Demonstrate use of solar energy for laundromat washing and drying. Final report

Technical Report · Mon May 31 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6666976· OSTI ID:6666976

Whitacre, J. A.

A solar system was designed and installed to supply energy to a university laundry. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate the use of solar energy in both the washing and drying processes of laundry operations and to determine the expected gas energy savings. The limited performance data available indicate a 30% saving in gas consumption while laundry operations were running at about 35% capacity. Tt is expected that 40% or more will be saved at near capacity operation. The solar system, retrofitted to an existing building, is composed of 120 parabolic trough collectors, a 2500 gallon storage tank, and supporting pumps and heat exchangers. The system is operated with a minimum of controls and performed satisfactorily with no interruptions of laundry operations. The use of solar energy to displace gas energy in laundries appears to be practical. The amount of gas to be saved is limited by the desired temperatures of the preheated air to the dryers.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., El Paso (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6666976
• Report Number(s): TENRAC/EDF-072; ON: DE83900816
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140909* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
APPLIANCES
CLOTHES DRYERS
CLOTHES WASHERS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
CONTAINERS
DESIGN
DRYERS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLOW RATE
FUEL CONSUMPTION
GAS APPLIANCES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEATING SYSTEMS
LAUNDRIES
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
RETROFITTING
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
TANKS