Researchers simulated a superheated steam dishwasher, discovering that it killed 99% of micro organism on a plate in simply 25 seconds.
Washing dishes with superheated steam is simpler and Earth-friendly.
Simulations present steam kills micro organism on a plate in simply 25 seconds — with out cleaning soap.
Often, standard dishwashers don’t kill all of the dangerous microorganisms left on plates, bowls, and cutlery. They additionally require lengthy cycle instances that use massive quantities of electrical energy. Additionally, the cleaning soap pumped out and in is launched into water sources, polluting the surroundings.
A simpler, environmentally pleasant resolution might be supplied by superheated steam dishwashers. In a examine revealed 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.
Bacteria concentration on the plate within the dishwasher over time. The superheated steam kills off the bacteria within 25 seconds. Credit: Laila Abu-Farah and Natalie Germann
“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
