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Test Procedure Issue 

Clothes Washer Workshop 
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Clothes Washer Workshop 

Test Procedure Issue 

• Background 

• Modified Energy Factor (MEF) takes into account 

dryer energy which is reflected in Remaining Moisture 

Content (RMC). 

• Recently we discovered variations in RMC 

measurements which effects the MEF. 
Clothes Washer 

Test Procedure Issue 

Background (cont'd) 

• DOE, NIST, AHAM, LBNL, ADL, Intertek Testing 

Services, Textile Innovators Inc. and manufacturers 

have been working together to identify the causes. 

• Initial steps: Examined potential causes of RMC 

variations -

• Reviewed RMC test methodology at ITS (Intertek 

Testing Services), and 

•Used two different test cloths samples. 
Clothes V/ asher 

Test Procedure Issue 

Background (cont'd) 

• Initial results: The two different test cloth samples 

resulted in different RMC values. 

• We began to investigate the characteristics of the two 

cloth samples (from different suppliers). 

• Both samples were reasonably close to 

specification. 

•We felt that further investigation was necessary. 
Clothes \

1

/ asher 

Test Procedure Issue 

Background (cont'd) 

•Next steps: Resolve the test procedure issue quickly. 

•Created Task Force to develop action plan coordinated by 

ADL. 
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Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 

Testing recently conducted at ITS using two different cloth test loads 

resulted in different RMC values for a given washer: 

:~',' ~--· ~ 

•··· t LQ~~~'i:i} . 

67.9% 

64.9% 

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't:2~ Procured fronfTextile Innovators ,v,. ::::;;;f~~\-i} ,,; ·, :,:· ',.~. y:~, ' .: .. · ... , .• ..... : 

56.0°/o 

53.7o/o 

RT/db/2995217/99 

Issues 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 Implications 

Differences in RMC can have an effect on Modified Energy Factor (MEF). 

For example: 

+ For a high efficiency horizontal axis washer, ·an 18% increase in RMC 

(54.5°/o~64.5o/o) results in a 13% decrease in MEF (1.52~1.33) 

+ For a lower efficiency vertical axis washer, a 17% increase in RMC 

(57.7%~67.7%) results in a 6o/o decrease in MEF (.82~.77) 

RT/db/2995217/99 2 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 Implications 

Manufacturer and AHAM supplied data on costs required to achieve 

increasing levels of efficiency could be inconsistent based on the test cloth 

used in clothes washer testing. 

+ However, past data on RMC collected by most manufacturers has not 

indicated significant differences. 

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RT/db/29952/7/99 3 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 

Action Plan: 

<c·;:;<:>;~., _,;.,.· 

Cdt:Q.P;~hQJlsive'SlesHng ~~nd cotnparative. evaluation of, .. · 

(fl@.'.l~$t c"\oths igi.fA·μ•sttro'tl as \f\(Qll 'a$l()tinivvtmat@ri~f1J' 

il(~~l*~ble\ttom siiPPliers. ·" ··. · · :

4 

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+ Testing for compliance to specifications 

+ Materials properties and performance testing 

+ RMC Testing 

• Additional washer testing per test procedure Appendix 

J1 (ITS) 

• Extractor testing over a wide range of variables (AOL) 

RT/db/29952/7/99 4 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure 

Lab/Test Matrix: 

"Amana" Load 

(Tl) 

"ITS" Load 

(Cotton 

Goods) 

"New" Textile 

Innovators 

"New" Cotton 

Goods 

A~~! ttillpg lfal>9rat°'~: ··.··. .. Buffalo NY' . 

Tests: ABC D Completed 

Tests: ABC D Completed 

AOL to obtain material and 

send for evaluation 

Tests: ABC D 

AOL to obtain material and 

send for evaluation 

Tests: ABC D 

A: Blend 

B: Weight 

C: Thread Count 

D: Yarn Type 

Appendix J1 

ITS has requested 

tests A B C D -+-----• 

ITS has requested 

tests A B C D ---------1=> 

(see note below) 

E: Twist 

F: Yarn Number 

G: Water Retention (Centrifuge) 

H: Water Retention (Absorbency) 

Note: Luther Myer (Tl) has recently sent and received information on blend for a Tl sample. 

USDA has received 

samples to test EFG H 

USDA has received 

samples to test EFG H 

AOL to obtain material and 

send for evaluation 

Tests: EFG H 

AOL to obtain material and 

send for evaluation 

Tests: EFG H 

RT/db/29952/7/99 5 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 

Testing is planned at Arthur D. little to determine RMC of various test 

cloths across a range of conditions. 

70 

60 

50 

0 40 

Si! 

?fl 30 

20 

10 

0 

0 

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·;·1M't~7~ . ~</ (E~.tf 1fHELMA pcrdj~~~>:.:~i:; .. >< . 

Ill 

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 

Spin g's 

RT/db/29952/7/99 6 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 

Action Plan (cont'd): 

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p.~ing~c ,,is~tot test ... ·· :i1arrJ.p:Je$l\fftquest tfl~f . ;:·~an~'fac. e~-·,retesf;D sign opt~· y/;·,J;fii> deters\iip~ tg: · 

:~~'~f.l,i.~~~~~~f \~f~ffi;~cy elf ft;(~D,~{B~QE a~\~~~~L • , c J.~~~;,~~~L\~,< 

RT/db/29952/7/99 7 
Clothes Washer Test Procedure Appendix J1 

Schedule: 

RT/db/29952/7/99 8