Pursuing collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of South Carolina Targeting a 35% reduction in power consumption with high-efficiency dehumidification technology Fewer installation constraints across diverse residential environments
Samsung Electronics announced on the 15th that it has been selected as an official research project by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will move forward with the commercialization of next-generation clothes drying technology. The project aims to develop a dryer that maintains performance while reducing energy consumption by using high-efficiency dehumidification technology.
Samsung Electronics will conduct research focusing on an “Advanced Desiccant Clothes Dryer with a Heat Recovery System.” Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the largest national research institution in the United States, and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina will jointly participate in the project.
The core of the development is to use a desiccant, which serves as a dehumidifying material, to achieve similar drying performance with only about 65% of the power consumption of existing dryers. The goal is to improve the shortcomings of “vent type” dryers, which are mainly used in the North American market. While vent type dryers have the advantage of fast drying speed, their low power efficiency makes it difficult to operate them on standard household voltage in the United States (120V), requiring high-power (240V) electrical work. Installation of external exhaust ducting is also mandatory, resulting in spatial constraints.
Samsung Electronics stated that commercialization of the new technology would resolve these limitations. Because it can be installed without additional power upgrades or ductwork, it can be easily used in various residential environments such as apartments and multi-family housing.
The research will be carried out over the next two years, with the U.S. Department of Energy providing USD 1.2 million in funding and Samsung Electronics and its partners contributing an equivalent amount, bringing the total project size to USD 2.4 million (approximately KRW 3.2 billion).
Samsung Electronics plans to apply the results of this research not only to next-generation dryers but also to a range of home appliances, including all-in-one washer-dryers.
Moon Jong-seung, Executive Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “This project is a meaningful attempt to translate innovative energy-saving technology into tangible consumer value. Through collaboration with international research institutions, Samsung will continue to expand a sustainable home appliance ecosystem.”
Kim Sang-jun
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
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