption segment.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid recirculation duct is disposed on the tub, wherein the path inlet is defined through the tub above the sump, and wherein the path outlet is defined through the tub above the sump. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a door rotatably attached to the cabinet and selectively restricting access to the wash chamber, wherein the fluid recirculation duct is disposed on the door, wherein the path inlet is defined through the door, and wherein the path outlet is defined through the door.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the path inlet is disposed above path outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heating assembly is disposed outside of the duct path. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller operably connected to the electric heating assembly and configured to direct a washing operation, the washing operation comprising
 initiating a dry cycle, and 
 activating the electric heating assembly during a first desorption portion of the dry cycle to heat the sorption segment. 
   
     
     
         7 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the washing operation further comprises
 deactivating the electric heating assembly during a first recovery portion of the dry cycle following the first desorption portion to permit cooling of the sorption segment as water is collected therefrom.   
     
     
         8 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tub fan disposed along the duct path to motivate air therethrough.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a controller operably connected to the electric heating assembly and the tub fan, the controller being configured to direct a washing operation, the washing operation comprising
 initiating a dry cycle, 
 activating the electric heating assembly during a first desorption portion of the dry cycle to heat the sorption segment, and 
 deactivating the tub fan during the first desorption portion. 
   
     
     
         10 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the washing operation further comprises
 deactivating the electric heating assembly during an active-flow portion of the dry cycle following the first desorption portion, and   activating the tub fan during the active-flow portion of the dry cycle.   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a dishwashing appliance comprising a tub defining a wash chamber, a sorption segment in fluid communication with the wash chamber and comprising a reversibly dehydratable material, a tub fan in fluid communication with the sorption segment, and an electric heating assembly in thermal communication with the sorption segment, the method comprising:
 holding the wash chamber in a stagnant condition during a dry cycle;   activating a tub fan to circulate air within the wash chamber and motivate moisture adsorption in the sorption segment during the dry cycle following holding the wash chamber in the stagnant condition; and   activating the electric heating assembly to motivate moisture desorption at the sorption segment during the dry cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein holding the wash chamber in a stagnant condition continues for a first set delay period prior to activating the tub fan. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises
 deactivating, following the activating the tub fan, the tub fan to restrict air circulation within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 holding, following deactivating the tub fan and prior to activating the electric heating assembly, the wash chamber in a stagnant condition for a second set delay period.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 directing, prior to the dry cycle, a rinse cycle comprising circulating water within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 deactivating the electric heating assembly following moisture desorption.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining the dry cycle is unexpired following activating the electric heating assembly; and   activating, again, the tub fan to circulate air within the wash chamber and motivate moisture adsorption in the sorption segment during the dry cycle following determining the dry cycle is unexpired.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 activating, again, the electric heating assembly to motivate moisture desorption at the sorption segment during the dry cycle following activating, again, the tub fan.