Study for the development of an endurance testing method for washing machines

This study is part of a technical support contract signed between DG Environment and DG Joint Research Centre, regarding Environmental Footprinting, material efficiency in product policy and the European Platform on LCA (2013-2017). In particular, Task and Deliverable 8 are entitled “Develop/test potentially standardized method on material efficiency, to be applied to relevant product groups” and aim at developing feasibility studies on potentially standardized methods for assessing durability of products. The main objective of this report consists of outlining and testing a procedure for assessing durability of electric washing machines for household use. In particular the report will: • investigate existing endurance tests, • define whether such endurance tests can be suitable for a possible standardised testing procedure, • develop and test a durability procedure on exemplary washing machines, and • assess the durability procedure and provide guidelines for future development. Chapters 2 and 3 of the present report concern I) a literature review, with a focus on the state of the art of washing machine durability, the average usage in Europe, frequent failure modes and different existing theories behind durability tests; II) the study of existing international standards, currently dealing with safety of electronic devices and household appliances, endurance requirements for washing machine parts and guidelines to assess the performance during the washing cycle; III) comments and feedback from experts that were contacted during the study in order to gather information about tests, non-disclosed procedures, failure mode statistics and possible answers to the question of methods able to measure or to verify durability. Chapter 4 provides the scientific background about the dynamics of a horizontal axis washing machine, which can be seen physically as a vibrating system where the tub (including the drum) is fixed with springs on the top of the housing. Finally, a novel procedure for durability testing is proposed in chapter 5. The proposed method is a first attempt to find a framework in which several washing machine types can fit in and, eventually, a point of discussion for further improvements and diversification. The results of the proposed method are presented in chapter 6 and discussed in chapter 7.JRC.D.3-Land Resource

Age-related efficiency loss of household refrigeration appliances: Development of an approach to measure the degradation of insulation properties

Despite the omnipresence of household refrigeration appliances, there is still a lack of knowledge about their age-related efficiency loss over time. Past studies provide basic evidence for increasing electricity consumption of cooling appliances with ageing but fail to investigate the associated technical wear. Concentrating on the degradation of the thermal insulation, we first determined the ageing process of sealed samples of polyurethane rigid foam by investigating changes in cell gas composition and thermal conductivity over time. Simultaneously, the main challenge was to develop an approach that investigates the age-related efficiency loss of the insulation without its destruction. This testing procedure is referred to as the Bonn method. The non-destructive Bonn method was applied to varying refrigerator models in a series of successive experiments to evaluate the insulation degradation over time. Subsequently, the physical relationship between the test value of the Bonn method and the heat transfer through the multi-layered compartment walls of domestic refrigeration appliances was established, ultimately characterising the degrading insulation in terms of increasing heat transfer. Our results give substantiated evidence that the efficiency loss of cooling appliances is greatly influenced by insulation degradation over time. The ageing of sealed samples of polyurethane rigid foam indicates a large initial increase of thermal conductivity by 15% within the first year, corresponding to a change in cell gas composition. These results are in line with those of the Bonn method, emphasising an increasing heat flow through the multi-layered compartment walls of domestic refrigerators with ageing. Therewith, the present study is of significance to a wide range of stakeholders and forms the basis for future research.BMWi, 03ET1544, ALGE: Alterungsmechanismen von Haushaltskältegeräte

Durability assessment of products: analysis and testing of washing machines

Designing more durable products is a key strategy of the Circular Economy to save materials and reduce the amount of waste to handle at the End of Life of the product. However, the design of more durable products needs to be supported by methods for assessing and verifying durability aspects. Although internal protocols are typically implemented by manufacturers, also depending on their business strategy, there is a lack of standardised methods allowing the comparison of products on the market. The overall objective of this study is to improve the technical background related to the assessment and verification of the durability of products. General principles for the technical assessment of the durability of products have been developed and applied in this study to the analysis of household washing machines (referred to as washing machines): 1. Durability aspects associated to the use of washing machines and existing testing methods are reviewed; 2. A testing procedure for assessing and verifying the durability of washing machines is further developed; 3. The procedure is applied to two models of washing machines on the market, and the results analysed; 4. Lesson learnt and recommendations are provided for further improvement and application of assessment guidance and testing procedure. The methodological steps applied in this study successfully allowed: • Understanding the durability needs of the product, and identify technical problems which can disrupt the delivery of key functions; • Analysing stress conditions, design aspects and misuses that could produce failures of key parts and loss of function(s)/sub-function(s) during the operation of the product; • Identifying key aspects and/or correction measures to avoid / delay possible failures during the lifetime of the product and thus increasing its longevity; • Developing further knowledge about how to assess and verify the durability of the product. The approach could be tailored and applied to other products for which a durability assessment has to be carried out, for regulatory or research purposes. Moreover, this can also serve as input for the work carried out by CEN/CENELEC JTC10 under Mandate 543 and aimed at the development of general standard methods on material efficiency aspects of Energy-related Products under Ecodesign. The output of the analysis of washing machines was in particular oriented to the improvement of a procedure for testing the durability of the product. As lesson learnt it was recognised that the testing procedure should: • Focus on the testing of the entire product under conditions closer to real life operations (the use of a fixed unbalance is avoided; stresses due to washing and rinsing cycles are integrated); • Reduce the length of the testing (by applying Accelerating Life Testing); • Cover mechanical stresses, as main cause of damages, as well as functionality aspects as loss of performance (washing performance parameters are monitored). Moreover, a balance has to be sought between the desirable lifetime target for the testing procedure (e.g. the average lifetime of the product) and a practical length that can be applicable for verification purposes. This complex task resulted in a series of test cycles which impose realistic thermal and mechanical stresses to washing machines and which are executed many times mimicking a specific lifetime period of the device in a shorter period of time. The procedure was executed in a trial with two washing machines for a simulated usage period of two years. The coverage of the first two years of use of washing machines can allow identifying early failures, malfunctioning and loss of performance in worst performing products, as well as any potential sources of failures. This is in particular useful for regulatory purposes, since the testing of a representative lifetime of 12 years could require about 6 times the time and resources required by the application of this procedure. The procedure has appeared to be suitable for laboratory testing and to be realistic in the sense that the induced stresses caused thermal and mechanical wears and tears typically found in washing machines during their lifetime. As follow-up of this study, it is recommended to apply the testing procedure to a larger sample of devices and for longer periods of time, to understand if and how the functional performance is decreasing after the first 2 years of use of washing machines, as well as if and when minor problems encountered during the operation of the device could become major failures. This would help understanding better what makes sense to monitor and how long in the procedure, especially if this is intended to be applied in the future for regulatory purposes. Further developments should address the monitoring of noises and of possible movements of the machine. Alignment with the final output of the ongoing revision of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010 and of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1061/2010 (and related standards) should be moreover sought. However, it should be noted that, in practice, the testing procedure has already taken a considerable amount of time (in total 697 h for one person for two washing machines in parallel). If this were to be refined and applied for verification / monitoring purposes, this is deemed too long and ways to shorten the testing time would be needed. The saving of time could be alternatively invested to test the product for a duration representative of longer lifetimes and/or tracking the functional performance along different moments of the lifetime.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Ecodesign and Energy Label for Household Dishwashers

European Commission launched in 2014 the revision of the ecodesign and energy-/resource label implementing measures for the product group 'household dishwashers (DW)'. The revision study follows the Commission’s Methodology for the Evaluation of Energy related Products (MEErP) and includes sections related to the scope and definition market analysis, analysis of user behaviour and system aspects, analysis of technologies, environmental and economics, design options and policy analysis and scenarios.This research was based on available scientific information and data, uses a life-cycle thinking approach, and has engaged stakeholder experts in order to discuss key issues, and to the extent possible reach consensus on the proposals The outcomes of this study provides policy makers with the evidence basis for assessing whether and how to revise the existing Regulations.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Ecodesign and Energy Label for Household Washing machines and washer dryers

The European Commission launched in 2014 the revision of the ecodesign and energy-/resource label implementing measures for the product group 'household washing machines and household washer dryers (WM-WD)'. The revision study follows the Commission’s Methodology for the Evaluation of Energy related Products (MEErP) consisting of: Scope definition, standard methods and legislation, Market analysis, Analysis of user behaviour and system aspects, Analysis of technologies, Environmental and economics, Design options and Policy analysis and scenarios The comprehensive analysis of the product group following the steps above will feed as research evidence basis into the revision of the existing Energy Label Regulation (EC) 1060/2010 and the Ecodesign Regulation (EC) 1015/2010 on household washing machines. The research is based on available scientific information and data, uses a life-cycle thinking approach, and has engaged stakeholder experts in order to discuss key issues, and to the extent possible reach consensus on the proposals.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Determining the heat flow through the cabinet walls of household refrigerating appliances

The increase of the thermal conductivity of PUR foam in the insulation of the cabinet is an important cause for aging processes of household refrigerating appliances. To determine the influence of the PUR foam aging on energy consumption, the development of a new measurement method is necessary because current methods influence the aging behavior of household refrigerators and are therefore not applicable in general. Based on a latent heat sink, constructed as an ice water bucket, a new measurement method is developed to determine the k · A value over time. With this method, the k · A value of four household refrigerating appliances was determined over an interval of 14 months. The k · A value increased between 3.6 % and 11.5 % during this period.BMWi, 03ET1544A, Verbundvorhaben ALGE: Alterungsmechanismen von Haushaltskältegeräte

MORABA - Overview on DLR's Mobile Rocket Base and Projects

Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA), a division of the Space Operations and Astronaut Training Department of DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) provides the national and international scientific community with the opportunity to prepare and implement rocket and balloon born experiments. The fields of research includes aeronomy, astronomy, geophysics, material science and hypersonic research and are conducted in cooperation with a variety of international patners. In addition satellite missions can be supported by mobile tracking radars for trajectory determination and TT&C mobile ground stations. MORABA also offers a number of mechanical and electrical systems for use on rocket, balloon and short term satellite missions. During the last four decades more than 250 campaigns have been performed in Antarctica, Australia, Brazil, France, Greenland, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden and USA. Depending on the scientific objective, an appropriate launch range is selected and complemented or fully equipped with MORABA’s mobile infrastructure, such as launcher, telemetry and tracking stations. MORABA supplies the suitable converted military surplus or commercial launch vehicles, as well as all necessary mechanical and electrical subsystems to the customers. This paper gives an overview of the MORABA infrastructure for sounding rocket launching and satellite TT&C. A short survey of MORABA projects of the last two years and the next two years is also provided

Durability of washing machines under real life conditions: definition and application of a testing procedure

One of the global challenges of our economy is to meet the demand of a growing population while reducing resource consumption and waste production. This means moving from a linear to a more circular economy model, in which the design of more durable products plays a key role. From a technical perspective, product design needs to be supported by sound testing methods. However, repeatable and reproducible methods for testing product durability under real-life stress conditions are often not available, as in the case of washing machines. The overall objective of this study is to make further progress in the know-how relating to the durability testing of washing machines. A procedure is developed which: 1) consists of washing and spinning cycles, thus imposing thermal and mechanical stresses typically occurring in household washing machines; 2) can be used to monitor the performance of the appliances over time with limited testing burdens. The procedure was applied in a trial with two washing machines for a simulated usage period of two years. Results imply that the procedure can be suitable for evaluating the occurrence of early failures in laboratory testing. The study also provides indications for the further analysis of the repeatability and reproducibility of the test procedure, as well as investigating the consequences associated with longer testing periods. However, a comprehensive assessment of these aspects was not possible in this study. All in all, this guidance could be used by manufacturers and consumer-focussed testing organisations for the assessment and verification of the durability of washing machines, as well as being used to develop standard testing methods for the potential implementation of ecodesign/labelling measures for washing machines.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi

Are resource savings in manual dishwashing possible? Consumers applying Best Practice Tips

In the past few years, studies have been carried out to record and analyse the consumer behaviour of manual dishwashing. Manual dishwashing in households is performed in many ways that influence the use of resources. Furthermore, knowledge has been gained on the basis of experiments on how to optimize the use of resources in manual dishwashing. Optimization here means achieving the best possible cleaning performance with a minimum input of resources. This experimental knowledge, combined with the experience of everyday life, was transferred into Best Practice Tips. The aim of this study is to verify whether it is possible to save resources while applying these Best Practice Tips in comparison with the consumers' previous behaviour. In a laboratory study, 53 consumers from Europe (23 Germans, 30 other Europeans) were asked to apply the Best Practice Tips while washing up 12 place settings of dishes. The data gained were compared with that of previous studies recording consumers' everyday behaviour while washing up the same amount of dishes. The sample consisted of 113 European consumers and the sample of the second study consisted of 60 Europeans. On average, the 53 test participants applying the Best Practice Tips used around 60% less water, 70% less energy and 30% less detergent compared with the average everyday behaviour the other subjects used. Additionally, they achieved a slightly better cleaning result. An evaluation questionnaire showed that the Best Practice Tips were, in general, highly accepted; however, some concerns were given about their exact application in everyday life. Because of the wide variation of washing-up habits and resource consumption among individuals, the confidence intervals of the studies are rather large. The results should therefore be seen as tendencies on how resource savings are possible when people are trained how to optimize resources in manual dishwashing. Nevertheless, this study should be the basis for further ones in which the learning is verified in everyday life and over a longer period of time