Physicists Reveal More Effective and Earth-Friendly Way To Clean Dishes
By AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS
Often, conventional dishwashers do not kill all the harmful microorganisms left on plates, bowls, and cutlery. They also require long cycle times that use large amounts of electricity. Additionally, the soap pumped in and out is released into water sources, polluting the environment.
A
more effective, environmentally friendly solution could be provided by
superheated steam dishwashers. In a study published on August 30, 2022,
in Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from
the Technical University of Dortmund and the Technical University of Munich
simulated such a dishwasher. They found that it killed 99% of bacteria on a
plate in just 25 seconds.
The model of an idealized dishwasher is represented by a box with solid side walls, a top opening, and a nozzle at the bottom. A plate, which is covered with a heat-resistant strain of bacteria, is placed directly above the nozzle. Once the plate reaches a certain threshold temperature in the simulation, the microorganisms can be considered inactivated.
“Steam comes out of the nozzle at a very high velocity. We can see shocks, and the turbulent flow that is created has eddies and vortices,” said author Natalie Germann, of the Technical University of Dortmund. “We also include heat transfer, which shows how the heat changes in the simulation box and the condensation on the solid surfaces.”
The
shock waves, created by the high velocity of the steam, are reflected at
surfaces in the dishwasher. In the work, the team focused on bacteria. However,
the shocks could be used to effectively remove food debris in the future.
“Our
study helps determine the strength of the shocks, the position of the shocks,
and the vortices that are created inside the dishwasher,” said author Laila
Abu-Farah, of the Technical University of Munich. “These things are very
important for arranging the items or objects inside the dishwasher and the
placement and orientation of the nozzles.”
While
the simulations show quick inactivation of the bacteria, actual applications of
the dishwasher would include more than one plate and would therefore require
more time. However, the scientists believe it would still be much faster and
more effective than conventional technology.
Although
the superheated steam dishwasher would initially cost more, it would pay off in
the long run with savings on water, electricity, and detergent. It would be
ideal for use in places that must meet high hygienic standards, including
restaurants, hotels, and hospitals.
“We
confirmed that the dishwasher application using superheated steam is
promising,” said Germann. “This is the first work combining fluid dynamics and
heat transfer with phase change and bacterial inactivation. It thus lays the
foundation for future computational research and further technical work.”
Reference:
“Simulations of thermal phase changes and bacterial inactivation in a superheated
steam dishwasher” by L. Abu-Farah and N. Germann, 30 August 2022, Physics of Fluids.
DOI:
10.1063/5.0090418