long, thin air path folded over on itself. It caused so much restriction that the pressure dropped dramatically, making the fan work harder to move the air. To remedy this, he went from one single-folded airflow path to several narrow, straight paths (see diagram). He also used the monitoring data to develop operating standards under a variety of conditions. Test results have been encouraging. Boner's device recovers 63 percent of the energy exhausted by the clothes dryer. His goal is to reach 70 percent recovery. Warm air from the exchanger is used to heat the living area, or it can be recycled back into the dryer. Initially, Boner was concerned about condensation in the airflow paths, but it has not been a problem with his design. Another concern with the original design was lint buildup in narrow passages that can block airflow. The addition of an air filter and the one-half inch spacing of the airflow paths have eliminated that problem. Testing also revealed that galvanized steel is just as effective as the aluminum used in his first prototype, and it is also less environmentally damaging. Page 46 RAIN Oct./Nov. 1983 intake The Boner heat exchanger has commercial as well as residential applications. Two dormitories at the University of Oregon in Eugene are using the device. Boner calculates that with an annual savings of $230, the payback period for his heat exchanger is about four years. His goal now is to market his design to industrial laundries (such as hospitals, motels. Army bases, etc.) and to clothes dryer manufacturers interested in designing energy-efficient machines that incorporate his ideas. Boner has designed a cost-effective, energy-efficient product with a relatively short payback period, but, as is often the case with new energy conservation technologies, consumer education will be an important prerequisite to successful marketing. With an effective education and marketing strategy, we may soon see Boner's invention at local department stores. (Alan Boner, 449 Willamette St., Eugene, OR 97401). Recycling Laundry Wash Water 'The laundry facility of an average-sized motel flushes over one hundred dollars worth of hot water down the drain every day. Considering the number of motels. hospitals, and laundromats currently in operation, we are wasting a tremendous amount of energy, water, and chemicals daily. Kleen Wash of Salem received a U.S. Department of Energy grant to design a system that would capture hot waste water from commercial or industrial laundries for reuse. The Kleen Wash system allows a user to reduce energy, water, soap and detergent, and sewage costs. Since the cost of sewage is generally more than three times the cost of the water, the Kleen Wash system nets savings by reducing the amount of waste water requiring treatment at a sewage treatment plant. The fiirst version of the Kleen Wash design captured used wash water, filtered it, added the necessary chemicals, and channeled the water back into the next wash cycle. Tests of that system revealed that it was not cost- effective, so Kleen Wash went back to the drawing board and came up with a modified design. The modified version the company is currently marketing for 350-700 lb. maximum-capacity machines retrieves the hot rinse water (instead of wash water) and channels it back into the wash cycle. In June 1982, the Kleen Wash system was installed in the commercial laundry that serves the needs of Portland area Thunder- bird/Red Lion Inns. Tests have shown an average savings of 52 percent on energy, water, and sewage costs, and 30 percent on chemical costs (about $2,000/mo.). Kleen Wash's "economy model" for small laundries using machines with a maximum 75 lb. capacity results in a 25 percent average savings on utility costs. The Kleen Wash system includes an automatic monitor of conductivity and pH. Conductivity refers to the amount of organic matter in the water, and is used to determine the quantity of chemicals that should be added before the rinse water can be reused for the wash cycle. The pH measures how acidic or basic the water is, and indicates what kind of chemicals should be added so that laundered cloth contacting the skin will not cause irritation. This is especially important for nursing homes and hospitals where high or low pH can cause bed sores. After the monitor tests the water, it adds the exact type and quantity of chemical to the water to get clean clothes and a balanced pH. "The system can be applied to any laundry," says Ron Brittsan, Kleen Wash manager, "and the payback period is relatively short since it is so cost-effective." The only disappointing thing about the Kleen Wash design is that it can't be modified for residential use because the initial capital outlay is high. The system has been so successful that three motels and two nursing homes on the West Coast are using it. Brittsan says that there is already interest in marketing the design internationally. (Kleen Wash Systems, Inc., 3740 Brooklake Road N.E., Salem, OR 97303.) Energy-Efficient Beam Trawl for Fishing Industry The fishing industry has been especially hard-hit by rising fuel costs. In 1981, Paul Smith of Yaquina Boat Works in Toledo, Oregon, received a U.S. Department of Energy grant to develop a light-weight, energy- conserving beam trawl (shrimp netting device). The 1600-lb. otter door trawl currently used by commercial shrimpers has some disadvantages that were easier to
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