Appliance Household

6 Examples of VIP Applications and Related Issues 4.6.1 Household Appliances 

Refrigerators and freezers account for about 20% of the total electricity consumption of household appliances. For this reason the appliance industry is under pressure to improve the energy efficiency of their products to cope with the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as recently mandated by the Kyoto Conference. This objective has to be achieved without penalising product performance. Several options to decrease the energy consumption are under evaluation, ranging from high efficiency compressors to the adoption of intelligent electronic devices [57, 58, 59]. 

Adoption of PU-based vacuum panels in refrigerators and freezers requires the proper handling of the foaming process, which may influence the structural and vacuum properties of the panel. 

This gas contribution has to be evaluated case by case since it depends strictly on the actual foaming conditions, such as the chemicals used, the process variables, the refrigerator design and VIP geometry. However, under some circumstances, the pressure increase can be a measurable fraction of the maximum acceptable level, thus causing a deterioration of the VIP thermal insulation properties from the very beginning of the refrigerator life. 

Desorbed gases after the thermal treatments are only partially reabsorbed by the foam and generate a measurable pressure build up in the VIP. 

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Some commercially important cross-linked polymers go virtually without names. These are heavily and randomly cross-linked polymers which are insoluble and infusible and therefore widely used in the manufacture of such molded items as automobile and household appliance parts. These materials are called resins and, at best, are named by specifying the monomers which go into their production. Often even this information is sketchy. Examples of this situation are provided by phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, for which typical structures are given by structures [IV] and [V], respectively ... 

Phenohc resins (qv), once a popular matrix material for composite materials, have in recent years been superseded by polyesters and epoxies. Nevertheless, phenohc resins stiU find considerable use in appHcations where high temperature stabiHty and fire resistance are of paramount importance. Typical examples of the use of phenoHc resins in the marine industry include internal bulkheads, decks, and certain finishings. The curing process involves significant production of water, often resulting in the formation of voids within the volume of the material. Further, the fact that phenoHcs are prone to absorb water in humid or aqueous conditions somewhat limits their widespread appHcation. PhenoHc resins are also used as the adhesive in plywood, and phenohc molding compounds have wide use in household appliances and in the automotive, aerospace, and electrical industries (12). 

Galvanic cells in which stored chemicals can be reacted on demand to produce an electric current are termed primaiy cells. The discharging reac tion is irreversible and the contents, once exhausted, must be replaced or the cell discarded. Examples are the dry cells that activate small appliances. In some galvanic cells (called secondaiy cells), however, the reaction is reversible that is, application of an elec trical potential across the electrodes in the opposite direc tion will restore the reactants to their high-enthalpy state. Examples are rechargeable batteries for household appliances, automobiles, and many industrial applications. Electrolytic cells are the reactors upon which the electrochemical process, elec troplating, and electrowinning industries are based. 

Since the kW developed by a 3-0 winding is 50% more than by a 2-0 winding for the same value of stator current /, the economics of this principle is employed in an induction motor for general and industrial use. As standard practice, therefore, in a multi-phase system, only 3-0 induction motors are manufactured and employed, except for household appliances and applications, where mostly single-phase motors are ttsed. 

Other important application areas in both regions are household appliances, consumer electronic equipment, refrigerator sheeting, toys, telephones, office equipment, recreational equipment, luggage and as a modifier for PVC. 

Electrical and electronic devices and machines have become an integral part of contemporary life, ranging from household appliances and computers to huge industrial machines. Wlien home and business owners pay the monthly bill from the electrical power company for the use of all of these items, they arc paying for energy very conveniently delivered over electrical wires from the power company. 

Today belts are used in automobiles to drive aux-iliaiy devices such as air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, the alternator, and the cooling fluid pump. Belts also can be found in household appliances such as vacuum sweepers, on lathes in machine shops, or inside copying machines. 

Direct pyrolysis in the ion source of a mass spectrometer (QMS) was used to analyse PE/(dicumylperoxide, Santonox R) and PVC/DIOP [259]. In-source PyMS is an analytical tool for fast analysis of flame retardants in unknown mixtures of polymers [223, 265], Heeren and Boon [224] used in-source filament pyrolysis FTMS for high-speed, broadband screening of additives in polymeric household appliances. 

Large household appliances Freezers, washing machines... 

Small household appliances Vacuum cleaners, toasters... 

The European Commission distinguishes between ten categories of e-waste, based on different uses such IT- and communication equipment or large/small household appliances in the Directive 2002/96/EG [5] (see Table 1). 

The results based on EUROSTAT cannot be compared directly to the data from Zoeteman et al. [1] or Lepwasky and McNabb [16]. They present the amount of e-waste generated but do not report export destinations. What can be compared is the structure of e-waste. Comparing Tables 4 and 5 it can be established that while Zoeteman et al. [1] point out household appliances as important trade fraction, data from EUROSTAT [14] allow the conclusion that IT and consumer equipment is of special importance in e-waste trade. 

Household appliances make up one of the largest markets for electrotechnical and electronic products. While comparatively simple versions of sensors and microsystem products, such as temperature sensors or level sensors, have long been used in household appliances, new and improved sensors conquer the market at a breathtaking rate. The way modern sensors with intelligent control systems are used is one of the main distinguishing features between the various products and companies. 

More details on appliance markets are given in Chapter 2, together with some data on the sensors in question. There has been some recent research into the markets of modern micromechanical sensors in household appliances, documenting the market potential for various types of sensors in this area, including those for pressure, acceleration and tilt, thermopiles, flow and gas sensors [3]. Examples of future developments will also be given. 

Sensors in Household Appliances (Sensors Applications Volume 5). 

Small household appliances Floor care systems, with vacuum cleaners Irons Coffee machines Mixers Tooth care equipment Shavers Blood pressure equipment Electronic thermometers... 

More and more sensors and microsystem devices are being used in a wide range of household appliances, and the number is set to increase in the near future. Several technologies are used for such sensors, as described in the subchapters of Chapter 5. An evaluating synopsis of these sensors is given in Tab. 1.2 for large household appliances, for small household appliances in Tab. 1.3 and for heating and climate control in Tab. 1.4. 

Improved sensors will be used in many other household appliances, such as... 

Tab. 1.2 Development status of sensors used for large household appliances.

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