WO2008073008A1

WO2008073008A1 - Improved drying device

Info

Publication number: WO2008073008A1
Application number: PCT/SE2006/001414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrik TEDSJÖ
Original assignee: Tes Scandinavia Ab
Priority date: 2006-12-11
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2008-06-19
Also published as: EP2102405A1; EP2102405A4

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy efficient drying device and a method of performing said drying. The invention concerns a drying device for heating at least one predetermined object. The device comprise a drying compartment arranged to enclose said object during drying and a closable opening through which said object may be inserted into said drying compartment. The device further comprises a dehumidifier arranged in working cooperation with said drying compartment, said dehumidifier comprises a heat and pressure generating device for heating a fluid. The dehumidifier further comprises a pipe element in which said fluid may be circulated, said pipe element comprises a heating part, for transferring thermal energy to said object and thereby produce humid air, and a condensing part for condensing said humid air. The heating part of said pipe element is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment. The invention is said to be energy efficient since it directly heats the object and dehumidify the humid air produced from the heating.

Description

IMPROVED DRYING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of drying devices and more precisely drying devices such as a human necessities drying device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally after washing clothes, the clothes are hung on a rod or a supporting rope for drying in the sun. This way of drying is by all means considered to be both effective and environmental friendly. This natural drying process is however not very practical, one reason is that it takes to long. Another way of drying clothes is described in Patent US 5,512,077 in which a clothes drying machine comprises a compressor operated heat exchanger circulation coil. The compressor operated heat exchanger circulation coil produces heated convection currents circulating through a drying chamber. An air condenser is installed in an installation chamber which dehumidifies the air current.

A similar dryer is disclosed in patent US 5,369,892 wherein said dryer has an internal drying chamber for accommodating articles subjected to heating and an air mixing chamber containing a fan for moving air through a heater into the drying chamber. The heated air in the drying chamber is mixed with fresh air and re-circulated through the drying chamber to minimize heat losses and increase drying effectiveness. Ultraviolet lamps are arranged in the drying chamber to destroy contaminants in the air.

JP 2307414 discloses a dryer having a heat generating dehumidifier arranged in proximity of the drying chamber. A sink is provided at the bottom of the drying chamber to drain the condensed water. The dehumidifier pumps hot air into the drying chamber and thereafter sucks out the humid air to dehumidify it. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy efficient drying device and a method of performing said drying. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an energy efficient drying device for human necessities. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of drying human necessities and more particularly a method of drying utilizing a human necessities drying device. It is further an object of the present invention to directly heat and simultaneously dry the humid air produced during heating by means of dehumidification. These benefits and many more will be evident after reading the description.

At least parts of the objects are solved by the present invention by a drying device for drying at least one predetermined object. The device comprises a drying compartment arranged to enclose the object during drying, and a closable opening through which the object may be inserted to the drying compartment. The device is further equipped with a dehumidifier arranged in working cooperation with the drying compartment, the dehumidifier comprises a heat and pressure generating device for heating a fluid, a pipe element in which the fluid may be circulated, the pipe element comprises a heating part for transferring thermal energy to the object and thereby produce humid air, and a condensing part for condensing the humid air. The heating part of the pipe element is at least partly arranged in the drying compartment. The present invention provides a drying device which allows the combined use of transferring thermal energy to the object which is intended to be dried via conductivity and/or convection while at the same time dispose of excessive water in the humid air produced by the transferred thermal energy. The heating part is in one embodiment of the present invention arranged for transferring thermal energy to said object via conductivity and convection. The drying device and the method of performing the drying is both energy efficient and time saving. The present invention also provides a drying device without an excessive number of moving parts. This allows for more silent drying compared to certain prior art.

It is preferred to have a controlled evaporation of the fluid circulating in the pipe element to gain maximum thermal energy transfer to the objects intended to be dried. The pipe element is therefore in one embodiment of the present invention arranged with an expansion valve or a capillary tube between said heating part and said condensing part. The expansion valve or a capillary tube should preferably be arranged outside of the drying compartment, preferably, the whole condensing part is located outside of said drying compartment. Separating the condensation part and the heating part allows for a more efficient use of the energy induced in the drying device while at the same time it prevents re-humidification of the circulating air. It also prevents objects such as bulky clothes to stick on protruding objects inside the drying compartment. The condensing part may be also protected by utilizing a housing which encloses said condensing part.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a fan device arranged to force said humid air to said condensing part. The fan device may, if necessary, include air flow channels to direct the humid air to the condensing part in order to execute the condensation of the excessive humidity in the air. The fan device may also be arranged with a filter. The filter prevents contaminants, such as fibres if clothes are dried, to be carried to the condensing part by the air flow and thereby induce unnecessary maintenance or even worse, harm to the device or the environment. The filter may include additional components apart from the basic filter structure such as odour inhibitors e.g. activated carbon, carboxylic acids or the like, silica particles with a high surface area. The filter may be surface treated in order to prevent liquid to condensate inside the filter structure.

The fluid which is used in the drying device may be conventional refrigerants but is preferably chosen from a fluid having a boiling point between -5 °C to -52 ^°C. This ensures that efficient working conditions are provided.

In one embodiment of the present invention is the condensing part arranged with means for collecting the condensed liquid condensed on said condensing part. The collected condensed liquid may be directed to a liquid reservoir, i.e. the means for collecting the condensed liquid is arranged in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir. The reservoir may be arranged inside a housing covering the device or outside the housing, in the proximity of the device. As an alternative embodiment the condensed liquid is directed to a draining well if such is present in the nearby surroundings.

The pipe element may be covered by at least one insulating and/or protective material. Such material may for instance cover the heating part in order to fine tune the thermal energy transferred to the objects to be dried. It may be that the drying device needs to be adapted to objects with special requirements such as hygienic requirements, temperature requirements or the like. It may also be useful to prevent miscolouring of the objects intended to be dried. If such material cover the condensing part it may be chosen to prevent rust from occurring on the condensation part, or to improve the condensation parts properties to withstand wet conditions e.g. a hydrophobic polymeric material cover. A combination of the just mentioned material covering the heating part and the condensing part is also possible.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention is the heating part of said drying device arranged to constitute at least one hanging arrangement. More preferably a plurality of hanging arrangements so that said objects to be dried may be hung or placed on said hanging arrangement(s). As the fluid flows in the pipe element and dissipates thermal energy to the environment (e.g. the objects to be dried) the temperature of the surface of the heating element will gradually decrease resulting in a less effective drying as further the fluid flow. In order to transfer thermal energy substantially even along said heating element in said drying compartment, said heating part may be equipped with an inner diameter D which is adopted for the above purpose. The inner diameter D may for instance gradually decrease. The gradual decrease may be a continuous decrease or a step-by-step decrease. As an example, each hanging arrangement can be made with pipes of decreasing inner diameter. The temperature gradient may thus be overcome and a substantially uniform energy transfer is achieved by the current embodiment of the present invention.

The heat and pressure generating device is preferably a compressor. The compressor is chosen in accordance with the required energy to be induced into the fluid so that efficient working conditions are achieved.

The heat and pressure generating device may be provided with a control device arranged in working cooperation with at least one sensor. The heat and pressure generating device may then respond to a signal from said at least one sensor in order to change process parameters such as increase or decrease the amount of energy put into the fluid.

Further may the heat and pressure generating device be equipped with at least one more pipe element in which said fluid may be circulated, said pipe element comprises a heating part and a condensing part, said heating part of said pipe element is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment so that said heating part may transfer thermal energy to said object via conductivity and/or convection and thereby create a humid air, said condensing part is further arranged to condense said humid air. In cases were a plurality of pipe element are provided as described above, these pipe elements may be arranged with the same or different inner diameters so as to provide for the flexibility to adopt the thermal energy distribution throughout the drying compartment and thereby provide for a more energy efficient drying.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the drying device is a human necessities drying device, preferably a clothes drying machine and that said objects are clothes. The clothes drying machine is in a preferred embodiment a drying cabinet.

In another aspect of the present invention, the invention also concerns a method of drying objects comprising the steps of:

Providing a drying compartment with an object to be dried, and by means of a dehumidifier induce energy into a fluid. Transferring said fluid in a pipe element via a heating part and a condensing part, so that thermal energy is transferred from said heating part to said object and thereby produces humid air wherein the humid air is condensed at said condensing part. The heating part is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment. The method further comprises the step of transferring thermal energy in said drying compartment to said object from said heating part which is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment. The thermal energy may be transferred via conductivity and/or convection.

The object is placed on or in the proximity of said heating part so that thermal energy is transferred to said object via conductivity and/or convection from said heating part and thereby creates a humid air. The humid air is then condensed on said condensing part so as to remove the excessive amount of water in the humid air. The present invention is very energy efficient. The condensation of the humid air may be improved by means of forcing said humid air to said condensing part with a fan device. The humid air may also be filtered before condensing in order to reduce contamination to the environment or the device caused by the objects intended to be dried. Such contamination may be unwanted odours, particles, fibres or the like. The condensed liquid is preferably collected in a liquid reservoir or directing said liquid to a draining well. It may well first be collected and then directed to a draining well.

In one embodiment of the present invention said method further comprises the step of inducing energy into said fluid by means of compressing said fluid.

In order to maximize the efficiency of the method it may further comprises the step of controlling the fluid from a gaseous state into a liquid by means of a sensor and a control device. It is preferable that said objects are clothes.

DEFINITIONS

By the term "human necessities" it is meant items such as:

Clothes e.g. headwear, footwear, gloves, skirts, sweaters, trousers, gowns, overalls, pullovers, scarfs, outdoor wear, textiles, cloths or the like. Plant material e.g. tobacco, leaves, stems, fibers or the like. Food e.g. bread, buns, cakes, meat, vegetables, milk, juice, pasta, potatoes, crisps, chocolate or the like. Sports equipment e.g. ice skates, in-lines, skies, football gear, soccer gear, sails or the like.

By the term "drying compartment" it is meant the confined space in which the object intended to be dried is placed or positioned. Hence it is the space in which the primary drying act is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a drying device according to the present inventions for drying objects such as clothes, plant material, food and sports equipment and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to fig. 1 , there is shown a drying device 10 having a drying compartment 11 in which the objects intended to be dried is placed. The drying compartment 11 is provided with a closable opening 12 through which said objects intended to be dried may be inserted. The closable opening 12 may constitute a door hinged on pivots and may further be provided with insulation means in order to keep thermal energy losses to a minimum. The drying compartment 11 is in the shown embodiment of the present invention provided with a housing 13 wherein said housing 13 partly delimits said drying compartment 11. The closable opening 12 is preferable made of the same material as the housing 13. A handle 14 is arranged on the closable opening 12. The housing 13 constitutes a bottom 13a intended to be placed on the floor, a back wall 13b opposite the closable opening 12, a first side wall 13c, a second side wall 13d (not shown in fig. 1) and a top 13e opposite the bottom 13a.

A dehumidifier 15 is arranged in working cooperation with said drying compartment 11. The dehumidifier 15 comprises a heat and pressure generating device in the shape of a compressor 16. The compressor 16 may be of any conventional type used in e.g. refrigerators. The compressor 16 is arranged with a pipe element 17. The pipe element 17 facilitates for the fluid to be circulated throughout the dehumidifier 15. The pipe element 17 of this embodiment of the present invention constitutes of a pressure tolerant cylindrical pipe for holding and circulation of refrigerants under high pressure. The pipe element 17 comprises a heating part 18 for transferring heat i.e. thermal energy to the objects intended to be dried and a condensing part 19 to condense the humid air produced by the heating of the objects to be dried.

The compressor 16 is arranged in a compressor compartment 20 separated from the drying compartment 11 by a compressor wall 21. The compressor wall 21 may be insulated to prevent thermal energy losses from the drying compartment 11. The compressor wall 21 may also be dust, water and/or moisture protective in order to protect the compressor 16 due to its electrical nature. The compressor wall 21 forms the bottom of the drying compartment 11 and is well suited to receive objects intended to be dried. The heat from the compressor 16 which arises during operation of the compressor 16 can in one embodiment be utilized to further enhance the drying capabilities of the drying device. As an example, the compressor 16 will during working conditions dissipate heat to the surroundings due to friction induced by the moving parts in the compressor. This results in that the surface of the compressor will exhibit an elevated temperature during operation. The air, surrounding the compressor 16, is heated due to the elevated surface temperature of the compressor 16. The heated air, which is in the illustrated embodiment in fig. 1 is confined to the compressor compartment 20, may therefore by used to further increase the efficiency of the drying device 10 e.g. via a heat exchanger arranged to the compressor 16 wherein the heat exchanger is at least partly arranged in the drying compartment 11.

The heating part 18 is at least partly arranged in the drying compartment 11 so that the 5 heating part 18 may transfer thermal energy to the objects intended to be dried via conductivity (if the objects are placed directly on the heating part 18) or via convection (if the objects are placed in the proximity of the heating part 18). A combination of thermal energy transfer via both conductivity and convection is of course within the boundaries of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment is at least 80 % of the heating part 18 10 arranged in the drying compartment 11 or even more preferred at least 90 % of the heating part 18 arranged in the drying compartment 11. In another embodiment 100 % of the heating part is arranged in the drying compartment 11.

The heating part 18 provided in the drying compartment 11 forms hanging arrangements

15 22 on which objects intended to be dried may be hung or placed. This ensures a reliable transfer of the thermal energy from the heating part 18 to the objects. The form of the hanging arrangements 22 may of course vary. In fig. 1 the hanging arrangements 22 have a serpentine configuration constituting five hangers. The number of hangers may of course vary from at least one hanger to a plurality of hangers, preferably 10 hangers. It is

20 however the size and form of the drying compartment which restricts the shape and form of the heating element 18 for transferring thermal energy.

The heating part 18 may be further equipped with additional heat exchanging material (not shown) if appropriate e.g. metal plates or metal trays, attached to the cylindrical pipe which constitutes the heating part 18 as shown in fig. 1.

25

The heating part 18 leads to an evaporation point 30 in which the passing fluid changes phase from liquid phase to gaseous phase. This may be facilitated by means of a capillary tube or an evaporation chamber or the like. An evaporation chamber is preferable since it allows for control of the flow of said fluid and thereby also indirectly the transfer of thermal

30 energy from heating part 18. Heat sensors may be applied in order to facilitate an accurate control. Equipment like the mentioned heat sensors is conventional equipment per se and is not discussed in further detail.

The pipe element 17, i.e. the cylindrical pipe, transfers from a heating part to a 35 condensation part 19 at evaporation point 30. Humid air from the drying compartment 11 is condensed by condensation part 19 to remove the excess water from the humid air, i.e. drying said air. The condensation part 19 continues after mentioned evaporation point 30 downwardly towards the compressor wall 21. The condensation part 19 is preferably arranged with a condensation coil 35. Although the condensation of the air might start straight after the evaporation point it is preferable to direct the humid air to the condensation coil 35 which in the illustrated embodiment in fig. 1 is arranged parallel with the back wall 13b. The condensation coil 35 is preferably designed to have a high surface area so that humid air may readily be condensed. The condensed water 36 is collected by means for collecting condensed liquid 37. The means for collecting condensed liquid 37 is provided by a condensation chamber 38 which encloses the condensation coil 35. The condensation part 19 enters the condensation chamber 38 at the top and leaves at the bottom. A drainage pipe 39 is arranged at the bottom of the condensation chamber 38 with the purpose to drain the condensation chamber 38 from the condensed liquid. The drainage pipe 39 is then directed to a liquid reservoir 40 or directly to a draining well (not shown) if appropriate.

Humid air from the drying compartment 11 may be forced onto the condensation part 17 and the condensation coil 35 by means of a fan device 50. The fan device 50 is arranged on the inside of top 13e of housing 13, although it might well be placed outside if appropriate air flow channels are provided. The fan device 50 comprises an electric controlled fan 51 which facilitates a forced air flow. The fan 51 is covered by a housing 52 made of a resistant material. The fan device is further provided with a filter 53 covering an air inlet opening 54 to the fan housing 52. An air outlet opening 55 in the fan housing 52 is connected to an air flow channel 56 which is directed into the condensation chamber 38 to force the humid air from the drying compartment 11 onto the condensation coil 35 i.e. the condensation part 19. The air is dried inside the condensation chamber 38 and then directed via an outlet air flow channel 57 back into the drying compartment 11 in the proximity of the compressor wall 21. The air may in this way be re-circulated. One major advantage of this embodiment is that the drying device is not dependent on sucking in air from the surroundings in order to function, this also means that it does not need to dispose air from the drying compartment 11. This means that no hot air is directed away out from the drying device, which is one major energy loss. In one embodiment of the present invention the air flow channel 57 is directed via the compressor compartment 20, which in turn has an air flow channel in fluid communication with the drying compartment, 11. Such configuration would also take benefit, as discussed above, of the heated air W

10 produced by the elevated surface temperature of the compressor 16 and direct that air to the drying compartment 11.

As mentioned earlier heat sensors, i.e. temperature sensors may be applied in order to 5 facilitate an accurate control of the dehumidifier 15. To facilitate this may a control device 70 be arranged in the proximity of evaporation point 30. The control device may be a simple evaporation valve connected to a temperature sensor and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is preferably provided with a control panel which may be incorporated e.g. in the closable opening 12 in order for the user to control the drying device. Further

10 connected to the microcontroller is preferably a level indicator arranged in the liquid reservoir 40 if such is present. Moist sensors arranged in the drying compartment 11 in order to turn off the drying device after the objects have dried. Further arranged to a microcontroller may be components such as; the heat and pressure generating device (e.g. the compressor 16) in order to control the amount of energy put into the dehumidifier

15 15. It is also beneficial if the fan 51 is connected to said microcontroller. The microcontroller may of course be substituted for any equivalent control device which may perform the same or similar operations. These electric components are conventional components per se and will not be described further.

20 A separation wall 65 is arranged parallel with the back wall 13b of the hosing 13. The separation wall 65 separates the heating part 18 from the condensation part 19 in order to minimize energy losses or energy transfer between the condensation chamber 38 and the drying compartment 35. The separation wall 65 is preferably insulated.

25 In the following section will the thermal energy transfer function be explained more precisely with reference to fig. 1. The compressor 16 pressurizes and heats the fluid in the dehumidifier 15. The fluid may be e.g. ammonia gas. As the gas is heated, it flows from the compressor 16 into the heating part 18 which is at least partly arranged in the drying compartment 11 were it releases thermal energy to its surrounding and especially to the

30 objects intended to be dried. As the gas enters the drying compartment 11 , at entering point 60, it contains maximum amount of thermal energy. As the gas releases thermal energy its temperature is lowered and the gas may turn to liquid again since it is still under high pressure, e.g. somewhere along a condensation point 61. The condensation point 61 may be tuned, i.e. changed, by means of the altering the fluid flow inside the pipe element

35 17 or by changing the amount of energy induced into the system via compressor 16. The fluid flows thereafter through an area were the fluid is exposed to an increase in pressure e.g. by means of an evaporation valve at evaporation point 30. The fluid at evaporation point 30 changes back into the gas phase and thereby lowers its temperature, which results in a temperature drop down stream of evaporation point 30. Between the evaporation point 30 and the compressor 16 is a low-pressure area created due to the pulling exerted by the compressor 16 to said fluid. The condensation coil 35 with relatively large surface area and with relatively cold surface condensates the humid air forced onto the condensation coil 35 by the fan device 50. The fluid inside the condensation coil 35 may again turn from its gas phase into liquid phase due to a decrease in temperature, mainly due to condensation of liquid on the outside surface of the condensation coil 35. The compressor 16 thereafter sucks the fluid (with its lower temperature) back into the compressor to heat it again to initiate the same process again.

Examples of refrigerators which may be used according to the present invention are listed in table 1. The refrigerators are available from AKA KyIa AB, Box 832, 161 24 Bromma, Sweden or Du Pont de Nemours (Nederland) B.V., Dordrecht Works, Baanhoekweg 22, NL-3313 LA DORDRECHT.

Table 1. Examples of different refrigerators which may be employed in the present invention.

It is believed, without being bound by theory, that it is preferable to have low enough boiling point so that a high amount of humid may condense in a short time. A low boiling point will give a low temperature at condensation part 17, and condensation coil 35. However, the temperature should not be so low as to cause severe energy losses due to lowering the temperature of the air which is re-circulated back into the drying compartment 11. A fluid for use in the dehumidifier 15 with the drying device of the present invention should therefore preferably be chosen with a boiling point between -5 to -52 ^°C, more preferably -5 to -27 ^°C and most preferred between -5 to -12 °C.

Claims

1. A drying device (10) for drying at least one predetermined object comprising; a drying compartment (11) arranged to enclose said object during drying, a closable opening (12) through which said object may be inserted into said drying compartment (11), a dehumidifier (15) arranged in working cooperation with said drying compartment (11), said dehumidifier (15) comprises a heat and pressure generating device (16) for heating a fluid, a pipe element (17) in which said fluid may be circulated, said pipe element (17) comprises a heating part (18), for transferring thermal energy to said object and thereby produce humid air, and a condensing part (19) for condensing said humid air. characterized in that said heating part (18) of said pipe element (17) is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment (11).

2. The drying device according to claim 1 characterized in that said heating part (18) for transferring thermal energy to said object is arranged to transfer said thermal energy via conductivity and convection.

3. The drying device according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said pipe element (17) is further arranged with an expansion valve or a capillary tube arranged between said heating part (18) and said condensing part (19).

4. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said condensing part (19) is located outside of said drying compartment (11).

5. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said heating part (18) and said condensing part (19) are separated by a separation wall (65).

6. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said drying device (10) further comprises a fan device (50) to force said humid air to said condensing part (19).

7. The drying device according to claim 6 characterized in that said fan device (50) is arranged with a filter (53) to filter said humid air.

8. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said fluid is chosen from a group of fluids having a boiling point between -5 ⁰C to -52

^°C.

9. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said condensing part (19) comprises means for collecting the condensed liquid (37) condensed on said condensing part (19, 35).

10. The drying device according to claim 9 characterized in that said drying device (10) is further equipped with a liquid reservoir (40) and that said means for collecting said condensed liquid (37) is arranged in fluid communication (39) with said liquid reservoir (40).

11. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that at least a portion of said pipe element (17) is covered by at least one insulating and/or protective material.

12. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said heating part (18) constitutes at least one hanging arrangement (22) adapted to receive said object by means of hanging or placing.

13. The drying device according to claim 12 characterized in that said heating part (18) has an inner diameter D and that said inner diameter D is adapted so that a substantially even thermal energy transfer is achieved all along said heating part (18) in said drying compartment (11).

14. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said heat and pressure generating device comprises a compressor (16).

15. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said heat and pressure generating device (16) is further arranged with a control device (70) in working cooperation with at least one sensor so that said heat and pressure generating device (16) is adapted to respond to a signal from said at least one sensor.

16. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said heat generating device (16) comprises at least one additional pipe element in which said fluid may be circulated, said additional pipe element comprises a heating part, for transferring thermal energy to said object and thereby produce humid air, and a condensing part for condensing said humid air and wherein said heating part of said pipe element is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment (11).

17. The drying device according to any preceding claims characterized in that said drying device (10) is a human necessities drying device and that said objects are human necessities.

18. The drying device according to claim 17 characterized in that said human necessities drying device is a clothes drying machine.

19. The drying device to claim 18 characterized in that said clothes drying machine is a clothes drying cabinet.

20. A method of drying objects comprising the steps of: providing a drying compartment (11) with an object to be dried; and by means of a dehumidifier (15) induce energy into a fluid; and transferring said fluid in a pipe element (17) via a heating part (18) and a condensing part (19), so that thermal energy is transferred from said heating part (18) to said object and thereby produces humid air wherein the humid air is condensed at said condensing part (19) characterized in that the heating part (18) is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment (19) and wherein the method further comprises the step of transferring thermal energy in said drying compartment (11) to said object from said heating part (18) which is at least partly arranged in said drying compartment (19).

21. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 characterized in that said method further comprises the step of forcing said humid air to said condensing part (19) by means of a fan device (51).

22. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 or 21 characterized in that said method further comprises the step of filtering said humid air before condensing said humid air.

23. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 to 22 characterized in that said method further comprises the step of collecting said condensed liquid in a liquid reservoir or directing said liquid to a draining well.

24. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 to 23 characterized in that said method further comprises the step of inducing energy into said fluid by means of compressing said fluid.

25. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 to 24 characterized in that said method further comprises the step of controlling energy induced to said fluid by means of a sensor and a control device (70).

26. A method of drying objects according to claim 20 to 25 characterized in that said objects are human necessities.

27. A method of drying objects according to claim 26 characterized in that said objects are clothes.