Products Analyses and Eco Redesign Strategy

Studying products helps us understand how they're made and used. Eco-redesign is about making things greener to help the planet.

Products Analyses and Eco Redesign Strategy

During the kettle’s operation, most of the energy is consumed by boiling water. Typically, much of this energy is lost by inefficient user behaviour such as overfilling with respect to the required value, overheating, and multiple heating and using hard water. Most of these issues can be addressed using innovations and tackling user behaviour with smart designs.

Many kettles are now available in the market that offers smart and sustainable design options. Through reliable and durable kettle designs have been selected to assess their environmental impacts and energy consumption/efficiency functions, a summary of which is shown in Table 1 below;

Assessing the usage patterns of these models, the following are the design aspects where improvements can be made for enhanced sustainability;

1. Optimized use of kettle power shut off at the required temperature set point; it would minimize the time delay between boiling and shut-off and hence reduce energy consumption
2. Clear and noticeable signal to the user that the water has reached its set point; reduced and or eliminate energy lost on instances where the user forgets to consume the heated water on time and re-heat the water
3. Energy can be saved through efficient insulation and heating systems and by reducing the energy lost through the steam

• Concepts Creation and Design Considerations

Since temperature is found to be the dominant factor in the process flow diagram (Figure 1), instruments like the thermometers/thermocouples and bimetallic strips were added to the list of different techniques to measure temperature that was created as part of the concept generation process. Another list, detailing the techniques for notifying the user of the unexpected shutoff, was also created. This included tools for seeing, hearing and smelling. 

The design of the kettle can be improved considerably by controlling the factors such as the start and stop temperature and the amount of water inside the kettle. It should be noted that not all the design concepts are viable and therefore ideas such as using gravity to assist the boiling water in a locked kettle were found to be infeasible for several reasons including safety and energy loss (Zimmerman, et al., 2003).

• Optimized Rate and Duration to Minimize the Number of Resources Used

The concept generation method in the previous section determined the features that can play a big part in the green redesign of the electric kettle. Figure 2 shows the features and design improvements that can be employed for the electric kettle.

A reduction in the final temperature of the water can considerably decrease energy consumption. The final temperature of the water can be lowered only if the amount of energy transferred to it is lowered.

Regardless of what type of kettle is under consideration, energy lost to the environment is significant at high temperatures. Energy is mainly lost to conduction, conduction and radiation mechanisms. Energy loss to the environment can also be controlled by increasing the power supply (Karna, 2002). The duration of heat transfer to the environment can be reduced significantly by heating the water more quickly.

A large number of products use this application to maximize efficiency levels whilst reducing the amount of heat transferred to the environment. Low flow shower heads, washing machines and advanced tanks with fewer water heaters are some of the most commonly used examples By heating the water at a time when the tank is lessened, tank fewer water heaters can save a considerable amount of energy (Telenko, et al., 2009). Maintaining the water temperature, on the other hand, needs more power input and hence there is more chance of energy being wasted.

High spin washing machines are also recommended to be used instead of ordinary washing machines to purge more water from clothing. Similarly, public showers can be shut off at selected intervals to conserve energy. By doing so, water will only be used when needed. Studies have shown that such equipment use at least 28 percent less energy than its counterparts. Considering the above examples, it will be safe to say that this technology can be applied to a variety of products.

• Using Manual and Automatic Tuning Capabilities

The duration of water heating can be further reduced by using manual or automatic tuning abilities. This can be done by allowing the user to set the desired water temperature. Therefore, if the observer sees the water boiling at 90 degrees C, the equipment can be turned off, thereby limiting the duration of heating. Further reduction in the heating duration can be achieved by allowing the user to set the stopping temperature. For example, if the user knows the water is going to boil at 90 degrees C, he can set the stopping temperature to this value. A number of products including programmable thermostats, some washing and drying systems and multi-flush toilets use this application (Tomlison and Durfee, 2001). Studies have shown that up to 60 percent energy savings in washing machines and dryers can be made by providing manual and automatic settings.

• Installing Feedback Systems

Feedback systems are also an important aspect in the redesign of an electric kettle. This mechanism informs the users of the current status of the heating process or the temperature value. By preventing unnecessary water heating, further reduction in heating duration is possible. The feedback system will also help the user end the heating process when the required temperature value is achieved. Many types of products including ovens use this application successfully to save energy. Almost all new ovens are fitted with a reading meter or alarms to notify the users so they can end the heating process instantly.

• Separate Modules Performing Different Tasks

Based on the idea that electric hybrid vehicles use an electric motor and a gasoline engine separately to maximize efficiency, the segment for measuring water in the electric kettle is separated from the water heating section. EcoKettle is a classic example of this application as it uses this method to maximize the output levels. EcoKettle is designed with two separate segments; one for heating water and the other one for storage as shown in figure 2 below. By applying this technique, users can store as much as water they want in the kettle without heating more than what is required.

Figure 2: EcoKettle design

• MET Matrix for the New Design

• Quantitative LCA Analyses, and EcoWheel Diagram; Investigating Real-life Environmental Impacts

Small changes as discussed in the design considerations can have an influential effect on the environment; however, no useful data has been published in detail in this regard.  An effort has been made to estimate the environmental impact of changes made in the new design, which has been described in the following table 2.

Table 2; New LCA analyses with respect to system performance

Figure 3: EcoWheel diagram

• Assumptions and Calculations

In a survey conducted by students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in The University of Texas USA, in 2009, it was estimated that 0.83 Kg of water was consumed daily by most household kettle users, with a frequency of 8 times a week, in four-year life span. Therefore this data was used to estimate the amount of energy consumption/saved. Required data to assess a complete LCA was unavailable; such as product manufacturing details and transportation.  Electricity was measured in watts, and the  electrical to thermal conversion ratio was assumed to be 100%. Energy losses through steam were the total

Total energy saved was calculated by the equation. Heat losses are calculated for overheating between 16 seconds to 70 seconds as examples, and do not illustrate the actual figures.

Average consumption of water = 0.86 x 8 x 4 x 12 x 4 = 1274 kg in four years of life span. For each Kg of water, total Electrical energy input for Barun at 1360 watts (66 sec overheating) is 482 kJ, Compressor at 1340 watts (16 sec overheating) is 400 kJ and for Proctor Silex at 930 watts (70 sec overheating) is 422 kJ. Therefore average energy consumption is 434 kJ. Estimated savings percentage for each additiothe n of control system was calculated and given in table 2

Figure 4: General description of energy flow