Page 137 - Towards A Sustainable Future 2024

Eco- Solutions

The following two solutions are proposed to improve
environmental performance and efficiency at Laundry Loft
outlets:

Eco-Solution 1:
Installation of temperature sensors at
dryer outlets

Currently, no temperature sensors are installed at the heater
air outlets on the eight dryers present, making it difficult to Figure 14: Comparison of temperatures at the hot air
monitor the operational efficiency of the dryers. Without outlet for two clothes dryers (A and B) Dryer A vs Dryer B
temperature monitoring, there is a risk of excessive or with the same clothing load.
insufficient heat being supplied to the dryers. Excessive heat
supply may lead to unnecessary energy consumption, where Eco-Solution 2:
an inadequate supply may necessitate prolonged drying, Installation of heat insulation for dryers
further impacting energy usage and operational efficiency.
Therefore, installing temperature sensors at the dryer outlets Heat insulation for the dryers is proposed to reduce heat
would provide vital data for monitoring & optimising dryer loss and improve energy efficiency. Currently, the absence of
performance. insulation allows for significant heat dissipation. Insulating
the dryers minimises heat loss to the surroundings, resulting
Figure 14 shows the potential use of temperature sensors to in improved thermal efficiency and reduced energy
monitor dryer efficiency for two randomly selected clothes consumption. Given that the dryers are in an air-conditioned
dryers (A and B) to assess drying efficiency. It was evident room, any substantial heat generated within the space
that dryer A consistently maintained a higher operating would increase the air conditioning system’s workload.
temperature than dryer B throughout the drying cycle, By minimising heat dissipation, the temperature of the
which indicates the importance of temperature monitoring launderette can be better regulated, leading to a reduction
for optimising dryer performance. By installing temperature in energy consumption by the air conditioning units.
sensors at the dryer outlets, the operational efficiency of
each dryer can be monitored accurately, thus allowing for Insulation materials were successfully installed at four
better heat management and optimal drying conditions, to dryers in March 2023. Careful consideration was given to
minimise energy wastage the insulation material’s characteristics to ensure safety
and compatibility with the dryer system’s recommended
temperature settings. The specifications of the insulation
materials used and their application to the clothes dryers are
shown in Figures 15 to 18.

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