Heat exchanger filter for self lint cleaning system in dryer appliance

1. A laundry appliance comprising:

a rotating drum for processing laundry;

a blower that directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum;

a heat exchanger positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air;

a fixedly-secured lint filter that captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger; and

a fluid spray system having spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter, wherein each of the spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter, and wherein a top edge of the fixedly-secured lint filter is secured between the spray nozzles and a cover member for the heat exchanger.

2. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter is secured within the airflow path, wherein front and back surfaces of the fixedly-secured lint filter are engaged by portions of the airflow path.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter is secured within the airflow path by a fastener, and wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter is substantially non-removable from the airflow path.

4. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter is disposed within a filter receptacle having a filter seat that at least partially surrounds a bottom portion of the fixedly-secured lint filter and retains a bottom edge of the fixedly-secured lint filter at least partially below a top edge of the filter seat.

5. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzles engage a front surface of an outer frame of the fixedly-secured lint filter.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 4 , wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter includes a blocking flange that extends along a top edge of an outer frame for the fixedly-secured lint filter, wherein the blocking flange engages the airflow path at a top recess, wherein the blocking flange extends into the top recess.

7. The laundry appliance of claim 6 , wherein the top recess and a bottom recess of the filter seat each include a plurality of tabs that engage a back surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter.

8. The laundry appliance of claim 3 , wherein the fixedly-secured lint filter is selectively removable from the filter receptacle after removal of the fastener.

9. The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein a vertical wall of the airflow path includes a filter aperture that is surrounded by an outer recess, wherein a securing flange of the fixedly-secured lint filter engages an outer surface of the airflow path at the outer recess.

10. A lint removal system for a laundry appliance, the lint removal system comprising:

a blower that directs process air through an airflow path for processing laundry;

a lint filter that is fixed in a position upstream of a heat exchanger by a fastener, the lint filter for capturing lint particles from the process air;

a heat exchange plate that secures the lint filter and the heat exchanger within the airflow path, the heat exchange plate having a bottom recess that receives a bottom edge of the lint filter;

a cover member that is positioned over the heat exchange plate and the heat exchanger; and

a top recess of the airflow path that is positioned within the cover member, wherein the top recess receives a top side of the lint filter.

11. The lint removal system of claim 10 , wherein the top and bottom recesses each engage front and back surfaces of the lint filter.

12. The lint removal system of claim 10 , wherein the lint filter and the fastener are inaccessible from an exterior of a structural cabinet.

13. The lint removal system of claim 11 , wherein the bottom recess defines a filter seat that retains the bottom edge of the lint filter at least partially below a surface of the airflow path.

14. The lint removal system of claim 13 , wherein a filtering material of the lint filter extends below a top edge of the bottom recess.

15. The lint removal system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a filter spray system having a plurality of spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the lint filter, wherein each spray nozzle engages a front surface of the lint filter and at least partially defines a filter receptacle, wherein the top and bottom recesses further define the filter receptacle.

16. The lint removal system of claim 10 , wherein the lint filter includes a blocking flange that extends along the top side of a frame for the lint filter, wherein the blocking flange engages the airflow path at the top recess.

17. The lint removal system of claim 10 , wherein the top and bottom recesses each include a plurality of tabs that engage a back surface of the lint filter.

18. The lint removal system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a removable lint filter positioned upstream of the lint filter.

19. A laundry appliance comprising:

a rotating drum for processing laundry;

a blower that directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum;

a heat exchanger positioned within a heat exchanger housing of the airflow path that cools and dehumidifies the process air;

a lint filter that captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger, the lint filter fixed within the heat exchanger housing of the airflow path at a filter receptacle, wherein the lint filter is concealed from view within a structural cabinet; and

a filter spray system having a plurality of spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the lint filter, wherein each spray nozzle engages the lint filter and defines a portion of the filter receptacle.

20. The laundry appliance of claim 19 , wherein the filter receptacle includes a top recess and a bottom recess that each engage front and back surfaces of the lint filter, the top recess receiving a blocking flange of the lint filter, wherein the blocking flange extends along a top edge and at least one vertical side of the lint filter.