ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF COOLING FANS ON FIRE RISK MITIGATION IN DOMESTIC TUMBLE DRYERS

Over the lifetime of domestic tumble dryers, significant amounts of lint accumulate inside the casing, presenting potential fire hazards. The movement and accumulation of lint are affected by three key components: the rotating drum and the two small fans used to cool the electric motor and heat pump compressor. This study investigates by CFD the long-term lint accumulation process inside a domestic tumble dryer through a model that incorporates essential components such as the electronics, rotating drum, motor, and fans. The lint deposition process is analyzed by unsteady RANS that accounts for lint particles. An original strategy was developed to simulate the entire operation lifetime within a single run. The results demonstrate the potential of the model to aid a dryer design aimed at fire risk mitigation.