Experiment 3 Lab Manual

American International University- Bangladesh

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
EEE3110: Engineering Shop Laboratory

Title: Introduction to Home Appliances I- Microwave Oven and Washing Machine

Introduction:

Microwave Oven:

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with frequencies (wavelengths) in the range from 300
MHz (λ=1m) up to 300GHz (λ=1 mm). Electromagnetic radiation in the 1 mm to 1 m wavelength
range (300 MHz to 300 GHz) is referred to as microwave radiation and is part of what is known
as radio frequency (RF) radiation. RF radiation is non-ionizing radiation. Which means that, in
general, it does not have enough energy to kick an electron off an atom thus producing charged
particle in a body and cause biological damage. The only proven harmful effect from exposure to
microwave (or RF) radiation is thermal. Regarding wavelengths as typical spatial dimensions, one
realizes that microwaves do not have dimensions of μm, as might be expected from the misleading
‘micro’ in their name. Following international conventions, microwave ovens at home or in
restaurants operate at frequencies of about 2.45 GHz, i.e. λ=12.23 cm. The quantum energy of a
microwave photon is about 1 x 10-5 eV. The radiation interaction at such energies is limited to the
production of molecular rotation and torsion. The average thermal energy at 20°C is about 1/40
eV, so any ordered rotational motion created by the microwave interaction is quickly randomized
by collisions with molecules of kinetic energy 2500 times greater than the microwave photon
energy provided. So the net result of microwave interaction in microwave ovens is to heat the
material in the oven.

Operation

A microwave oven consists of:

1) a high voltage power source, commonly a simple transformer or an electronic power

converter, which passes energy to the magnetron
2) a high voltage capacitor connected to the magnetron, transformer and via a diode to the
case.
3) a cavity magnetron, which converts high-voltage electric energy to microwave radiation
4) a magnetron control circuit (usually with a microcontroller)
5) a waveguide (to control the direction of the microwaves)
6) a cooking chamber or cavity

Microwave ovens use radio frequency (rf) waves at a specifically set frequency to agitate water
molecules in food. As these water molecules get increasingly agitated they begin to vibrate at the
atomic level and generate heat. This heat is what actually cooks food in the oven. Because all

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particles in the food are vibrating and generating heat at the same time, food cooked in the
microwave cooks much more swiftly than food cooked in a conventional oven where heat must
slowly travel from the outside surface of the food inward.
The same radio waves that cook food pass harmlessly through plastics, glass, and ceramics. It is
this characteristic that keeps plastic plates from melting and glasses from exploding. It is also this
feature of microwaves that makes them so energy efficient; they heat only the food and nothing
more. Metals, on the other hand, reflect these radio waves, a characteristic very cleverly put to
use in the walls of the microwave such that no waves escape and cook anyone in the kitchen!

Fig. 3.1: Schematic diagram of a typical microwave oven.

Fig. 3.2: Internal architecture of a microwave oven.

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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

Fig. 3.3: Detailed component assembly inside a microwave oven.

All the waves discussed so far are created inside a device called a magnetron. The magnetron
pulls electrons (tiny negatively charged particles) off a fine heated wire and then uses magnets to
rotate them around inside a vacuum (a space void of any other particles). As these electrons swirl
around and around they generate radio waves that are then sent into the oven to cook food.

Washing Machine:

A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a machine to wash laundry,
such as clothing and sheets. The term is mostly applied only to machines that use water as opposed
to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids, and is performed by specialist businesses)
or ultrasonic cleaners. Washing entails immersing, dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water usually
accompanied by detergent, or bleach. The simplest machines may simply agitate clothes in water;
automatic machines may fill, empty, wash, spin, and heat in a cycle. Most washing machines
remove substantial amounts of water from the laundry at the end of a wash cycle, but do not
completely dry it. There are two basic types available- (i) Top loader type and (ii) Front loader
type washing machine.

Operation

Let us see the important parts of the washing machine; this will also help us understand the
working of the washing machine. Plea se refer to the image below.

1) Water inlet control valve: Near the water inlet point of the washing machine there is water
inlet control valve. When you load the clothes in washing machine, this valve gets opened

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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

automatically and it closes automatically depending on the total quantity of the water required.
The water control valve is actually the solenoid valve.

2) Water pump: The water pump circulates water through the washing machine. It works in two
directions, re-circulating the water during wash cycle and draining the water during the spin cycle.

3) Tub: There are two types of tubs in the washing washing machine: inner and outer. The clothes
are loaded in the inner tub, where the clothes are washed, rinsed and dried. The inner tub has
small holes for draining the water. The external tub covers the inner tub and supports it during
various cycles of clothes washing.

Fig. 3.4: Parts of a top loading type washing Machine.

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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

Fig. 3.5: Parts of a front-loading type washing Machine.

4) Agitator or rotating disc: The agitator is located inside the tub of the washing machine. It is
the important part of the washing machine that performs the cleaning operation of the clothes.
During the wash cycle the agitator rotates continuously and produces strong rotating currents
within the water due to which the clothes also rotate inside the tub. The rotation of the clothes
within water containing the detergent enables the removal of the dirt particles from the fabric of
the clothes. Thus, the agitator produces most important function of rubbing the clothes with each
other as well as with water.

In some washing machines, instead of the long agitator, there is a disc that contains blades on its
upper side. The rotation of the disc and the blades produce strong currents within the water and
the rubbing of clothes that helps in removing the dirt from clothes.

5) Motor of the washing machine: The motor is coupled to the agitator or the disc and produces
it rotator motion. These are multispeed motors, whose speed can be changed as per the
requirement. In the fully automatic washing machine, the speed of the motor i.e. the agitator
changes automatically as per the load on the washing machine.

6) Timer: The timer helps setting the wash time for the clothes manually. In the automatic mode
the time is set automatically depending upon the number of clothes inside the washing machine.

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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

7) Printed circuit board (PCB): The PCB comprises of the various electronic components and
circuits, which are programmed to perform in unique ways depending on the load conditions (the
condition and the amount of clothes loaded in the washing machine). They are sort of artificial
intelligence devices that sense the various external conditions and take the decisions accordingly.
These are also called as fuzzy logic systems. Thus, the PCB will calculate the total weight of the
clothes and find out the quantity of water and detergent required, and the total time required for
washing the clothes. Then they will decide the time required for washing and rinsing.

8) Drain pipe: The drain pipe enables removing the dirty water from the washing that has been
used for the washing purpose.

In a front-loading clothes washer- (Fig 3.6)

1. There’s a fixed outer drum (blue) and a rotating inner drum (red) with small holes around
its edge. The drums are mounted on a horizontal axis.
2. The outer drum is held to the frame of the machine by heavy-duty springs. That’s because,
when the clothes spin, they can make the drum shake violently; the springs help to absorb
the vibrations.
3. Hot and cold water enter through the detergent tray at the top.
4. The inner drum turns back and forth. The plastic paddles on the inside (shown here by
gray triangles) help to slosh the clothes through the detergent and water held by the outer
drum.
5. An electric motor turns the inner drum, typically using a long rubber belt (yellow).
6. A heating element heats the water as necessary.
7. When the wash cycle is finished, the pump sucks the water away.
8. The water empties down a tube to the drain.

Fig. 3.6: Schematic diagram of a front-loading type washing Machine.

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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

Fig. 3.7: Schematic diagram of a top loading type washing Machine.

In a toploader (Fig 3.7)

1. You lift the lid on top and drop your clothes in from above. We're looking here from one
side.
2. Just like in a front-loading machine, there's an outer drum (blue) and an inner drum with
holes in it (red), but they're mounted about a vertical axis.
3. Hot and cold water enter through pipes near the top, passing through the detergent tray
and flushing the detergent into the machine.
4. During the wash cycle, a large plastic agitator (green) turns around, moving your clothes
through the water. Both drums remain stationary.
5. The agitator is powered by an electric motor using a rubber belt.
6. During the spin cycle, the same electric motor turns the inner drum (red) at high speed,
throwing water through its holes into the outer drum.
7. When the wash is finished, the pump drains the water from the outer drum.

Precautions:

1) Be careful of handling small equipment/instruments inside the apparatus.

2) Be careful if power is supplied to the apparatus when the casing is kept open.

Experimental (Demonstration) Procedure:

1) Follow the rules and regulation for opening an electronic device.

2) Choose proper tools from the toolbox to open the casing of the device.
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 Experiment 3 Lab Manual

3) Follow the way in which the Course Teacher or the Lab Instructor demonstrates the
appliance.

Questions for report writing:

Write short notes on the all the components including a neat schematic/block diagram for
microwave oven and washing machine.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Interpret the data/findings and determine the extent to which the experiment was successful in
complying with the goal that was initially set. Discuss any mistake you might have made while
conducting the investigation and describe ways the study could have been improved.

References:

1) Howstuffworks website, Available: www.electronics.howstuffworks.com

2) CNET Asia Website, Available: www.asia.cnet.com
3) Electronics Repair Website, Available: http://www.jestineyong.com/

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