Electric Dryer Research Articles

Discussion of "Development of a microwave clothes dryer" [and reply

In the original paper (see ibid., vol. 32, p. 47-50, 1996), Kesselring and Smith presented several results regarding laboratory tests of a prototype of a microwave clothes dryer. For the three distinct operating modes (i.e., cool drying, fast drying, and efficient drying), the authors discuss how the microwave dryer compares to the performance of a standard electric dryer with respect to: (1) kWh consumption; and (2) noise level. Despite the lower drying temperatures obtained in the case of the microwave model, they question whether an assessment been made with respect to any eventual influence on the useful life of different types of fabrics. They also query whether a sample of prospective users surveyed about their opinions on the quality of the drying job and if the authors have new developments to present. They argue that a description of possible impacts on the urban/rural electrical distribution systems due to these future loads would also be valuable.

Adult leukemia risk and personal appliance use: a preliminary study.

The hypothesis that use of personal electric appliances may be associated with increased risk of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults was tested using interview data from a previously completed case-control study of 114 cases and 133 controls conducted between 1981 and 1984. Cases were obtained from a population-based cancer registry in western Washington state, and controls were obtained from the same area by random digit dialing. Of 32 electrical home appliances for which data on use were available for adult acute nonlymphocytic leukemia cases and controls, three motor-driven personal appliances (electric razors, hair dryers, and massage units) were selected a priori because their use represents exposure to higher peak magnetic fields than that from most other home appliances. When compared on an "ever used" versus "never used" basis, use of one or more of these appliances was not associated with increased risk of leukemia in the population studied (odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-1.24). When the appliances were considered individually, massage units were more likely to have been used by cases than by controls (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.43-6.32), while hair dryers were more likely to have been used by controls than cases (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.22-0.66). There was a nonsignificant tendency for electric razor use to differentiate the cases from controls (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 0.80-2.23). When reported daily time of use was stratified, there was no overall increased risk with increased time of use except for electric razors (p < 0.05). In addition to the analysis of appliance use data from the case-control study, the authors obtained several models of these motor-driven personal appliances and characterized the magnetic fields they produce. Magnetic field flux density, or the B-field, and spectral measurements showed that partial body exposure from such appliances may exceed 0.5 mTesla (root mean squared) at rates-of-change exceeding 10 Tesla/sec. These epidemiologic data must be interpreted cautiously because the number of cases is limited and because of proxy reporting of appliance use for deceased cases. Nevertheless, the authors believe these data indicate that peak magnetic field exposure from personal appliances warrants further investigation as a possible risk factor for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults.

Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment of Digital Thrombosis in Severe Raynaud's Phenomenon— A Case Report

A thirty-one-year-old woman with long-standing mixed connective tissue disease and severe obliterative vasculopathy of the digits developed digital thrombosis of the first three digits of the left hand after using an electric blow dryer. The digits remained cool, cyanotic, and painful for thirty-six hours before medical evaluation. She was given 100 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) intravenously. Within one hour the blood flow to the digits returned, accompanied by severe intermittent vasospasm of the digits. The thumb did not necrose; however, the second and third digits required amputation. No improvement was noted in the patient's baseline Raynaud's phenomenon or digital pressures of the uninvolved digits after TPA treatment. This case documents the usefulness of TPA for digital thrombosis in the setting of vasculopathy of connective tissue disease. However, it does not support the utility of a single dose of TPA for severe Raynaud's phenomenon and recurrent digital ischemia in patients with connective tissue disease.

MODELING AND MEASUREMENTS OF INFRARED DRYERS FOR COATED PAPER

ABSTRACT We have developed models to determine the radiative heat transfer of infrared dryers. Using the models, the efficiencies of several IR constructions are calculated. The radiation properties of all parts of the IR dryer are measured with an IT-IR spectrometer using integrating sphere techniques. With these models and measured results, the total efficiencies of several dryer constructions are calculated for: an electric dryer with a pambolic mirror, an elecmc dryer with a flat ceramic mirror, and a gas-fired dryer. The effect of a back reflector on these dryers is also calculated. The efficiencies of all these dryers are compared to each other.

Solar Urticaria

A 42-year-old woman acquired solar urticaria approximately ten minutes after exposure to sunlight. Urticaria developed from visible light emitted from a projector lamp after a similar time lag. Monochromatic rays between 400 and 500 nm induced immediate urticaria by irradiation, with four times the minimal urticarial dose. Urticaria that was induced by monochromatic rays of the projector lamp was completely inhibited by immediate reirradiation of test sites with light waves longer that 530 nm. Radiant heat exposure from an electric hair dryer at 50 degrees C had no suppressive effects on the development of urticarial lesions.

A PORTABLE FORCED AIR PLANT DRYER

The need for a portable electric plant dryer for use by traveling botanists was brought up by Dr. Delzie Demaree during a discussion with my father, Everett Jenne, and me, two years ago. Dr. Demaree remarked that bulky conventional convection plant dryers tend to overload the light electrical circuits found in most American motels, and that dryers using gasoline or kerosene heat sources are hazardous. These comments led to the design of a small, efficient portable plant dryer by my father, who built several working models for Dr. Demaree, Dr. Robert Kral, and me. During a year's field trial in the United States and Mexico it was found that this 10 lb. dryer will, under normal conditions, dry two fully loaded 35 standard presses overnight. The Jenne Plant Dryer consists of a 660-watt heating element mounted at the inlet of a motor-driven blower unit. (Fig. l.a.). This blower forces the heated air into a flexible heavy gauge vinyl plastic hood which directs the air through the enclosed plant press or presses (Fig. l.b.). The sheet steel inlet box for the blower supports the motor-driven blower unit and encloses a 660 watt heating element. The open end of the inlet box is covered by a hard-ware cloth screen to prevent flammable material from being brought into contact with the hot heating element, which produces a rise of about 35? F above the ambient temperature. If it is desirable to reduce the drying rate or the amount of current required, a 300-watt or smaller light bulb can be substituted for the 660-watt heating element. The base also houses two 15-ampere DPST toggle switches under the blower unit and encloses the 16-gauge wiring (Fig. 2). The 100 cfm blower has a 2-l/s X 4-1/32 (outside dimensions) discharge flange and 3-1/8 diameter inlet opening. The 3 13/16 x 1 /8 wide fan wheel has forward curved blades and is attached to the motor shaft extension. The 115 volt, 60 cycle, 1/45 hp, shaded pole, single phase motor runs at 2870 rpm under full load (free air) conditions. The motor is rubber mounted on the side of the fan housing. A supply of 110-volt alternating current is required to operate this dryer. The current used with the 660-watt heating element is about 6.75 amperes. The heavy gauge vinyl plastic hood fastens to the discharge flange of the blower unit. It is made up of three short connecting and expanding sections and a straight section 3' long, 19 wide and 35 high. When two presses are to be dried, the zipper in the straight section is opened and the presses are set in place; the zipper is then closed and approximately one foot of the hood is tucked inside itself around the last press (Fig. l.d.). Air pressure inside the folded-in portion of the hood helps to seal the area around the sides of the last press. Webbing straps are fastened around the enclosed presses, limiting the amount of air by-passing them. (Fig. l.c, d.). If only one press is to be dried, half of the straight section of the hood is folded back inside and the press is inserted and strapped in place. It is hoped that this portable dryer, or modifications of it, will be of use to botanists throughout the world.

On the reasons of importance of the improvement of agricultural machinery and instruments for the increase of Japanese farm crops.

Introduction. Scientific factors important for the increase of Japanese farm crops. Preliminary discussion. Improvement of agric. machinery & instruments helps more the farm works chiefly. So it makes the decrease of the cost of the production of the farm crops. Because, Japanese Agricultural machinery & instrumeuts are very primitive. (1) Improved farm machinery helps the increase of the yields and quality of crops. (2) Improved f. machinary decreases not only, the wages, but also can increases the cultivatable acreages of farm crops by their high efficiency. (3) The efficiency of one farmer in Japan is very low, in spite of the very high rate of the popuration. (4) Necessity of permaneat inhabitance, with high efficient farm machinery, of inland settlements, to Hokkaido, or to North-eastern districts (Tohoku Chiho) from high populated districts is very large. (5) Necessity of improvements of irrigation, drainage and reclamationworks. And although water pools with dams, raising of electricity by water power. (6) Giving profession or buisiness to many peoples, as the appendexiable works. (7) Development of civil or scientific works, e. g. electric seed nursery in upland and paddy rice fields. Main discourse. Agronomical examples of the suitable actions in every good suitable seasons; suitable agricultural machinery. (8) Good season on the Middle & North districts in Japan proper for the sowing time of winter wheat and barley is Oct. and early Nov. The delay of seeding work checks heavily the increase of these crops. (9) In economical (commercial) agriculture, the good time on the middle & north districts in Japan proper for the transplanting of rice is June and early Jnly. The delay of the transplanting work checks heavily, the increase of these crops too. (10) In common fields, the good time on the north and Kwanto districts in Japan, for the planting of sweet potato is the 3 months before middle of July. This crop and rice want frostless season. Hence, small machinery for sweet potato digging (plows) and the Vinecutting are very necessary, and the investigations of these machinery are advancing in Japan, now. (11) The harvesting times of rice, wheat and barley are very busy. The delay of harvesting works checks the increase of these crops. Hence, some small harvesting machinery, such as reaper or combine, are wanted now in Japan. Therefore, many designs and patents for these are advancing now. (12) Recently, some agric-drugs or medical compounds (pharmacy) such as D.D.T. or 2.4-D are in application in Japan, also. This fact is an advance of Japanese agriculture, for the controlings of insects & diseases or weeds. But, the speedy dusting or spraying are very necessary. Therefore, the very good dusters, the fog-machinery and the motors of these are wanted. We are very glad to say we know some good machinery for these purposes in Japan, now. (13) Some special cultivators for paddy rice fields are necessary in Japan. And we know some good kinds of these implements pulled by some domestic animals, e.g.horse or cattle. We know 2-4.D. which is weed killing drug. But, the special cultivator (Suiden chikuryoku josoki) acts not only weed killing action, but also inter cultivating action, of caurse. (14) The small cultivators for upland field are very necessary for Japanese farms. Which acts intercultivation, weedkilling, mulching, and the principles of dry-farming. (15) Plows and harrows in small size are very necessary for Japanese farmers, also. (16) Recently, the developments of small threshing machines & milling plants are very wanderful in Japan, too, because they have industrial habits. (17) Some small dryers and electric dryers for grains are very important in Japan. Because, the climatic conditions in this country, especially East and North & Eastern districts (Hokuriku, Tohoku & Hokkaido) are very wet (High humidity). Conclusion. Applications of the scientific investigations of the members of t