Dryer Efficiency

[BoilerMan]

The idea that your dryer needs a heat exchange condenser, reinforces my general opinion that material things just require more material things.. It's not that I'm a simplification nut.. but really.. where does it stop?

The exception, as to material things, seems to be a wood stove.. simple iron box with a pipe leading to the outside. Yes, it requires wood, but that's pretty much it

While I certainly see your point, we are discussing a modern appliance and ways to use the energy from it that would be otherwise wasted. At my house...my wife does laundry back to back loads and a clothes line that would hold 4-5 loads would be large. Also planning on doing laundry only when there is no rain in the forecast is not as easy in some parts of the country.

As well as a simple iron box with a pipe leading to the outside could use some improvements in efficiency, leading to less wood use, less smoke, and more heat output.....You know I am one of those engineering types

TS

 

[Highbeam]

According to engineers here it also requires a catalyst, a cat bypass, a thermostat and some secret sauce.

The wood stove requires those things to be the best it can be. If you're okay with average then the woodstove can be quite simple.

So to optimize the wood burning experience or the clothes drying experience, there are some pretty cool ideas out there that often times become the norm. Not long ago people were using barrel stoves in their homes!

 

[begreen]

Some of those old Oak stoves were pretty efficient heaters. Based on the experiences of a lot of GE heat pump hw heaters, new more complex designs can be more efficient, and much higher maintenance. But engineers love them.

 

[jebatty]

I made a small step forward on implementing a condensing/heat capture system for our electric clothes dryer: ordered a data logging temperature/humidity sensor to monitor the results. Primary objective is to make sure that not too much humidity is delivered into the basement and secondarily to add heat when needed. Right now in the basement we have to dehumidify during the June-September period and it would be beneficial to have added heat (rather than added electric heat) from the dryer during the November-April period. The dryer venting system therefore will need a bypass to vent outside when heat/dehumidification is not needed and vent inside when heat is needed, subject to not adding undesirable humidity.

We have a high efficiency, front loading washer with high speed spin, and that already has greatly reduced the amount of humidity generated in the drying process. The data logger will provide info on humidity from the dryer at the before condensing point and at the after condensing point to determine the effectiveness of the condenser, and it also will provide info on how much humidity is raised in the basement when the dryer is condensing and venting into the basement.

 

[semipro]

I made a small step forward on implementing a condensing/heat capture system for our electric clothes dryer: ordered a data logging temperature/humidity sensor to monitor the results. Primary objective is to make sure that not too much humidity is delivered into the basement and secondarily to add heat when needed. Right now in the basement we have to dehumidify during the June-September period and it would be beneficial to have added heat (rather than added electric heat) from the dryer during the November-April period. The dryer venting system therefore will need a bypass to vent outside when heat/dehumidification is not needed and vent inside when heat is needed, subject to not adding undesirable humidity.

We have a high efficiency, front loading washer with high speed spin, and that already has greatly reduced the amount of humidity generated in the drying process. The data logger will provide info on humidity from the dryer at the before condensing point and at the after condensing point to determine the effectiveness of the condenser, and it also will provide info on how much humidity is raised in the basement when the dryer is condensing and venting into the basement.

What are you planning to use as a condenser Jim?

 

[jebatty]

To start with nothing more than a length of aluminum vent pipe terminating above a container of water. The basement temp is in the 50 degree range during late fall to spring. Maybe add a turbulator inside the pipe to increase moist air contact with the surface of the pipe.

 

[DUMF]

So here we are on a generally wood heating site, now discussing "green".
This Luddite spouts using a down comforter for example for the complaints about cold bedrooms.
Now another whine: does anyone hang clothes on an outdoor "line" anymore to dry naturally year-round ?
Why use fossils to dry clothes except in dire need for clean undies ? We need to know.
Lazy ?
Time constraints ( spend less time diddling on social media ) ?
Like efficiency and speed ?
Boy, those undies sure smell nice after outdoor naturale drying.

 

[jebatty]

So here we are on a generally wood heating site, now discussing "green".

I got a laugh out of your mention of wood because the Green Room actually is for discussing "green" and "conservation" ... not just wood.

This area is for discussion and links of renewable energy and conservation NOT related to stoves - such as solar, wind and water power as well as conservation, ethanol and other evolving technologies.

What are your thoughts on a wood-fired clothes dryer?

 

[DUMF]

I got a laugh out of your mention of wood because the Green Room actually is for discussing "green" and "conservation" ... not just wood. What are your thoughts on a wood-fired clothes dryer?

The boss says: " no clothes dryer in MY house around the wood stoves....none." My entreaties that
the clothes drying would supply indoor humidity in the winter falls flat.
So, out to the clothes lines winter or summer. Now that's "green".

 

[jebatty]

My boss also says no clothes drying in the house ... and not outdoors too -- the birds sit on the line and poop on the hanging clothes. Hence, an effort to use the electric dryer more efficiently.

 

[maple1]

Clothes rack doesn't have to be around the stove. Most of our clothes hanging is in the master bathroom, a bit in the room where the washer & dryer are. Moisture is pretty fluid, anywhere in a dry house will usually do.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Heat pump and condensing dryers are ductless. These are available in the US too. They are pricey but electrical savings can be 25% according to some reviews. .

Some estimates are 50% energy savings.

 

[jebatty]

And soon an ultrasonic clothes dryer? Will have to wait to see if this scales up and hits a price point that can capture market share. Ultrasonic Dryer

 

[Lake Girl]

That prototype is a little small Concept works on individual pieces of fabric but I'm curious on the full-size model...

 

[woodgeek]

does anyone hang clothes on an outdoor "line" anymore to dry naturally year-round ?
Why use fossils to dry clothes except in dire need for clean undies ? We need to know.
Lazy ?
Time constraints ( spend less time diddling on social media ) ?
Like efficiency and speed ?
Boy, those undies sure smell nice after outdoor naturale drying.

We are lazy or busy with other things....hard to tell the difference to be honest.

We have a HE washer that has a hi-speed spin. A lot of things come out of the washer so spun that they air dry overnight in the house, for bulk loads...we use a dryer, but with 100% wind power no fossils are required.

 

[Ashful]

You guys are thinking about this all wrong. Georgepds's simplicity, with begreen's efficiency:



Remember when all washers had a wringer? Supplanted by the spin cycle, but which does the better job, with less electricity?

You can still buy a wringer, today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BrotherBart]

You can still buy a wringer, today.

Been there, washed with that. Never again.

 

[begreen]

I remember reading in the papers about a woman that lost her scalp to one of those. You really don't want to get something caught like long hair in those wringers.

 

[Ashful]

Been there, washed with that. Never again.

Damn! I knew you were old, but...

 

[BrotherBart]

Ever seen the Maytag powered by a single cylinder gas engine? I have. The only one that could get the thing to start was Grandpa. He would stomp the kick starter one time then spit tobacco on it and say "Start you son_of_a_bitch" and it would start on the next stomp.

 

[BrotherBart]

Found a pic.

 

[Ashful]

Ever seen the Maytag powered by a single cylinder gas engine? I have. The only one that could get the thing to start was Grandpa. He would stomp the kick starter one time then spit tobacco on it and say "Start you son_of_a_bitch" and it would start on the next stomp.

Yep. I still have the engine from my great-grandmother's. I used to run it, as a kid. Machine is long-gone, but the engine is still with me.

Had it kick back on me a few times, when I was young. Used to scare me, then. Can't imagine my wife running it, today. Women must have been tough, in those days.

 

[woodgeek]

Women must have been tough, in those days.

Given the men in those days, and the fact that we are not extinct, I would have to agree.

of maybe it just really beat doing the laundry down by the river.

 

[jebatty]

... maybe it just really beat doing the laundry down by the river

Nothing can beat beating the laundry.

 

[Lake Girl]

Had a Maytag wringer when I first got married (80s) as it was better than going to the laundry mat and our oldest had cloth diapers (sensitivities to disposable). Those things are very tough on clothes ... not very forgiving if buttons or zippers go through the wrong way. The trade off is time vs. slightly more electric usage with a spin cycle (unverified). Still running the motor when wringing so not sure if there is electric savings. Wouldn't say there is much difference on moisture removal between a wringer and a front end loader...

The actual savings value would come from water and detergent usage ... less water & detergent used with a wringer. My Mom used to have a washing machine with a suds saver (wash water drained into laundry sink and sucked back in for next load) so actual water use was decreased. That is a thing of the past with front end loaders. I think you can still get a suds saver option but they are not as common.

Edit: Apparently Australia is the only place you may still be able to get a suds-saver model (and maybe not there anymore). Appears they were phased out in North America late 90s/early 2000s. Front end loaders apparently use 30% less water. Suds saver would re-use approximately 50% ... more if you could get 3 loads washed using the same water. That is dependent on how dirty those clothes really are...