SUN DRIEDDesign Group 3

EDSGN 100, Section 9Fall 2008

Project Sponsored by Borton-Lawson and the PSU Solar Decathlon

Solar Technology has developed extraordinarily to date, but many improvements can be made to optimize energy efficiency and performance, as well as to make solar products more aesthetically pleasing to their owners.

ProblemClothes dryers are not very energy efficient appliances, so an energy-conscious home must look to simple outdoor clotheslines to dry laundry. Such clotheslines depend on outdoor weather conditions, and are not aesthetically acceptable in most cases.

About 5.8 percent of residential electricity use goes towards the clothes dryer, according to DOE EIA statistics from 2007.

When clothes dryers are kept at cool temperatures (as they often are in air conditioned homes) , they require more energy to heat the air inside.

After the refrigerator, the clothes dryer uses more energy than any other appliance, approximately 800 kWh/yr

Clothes dryers use between 1800 and 5000 watts per hour they are used, depending on their size and the energy consciousness of their creators.

Over its expected lifetime of 18 years, the average clothes dryer will cost you approximately $1,530 to operate.

Design Considerations

The clothes dryer should be energy efficient.The clothes dryer should be aesthetically acceptable or even pleasing.The material cost should be as small as possible.The clothes dryer should be safe to use and easy to maintain.

      B   C   D

Selection Criteria Weight% Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score Rating Weighted Score

Ease of use 10 3 0.3 4 0.4 4 0.4

Energy Efficiency 20 4 0.8 3 0.6 2 0.4

Drying Speed 10 2 0.2 3 0.3 3 0.2

Appearance 15 2 0.3 4 0.6 3 0.45

Safety 10 3 0.3 3 0.3 2 0.2

Ease of Manufacture 10 4 0.4 3 0.3 3 0.3

Size 15 2 0.3 2 0.3 4 0.6

Ease of Maintenance 10 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3

Total Score     2.9   3.1   2.85

Rank     2   1   3

Continue?     No   Yes   No

  

Decision Matrix

Energy Efficiency

Our design relies only on the energy that it provides for itself:Tinted glass is used on the back wall—dark blue glass

works best to absorb heat and prevent it from escaping. Fans are powered by the solar energy processed

through that wall and air pathways allow for good ventilation.

Fiberglass insulation retains captured heat. Water that drips from wet clothing is collected

beneath and can be recycled to an outdoor garden.

Appearance

Clothes that are hanging to dry are hidden behind closed doors– our customer survey indicated that “aesthetically pleasing” means “not seen”.

Size

Lines are retractable so that space can be maximized when not in use.

The closet functions as both a device for drying clothing but also has storage capabilities.

Drying Speed

The combination of drying techniques allows hanging clothes to be dried completely in the time it would take on an outdoor clothesline in ideal weather conditions.

Safety

In order to prevent excess heat from remaining in the apparatus and causing injury, several methods may be used to cool the area:The door may be opened to allow for full

ventilationA curtain on the outside may be used to deflect

sunlight from increasing the heat intakeThe fan used in the drying process also

contributes to the cooling

Ease of Use

In our design, the clothes drying area is located immediately adjacent to the washer– the inconvenience of carrying clothes to another location is eliminated.

Ease of Maintenance

As mentioned previously, all water is contained after use for the next drying, so no clean-up of the floor is necessary.

All parts are removable or retractable to allow for optimal movement for cleaning.

Ease of Manufacture

Resembles a standard closet, so construction is not very difficult.

Simply requires specified materials to enhance the effectiveness of the surroundings for drying clothes.