Project: Thermoelectric Heat Pump Recovery System for Domestic Dishwashers

1/2
The project is targeting 30% reduction in energy consumption while improving drying performance and maintaining cleaning performance. Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Photo courtesy of
2/2
Existing multi-station dishwasher test facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, capable of fully compliant Department of Energy standards and Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR testing for both hot and cold-water inlet dishwashers. Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Photo courtesy of

Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Partner: Samsung Electronics America, Pine Brook, New Jersey
DOE Total Funding: $500,000
FY16 DOE Funding: None
Project Term: October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2019
Funding Type: TCF

Project Objective

The objective of this project is the development and laboratory testing of a prototype heat recovery dishwasher for the U.S. residential market. During the dishwasher washing and rinsing phases, the patent-pending heat recovery system extracts waste heat from the drain water utilizing a robust and low-cost design. The system also recovers heat that would normally be lost during the drying process. Recovered heat is applied to the washing and rinsing phases and end of cycle drying, saving energy and improving drying performance. Additional project objectives include optimization of the heat recovery system design; operation control to achieve target energy performance; and evaluation of tradeoffs for reducing dishwasher manufacturing cost in order to achieve a commercially viable product.

Project Impact

The majority of dishwashers in the U.S. draw hot water and use electric resistance heaters to further boost water temperature, consuming about 286 TBtu/year in primary energy (1.3% total annual residential energy use).  A heat recovery dishwasher could save approximately 90 TBtu/year when fully deployed nationwide.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Antonio Bouza

Lead Performers: Kyle Gluesenkamp, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Guolian Wu, Samsung Electronics America

Related Publications

Patel et al., 2016, “Experimental Evaluation and Thermodynamic System Modeling of Thermoelectric Heat Pump Clothes Dryer,” 16th Int. Ref. & Air- Cond. Conf. at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN.

Goodman et al., 2017, “Thermoelectric Heat Pump Clothes Dryer Design Optimization,” 12th IEA Heat Pump Conf., Rotterdam, The Netherlands.