![[Image] If you're looking for gentle finish, energy saving and water saving, choose Hitachi's washer-dryer](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_main.jpg)
Many Hitachi technologies are applied to our front loading washer-dryer　(BD-V3200, BD-V2200). Let's take a simple look at how they achieve water and energy-saving performance.
(Updated in March 2010)
The evolution of the drying function, that air blows against the clothes, reduces wrinkles and shrinkage of clothes and saves the work of ironing. In the machine, with approximately 61cm diameter and 82L volume, clothes float through large movements while air moving at around 300km/h (*1) stretches the wrinkles as it dries garments. We have now improved the finishing performance even further. We have reduced the heat generated by the heater used in the drying process to achieve “low-temperature drying”, which keeps the temperature of the clothes below around 60 degrees Celsius, for a gentle finish you can wear straight away.
![[Image] finish of the washing](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_01.jpg)
![[Image] Hitachi's Drying](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_02.jpg)
Heat generated by the main motor is conducted into the drum to raise the temperature.
Other than heat from the heater, compression heat from the jet fan that makes the fast wind and heat from the jet fan motor are used to warm the air for drying.
The heat of air warmed by the main motor and the heater opens the eco-flap (open / closable air intake) midway through the drying air channel, and the heat is taken in for reuse in warm air for drying.
![[Image] Figure 1 - Drying System](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_03.jpg)
In our drying system (Figure 1), the heat generated by the main motor, which drives the drum, is conducted into the drum to raise the temperature of the drum and the clothes in it. Other than heat from the heater, compression heat from the jet fan that makes the fast wind and heat from the jet fan motor are used to warm the air for drying. The eco-flap (open / closable air intake), positioned midway through the newly-designed drying air channel, opens and heat from air warmed by the main motor and heater is taken in for drying.
The main motor is a new type of high-performance, two-stage motor which can switch between two circuits, depending on whether it needs low speed and high torque for lifting heavy, wet clothes, or high speed for centrifugal force in the spin cycle. The drum runs at high speed for the drying spin, thoroughly expelling water by spinning at high-speed that reduces the power consumption required for the subsequent drying process.
A newly-developed linear motion mechanism installed in the top of the body has been added to control angle of the drum that raises the outer tank and drum, which are inclined to the rear, to a better angle for drying during the drying process (Figure 2). The high-speed wind hits the clothes in a way that helps them to circulate between the front and back of the rotating drum, reducing wrinkles and uneven drying.
![[Image] Comparison against the BD-V1200(2009 model)that lacks the above drying system](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_04.jpg)
![[Image] Figure 2 Drum Attitude Control](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_05.jpg)
This product saves water with our water circulation system which circulates water to wash with less quantity, and rinse by spraying water which rotates the drum as the water is sprayed onto the clothes, applying centrifugal force to remove detergent.
This method of rinse (Figure 3) uses a special nozzle to jet the water onto the clothes in the first rinse using the water main's pressure while rotating the drum at around double the usual drum rotation speed for rinse cycles. The centrifugal force helps to remove detergent, rinsing thoroughly with less water
.
![[Image] Figure 3 Rotary Spray Rinse](/environment/showcase/solution/appliances/images/img_wash/wash_06.jpg)
In the drying process, air-cooled dehumidification, a method that humid air leaving the clothes is cooled by air to become drops and to be removed, or with water-cooled dehumidification, a method that humid air is cooled by water to be removed. Either one of these will be applied according to the selection of washing course selection. The air-cooled dehumidification will be used in the standard course in order to enhance the thermal efficiency of the drying system, and the water-cooled dehumidification will be used for the “deodorant and disinfection” course and the “steam iron function” (*4).
Using these technologies, the BD-V3200 uses 72L (*5) of water as a standard to wash 10kg of clothes, and approximately 55L (*6) to wash and dry 6kg of clothes. With the BD-V2200, the volumes are 65L (*5) for washing 9kg of clothes, and approximately 55L (*6) for washing and drying with 6kg of clothes.
All of the technology for the Earth
In taking this view, the Hitachi Group views the front loading washer-dryer as one of the ways we can achieve our Environmental Vision 2025, with a goal of helping to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 100 million tons by 2025 through our products and services.
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