Household Appliances Research Articles

Features of Implementing Parallel Import in The Russian Federation under the Conditions of Sanctions

This article analyzes the specifics of parallel imports in the Russian Federation under sanctions imposed by a number of countries. In conditions of limited access to traditional supply channels for goods and technologies, parallel imports are becoming an important tool for providing the domestic market with necessary products and solving the problem of replacing unavailable goods. The author examines the legal aspects of parallel imports, including changes in legislation that temporarily allow the import of products without the consent of the copyright holder. This helps to mitigate the impact of sanctions and avoid shortages in a number of key industries, such as electronics, household appliances, cars and other consumer goods. Particular attention is paid to the economic consequences of parallel imports. On the one hand, it helps stabilize prices for scarce goods and reduces pressure on consumers. On the other hand, there are risks associated with the quality and safety of products imported through alternative channels. The possible consequences for copyright holders and international companies whose interests may be infringed as a result of such deliveries are also discussed. The article provides examples of the use of parallel imports in Russia, and analyzes the main risks and benefi ts for business and the economy as a whole. In conclusion, the author suggests possible scenarios for the development of parallel imports in the context of ongoing sanctions pressure, assessing its prospects as a temporary but important mechanism for maintaining economic stability.

Comparative Analysis of the Financial and Distribution Policy of the Largest Non-ferrous Metallurgy Corporations in the BRICS Space

Non-ferrous metallurgy is of crucial importance in the life of society. The industry’s products are present in household items (household appliances, plumbing, electronics, tableware), construction, automobile and machine tool construction, batteries, etc. With the existing wide range of non-ferrous metals applications, large companies, with a high degree of vertical integration and business effi ciency, have large volumes of revenue, are able to meet the needs of consumers in a wide variety of products, and also have the opportunity to fi ll the budget system of their countries and territories where they are based. The article focuses on a comparative analysis of the fi nancial results of the largest non-ferrous metallurgy corporations in the BRICS space, namely PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (Russia) and Vale S.A. (Brazil), which have a total revenue of about $72.4 billion by 2021. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the fi nancial and distribution policy of the largest metallurgical corporations in the BRICS space. The results of the study for 2009–2023 showed an increase in average net profi t by 71 % (up to 5.1 billion dollars) for the Russian company and by 1 % (up to 10.4 billion dollars) for the Brazilian company. The average profit tax rate for companies decreased by 4.9 and 9 percentage points to 21.7 and 16.9 %, respectively. The increase in dividend payments amounted to 97 and 15 % to 3.2 and 5.8 billion dollars. accordingly, at the same time, the share of net profi t allocated by companies to dividends has increased: at Norilsk Nickel — by 8.4 percentage points to 62.5 %, at Vale S.A. — by 6.5 percentage points to 55.9 %. The information base of the study was the official consolidated fi nancial statements of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel and Vale S.A., domestic and foreign industry literature, data from information and analytical and news agencies, information on the exchange rates of Russia and Brazil.

DomoticX (Smart Home Automation System)

DomoticX is a cutting-edge home automation system designed to intelligently control and monitor household appliances. Leveraging ESP32 microcontrollers alongside Rain Maker, IR remote, menu switches, relay modules, and TSOP IR, the system ensures seamless operation in manual and automated modes. It features six relays for light, bulb, and door open/close control, four relays for speed adjustments, and a secure door open and close function, offering comprehensive home management. Wireless data transmission enables real-time monitoring and control via intuitive interfaces. DomoticX enhances energy efficiency, user convenience, and scalability, embodying the future of smart home ecosystems through IoT-driven solutions

Design of Direct Current Microgrid Converter with Cost-Effective Low-Voltage Battery Storage System

Battery storage systems are becoming very popular around the world. However, they are mainly used in industry for high-performance applications. Domestic use is still sporadic due to size and cost issues. This work overviews basic conceptual designs for a cost-effective battery storage system. The main specificity of the proposed systems is the use of commonly available recycled batteries from household appliances such as laptops and backup power supplies. The circuit topology considered is a 3S (three cells in series) configuration. This is because such wiring arrangements are those that are most often found in the home appliances described here. The technical solutions of the device itself focus on the ratio of the efficiency of the whole system to the production cost. Given the above, attention was paid to the simulation analysis of the operating modes, which directly influenced the components’ price. Changing the switching control scheme of the power transistors makes it possible to reduce the requirements for the driving components used with minimal impact on the power conversion efficiency (Δη 1–4%). According to the established findings, a prototype was made on which the simulation findings were verified; then, we further focused on the experimental measurement of the efficiency of the MPPT converter and conducted an analysis of a methodology in which we measure the deviation from the actual point of maximum power. The simple possibility of parallelizing the individual storage devices will again help improve the system’s overall efficiency. This makes the system suitable for use in small spaces such as houses, garages, cellars, etc.

The role of breed versus personality and other demographic factors in predicting chasing behaviour in dogs

Dogs chase for many reasons, in play, when hunting and potentially to remove a threat. However, assumptions are often made as to why dogs chase particular targets, for example breed or personality are often used as explanations. Little research has investigated chasing behaviour except in relation to predation, therefore we aimed to determine dog-related characteristics predictive for chasing in relation to specific targets, with a particular emphasis on the relative role of breed versus personality, two specific and measurable constructs. An online survey for dog owners about their dog’s chasing habits yielded 903 usable responses. Wildlife, cats and other dogs were the most frequently chased targets and the influence of personality and breed varied with each target. Trait level impulsivity significantly affected the likelihood of a dog chasing targets such as vehicles and cyclists, while components of positive activation (reward sensitivity) affected the likelihood of individuals chasing household appliances and objects in the wind. Considering breed, German Shepherds were more likely to chase cats and things blown in the wind while Border Collies were more likely to chase vehicles and household appliances. Labrador Retrievers were less likely to chase horses, vehicles and joggers. These results shed light on the motivational and emotional basis of chasing, and its heterogeneity in relation to different targets.

Graph Transformer for Label Placement.

Placing text labels is a common way to explain key elements in a given scene. Given a graphic input and original label information, how to place labels to meet both geometric and aesthetic requirements is an open challenging problem. Geometry-wise, traditional rule-driven solutions struggle to capture the complex interactions between labels, let alone consider graphical/appearance content. In terms of aesthetics, training/evaluation data ideally require nontrivial effort and expertise in design, thus resulting in a lack of decent datasets for learning-based methods. To address the above challenges, we formulate the task with a graph representation, where nodes correspond to labels and edges to interactions between labels, and treat label placement as a node position prediction problem. With this novel representation, we design a Label Placement Graph Transformer (LPGT) to predict label positions. Specifically, edge-level attention, conditioned on node representations, is introduced to reveal potential relationships between labels. To integrate graphic/image information, we design a feature aligning strategy that extracts deep features for nodes and edges efficiently. Next, to address the dataset issue, we collect commercial illustrations with professionally designed label layouts from household appliance manuals, and annotate them with useful information to create a novel dataset named the Appliance Manual Illustration Labels (AMIL) dataset. In the thorough evaluation on AMIL, our LPGT solution achieves promising label placement performance compared with popular baselines. Our algorithm and dataset are available at https://github.com/JingweiQu/LPGT.

Temporal-thermal enhancement of porous cooking burners

Porous combustion has drawn vast attention over the last few decades leading to a variety of progressing applications particularly in industrial kitchens and household appliances that require time sensitive heating. The present study experimentally investigates the relationship between cooking duration and the thermal efficiency of a cooking pot heated on a porous burner providing a valuable insights into the effectiveness of the heating process in terms of both time and fuel consumption. To facilitate this investigation, a dedicated test bench is designed and constructed, equipped with thermometers and timer to effectively monitor the temporal/thermal behavior of the heating process. A mixed temporal/thermal metric is utilized to evaluate a premixed natural gas fueled porous burner with a typical cooking firing rate (FR) ranging from 800 to 2050 kW/m2. The results show that the optimal burner-pot distance is D = 1.5 cm, minimizing the load-averaged time to thermal efficiency (TT) to 19.5 s. Compared to D = 3 cm with FR = 800 kW/m2, thermal efficiency improves by 5.5%, heating time shortens by 120 s, and average firing rates save 51 s overall. An open conventional burner is also explored to show that by shifting towards temporally promoted porous burners, up to 2 minutes of cooking time could be saved.

Experimental study of energy efficiency of kitchen electrical appliances for boiling water

Introduction. Steady growth in the number of powerful electrical appliances and devices in households leads to an increase in electricity consumption. It significantly affects the economic costs of consumers and the deterioration of the ecological situation in the environment. Problem. The cost of electricity tariffs for the population tends to be relatively steadily increasing, which makes the issue of energy efficiency particularly relevant for consumers. The use of energy-efficient technologies in everyday life allows reducing electricity costs and increasing the economic efficiency of households. Energy efficiency of household electrical appliances is a pressing issue for ensuring a stable energy supply in the context of growing electricity consumption. Goal. An analytical study of the operating features of kitchen electrical appliances for boiling water and an experimental study of their energy efficiency. Methodology. The energy efficiency of the most common kitchen electrical appliances for boiling water was analyzed through experimental studies. Results. In terms of energy efficiency, the flow-through thermopot turned out to be the best among the studied electrical appliances, followed by an electric kettle and a traditional thermopot. Practical value. The use of energy-efficient technologies in modern household appliances is an important task, especially in winter and in conditions of shortage of electric power during military aggression from Russia and large-scale destruction of critical infrastructure and power facilities in our country. Further research will help reduce energy consumption and increase the energy efficiency of household appliances.

Practical use of Seebeck and Pelter effects (Review)

The subject of research is industrial and household equipment and devices, the principle of operation of which is based on such thermoelectric phenomena as the Seebeck and Peltier effects. The purpose of the research is a critical analysis of the fields of practical application of the Peltier and Seebeck effects, as well as the constructive and technological design of the processes in which the specified effects are implemented to ensure a certain thermal regime, as well as the generation of electrical energy from waste heat. One of the main problems of today is global warming, environmental pollution and the increase in the cost of electricity. These problems can be partially solved with the help of thermoelectric phenomena, that is, physical phenomena caused by the relationship between electric current and heat flows in substances and contacts between them, which primarily include the Peltier and Seebeck effects. The indisputable advantages of thermoelectric means are their environmental safety, quiet operation and long service life. Seebeck and Peltier effects are used in chemical technology and related industries, renewable energy, construction, machine and instrument engineering, aerospace and military engineering, microelectronics, computer technology, medicine, personal hygiene devices, household appliances, and transportation. However, the low efficiency and the high cost of materials prevent the wide spread of thermoelectric technology. Wider application of thermoelectric technologies can be expected in case of development of new conductive materials with different energy levels of electrons in the conduction zone, as well as optimization of the geometry and structure of thermoelectric devices. Recently, intensive research has also been carried out on the so-called ionic Seebeck effect, which opens up new perspectives in thermoelectric phenomena, as well as the use of "magnetic thermoelectrics", or the spin Seebeck effect. This review can be useful to creators of new equipment and technology, because the fund of technical effects is widely used during the creation of innovative samples, which is an integral part of the information fund of inventors and helps them create simple, effective and bright solutions to technical problems.

Driving a Circular Economy: Nudging and Innovative Strategies for Promoting Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Home-Appliances

AbstractThe various social and ecological crises of our time are leading to ever louder calls for a sustainable transition towards a sustainable circular economy. As a result, the recycling of plastics is increasingly being brought to the foreground and the increased use of post-consumer recyclate (PCR) is being called for. However, the acceptance of products made from PCR plastic and how this can be increased is still largely unclear. This study uses a light switch to investigate the purchase intention and willingness to pay for household appliances made of (supposed) PCR plastic and how this can be increased with the help of nudges and guideline-based cues. In addition, the influence of a sustainability attitude is examined. An experimental study using a single-factor between-subjects study design (n = 90) with six different cues has been conducted. A light switch made of (supposed) PCR plastic was used as a stimulus. The study results indicate that the purchase intention for PCR-based household appliances can be significantly increased using specific informational cues. Of the five cues tested, only one (innovation) did not lead to a significant increase in purchase intention when compared to the baseline cue. Contrary, none of the five cues led to a significant increase in willingness to pay when compared to the baseline cue. No significant moderating effect of sustainability attitude was found in either case. Possible explanations for these results are the attitude-behavior-intention gap and the influence of perceived aesthetics.

Analisis Fiqh Muamalah terhadap Praktik Jual Beli Online di Era Digital dengan Pembayaran Spaylatter

Currently we have entered the era of digitalization or what is called the modern era. Technology is developing rapidly, especially in the field of online buying and selling that It makes it easier to access all the necessities of life. In Indonesia, there are many online sales and purchase applications, one of which is the Shopee application which provides various kinds of life needs ranging from food, clothes, household appliances and even tertiary needs (cars, motorcycles, and so on). Where shopee also provides various ways to pay, from on-site payment (COD system) when the goods are in the hands of the buyer, bank transfers, shopeepay transfers and even provides spaylater payments where this payment is made without having to pay immediately for the goods purchased or also called a credit system which of course is based on the terms and conditions that apply in the spaylater system. This research uses qualitative data, obtained from literature from various sources. The sources used are processed from the analysis of various journals, articles, reports and information related to the review of muamalah fiqh on the case of online purchases with credit system payments offered by Shopee through the "spaylater" feature.

Evaluation of water hardness treatment methods using sodium hydroxide and their impact on water quality

Hard water is an environmental and technical challenge caused by high concentrations of calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions, leading to scale formation that affects the efficiency of household and industrial appliances and increases maintenance and treatment costs. Additionally, hard water can pose health risks and reduce its quality for daily use. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different doses of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in treating water hardness and improving water quality by reducing total hardness (TH) and adjusting the physicochemical properties of water. Three main dosages were tested: the first dosage (5 g/L of NaOH), which assessed the basic effectiveness of sodium hydroxide; the second dosage (2.5 g/L of NaOH and 2.5 g/L of Na₂CO₃ with HCl and acid), aimed at balancing hardness reduction with mineral retention; and the optimized dosages (10, 20, and 30 mg/L of NaOH), which proved to be the most effective and balanced. The optimized doses successfully reduced total hardness to levels compliant with Algerian standards while maintaining calcium and magnesium concentrations within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, electrical conductivity (EC) remained within safe limits without significant increases, ensuring the water did not become oversaturated with dissolved salts. The slight increase in sodium (Na⁺) concentration also remained within permissible levels, enhancing the water's suitability for drinking and other uses. Based on these results, the optimized NaOH dosages are the optimal solution for water hardness treatment, achieving a balance between reducing hardness and ensuring water quality in compliance with local standards.

Research on intelligent vibration damping base of washing machine based on a stiffness-variable magnetorheological elastomer

Traditional washing machine vibration-damping bases have a fixed stiffness, which can lead to structural resonance when the motor’s excitation frequency aligns with the machine’s inherent vibration frequency during the washing and spinning processes. This not only amplifies the noise caused by vibrations but also accelerates the wear and tear of the internal components. In this study, a pioneering approach has been introduced, developing an intelligent vibration-damping base for drum washing machines based on the dynamics of a mass-spring-damped single-degree-of-freedom system. This innovative base is designed with variable stiffness magnetorheological elastomer, utilizing the dynamics of the mass-spring-damped system to adaptively counteract vibrations. A vibration transmission rate curve specific to drum washing machines has been derived, and an intelligent control strategy for the drum washing machine’s vibration-damping base has been proposed. Dynamic testing of the drum washing machine’s vibration-damping base was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the intelligent damping base. The intelligent damping base addresses the unavoidable low-frequency resonance issues of traditional passive damping bases in washing machines and overcomes the drawback that the performance parameters of traditional passive isolation structures cannot be changed once set, providing a new direction for the damping of household appliances.

Effects of electromagnetic field emitted by a 90 kHz WPT system on the cognitive functions and neuronal excitation of mice

ABSTRACT The advantages of Magnetic Coupling Resonant Wireless Power Transfer (MCR-WPT) technology include long transmission distance, high efficiency, and high power. Therefore, it shows great potential in the field of smart home. This study aims to explore the specific impacts on the cognitive functions and neuronal excitation of mice exposed to the electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by the MCR-WPT platform, thereby providing biological solid experimental evidence for developing Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology. The research employed a frequency of 90 kHz, which is suitable for wireless charging of household appliances. Mice were exposed to EMF emitted by the WPT biosafety experimental platform for various durations. And they were divided into four groups (control group, 2-week exposure group, 4-week exposure group, and 8-week exposure group). Upon completion of the exposure period, the study employed the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) test to evaluate the learning and memory capabilities of the animals. Following this, whole-cell patch-clamp experiments were conducted to record the action potentials (AP) and potassium currents. It was revealed by our observations that, in comparison to mice without electromagnetic exposure, long-term exposure to WPT-emitted EMF resulted in accelerated release of action potentials, inhibited the activation of Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels (VGKCs) current, accelerated the deactivation of K+ channel current, and thus significantly improved the excitability of neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus of mice, but did not significantly affect cognitive function.

Effect of Surface Roughness on the Friction Moment in a Lubricated Deep Groove Ball Bearing

Deep groove ball bearings (DGBBs) are extensively utilized in industrial machinery, mechanical systems, and household appliances due to their simple design, low maintenance, and ability to operate at high speeds. A critical issue in the performance of these bearings is the power loss by internal friction torque, which adversely affects system efficiency, longevity, and reliability, particularly in demanding applications such as aviation and marine systems. The friction torque in DGBBs is influenced by factors such as load, speed, surface roughness, and lubricant viscosity, making the precise understanding of these elements essential for optimizing system efficiency. Despite its significance, the effect of surface roughness on friction torque in DGBBs remains underexplored. This paper presents an analytical model to evaluate the frictional moments resulting from interactions between the ball–race and ball–cage in lubricated, low-speed DGBBs. This model employs a mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication approach to determine the friction coefficient at the contact interfaces. This study explores how surface roughness and speed affect both ball–race and ball–cage friction torque, offering a comprehensive analysis of their influence on overall frictional torque. Additionally, the effect of surface roughness on ball–cage contact forces is investigated, enhancing the understanding of its contribution to friction torque. These insights aim to improve DGBB design and operation, maximizing performance and energy efficiency.

Correction to: Employing fuzzy DEA for Green-resilient supplier selection in an electronic industry of household appliances: a case study (Snowa)

Correction to: Employing fuzzy DEA for Green-resilient supplier selection in an electronic industry of household appliances: a case study (Snowa)

An Evolutionary Modular Product Development Under Circular Economy Approach

The incorporation of new technologies and materials, as well as the rapid evolution of products, makes it necessary to guide the product design and development process from bio-inspired perspectives that promote a circular economy. Among the proposals based on a bio-inspired solution is the framework called the Genomic Model of Eco-innovation and Eco-design, which integrates the Cradle-to-Cradle paradigm, material and substance flow analysis, along with all aspects present in the life cycle analysis of products. In this work, innovation is carried out through the integration of genetic algorithms as a methodological tool for optimizing the modular product design in the definition of the genotype within the aforementioned framework. Through a systematic approach, it analyzes how the modular reconfiguration of products, based on circular design principles and genetic optimization, can contribute to a significant reduction in resource use and waste generation. The proposed methodology is applied to a practical case based on the redesign of a small household appliance, demonstrating its potential to facilitate the implementation of circular economy strategies in the early stages of the product design and development process for studying product modularity, with the aims of improving its design and reducing its impact.

User behavior and energy-saving potential of electric washing machines

With the intensification of the global energy crisis and the increase in environmental awareness, energy-saving problems related to household appliances have garnered widespread attention. Here, the usage patterns of electric washing machine users and their energy-saving potential was mainly explored, so as to improve the current situation that the influencing factors of existing research behaviors were not deep enough and the energy saving potential was not specific enough. A questionnaire survey was used to gather information on 20,840 users, including individual characteristics, energy-saving awareness, and usage behavior. The study analyzed the differences in users’ energy-saving awareness and behavior through a series of analysis methods, and evaluated the energy-saving and water-saving potential of electric washing machines. The results showed that user behavior such as washing mode, washing temperature, and the volume ratio of clothes significantly affected on the energy and water consumption of electric washing machines. Individual characteristics of users such as gender, age, educational background, and family income were strongly correlated with their awareness of and decisions made regarding energy conservation. Improving the energy efficiency of electric washing machines and optimizing user purchasing behavior could result in 38,787.54 GWh national energy savings potential, and 6.90 million tons of water-saving potential. This study will help manufacturers and government departments better understand consumers’ usage behavior regarding electric washing machines, which could allow them to modify their market strategies and bolster the promotion and education of energy efficiency labels for electric washing machines. This also could support the nation’s objectives for environmental preservation, water and energy conservation, and the sale of products with lesser energy efficiency.

Institutional entrepreneuring for energy poverty: The role of boundary work in developing a collaborative product-service system for household appliances

This study explores a remarkable initiative named “Papillon” that aims to contribute to alleviating energy poverty by organizing affordable and context-sensitive access to energy-efficient appliances. The initiative involves a collaboration across societal sectors (civil society, business, government) and has used the idea of a product-service system to develop an appliance rental system for energy-poor households. As these kinds of “cross-sectoral” collaborations hold promise for contributing to complex societal issues but are notoriously hard to develop, we set out to trace the entrepreneurial process that brought the collaboration into being. To do so, this paper builds on and elaborates insights from institutional theory on organizations. More specifically we start off from Hjorth & Reay's (2022) recent account of institutional entrepreneuring and further develops it in relation to the empirical case of Papillon. In doing so, we arrive at a theoretical-analytic framework that focusses on entrepreneurs' configurational boundary work in the context of diverging institutional logics. In the analysis we show how four modes of boundary work – probing, arranging, buffering, coalescing – play a decisive role in bringing about a collaborative rental system for appliances that is attuned to the lifeworld of households in energy poverty. Our paper aims to contribute by (1) presenting and analysing a cross-sectoral approach to provide energy-poor households with access to essential appliances (2) developing a framework that brings novel insights into the formation of cross-sectoral initiatives that aim to create social value.

Vision-based approach for human motion detection and smart appliance control

This study focuses on the use of computer vision technology and motion detection sensors to create an intelligent system that recognizes human presence in monitored spaces. The system uses a relay module for automation and control of household appliances while sensing motion detection, operated by an ESP32 microcontroller. This innovative solution addresses two major issues in home automation: reliable human presence recognition and seamless appliance control. The research merges a camera-based vision system with motion sensors, comparing motion and vision-based identification. The ESP32 microcontroller improves motion detection precision and context awareness by integrating motion sensors and computer vision technologies. The integration of a camera module allows real-time analysis and recognition of human presence, reducing false alarms. The relay module also enables automated control of home appliances, synchronizing and feedbacking operations with sensed human presence. The dynamic adaptation of the system improves user convenience and energy efficiency.