The physics of washing machines

[摘要] The front-loading washing machineis an integral part of household life for many, with little notice given to the extensive interplayof physical, chemical and thermalphenomenataking place as the clothes inside tumble. With over 250 billion washes carried out annually in Europe a lone, it has a staggering environmental impact due to its energy and water usage and also due to the chemicals that are drained to the sewage systemat the end of a wash. There are two practical routes for reducing this impact; improving the designof the machine so that it requires less energy or water, or improving detergent formulations so that the required level of cleaning is achieved at lower temperatures and with a reduced input of product. The work presented in this study was initially carried out with the aim of designing better detergent formulations. A long the way, the results also enabled new tools for better washing machine design to be developed. For both routes, the basic requirement was to develop an understandingof the mechanisms which result in mechanicalcleaning of textiles, which is the focus of results presented in this study.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Chemical Engineering

[关键词] T Technology;T Technology (General)