Below is some information and data regarding on-premises laundries. Please phone Belenky, Inc. with any questions concerning laundry design, layout, operating cost analysis or equipment application. We can provide detailed rough-in blue line drawings for a nominal cost. Our expertise lies in the healthcare, hospitality, corrections and lodging industries with many high profile projects to our credit.

Basic Equations and Conversion Factors

Cylinder Volume: Cylinder Diameter and Cylinder Depth are both expressed in inches.

Volume, cubic feet = (Cylinder Diameter) x (Cylinder Diameter) x (Cylinder Depth) / 2200

Extract "G" Force: Extract G-Force is a way of comparing washers with different cylinder sizes and extract speeds. Always ignore RPM’s and compare G-Forces. To calculate G-Force, use this formula:

G-Force, G’s = (RPM) x (RPM) x (Cylinder Depth) / 70,500

Moisture Content After Extraction: Moisture content is a way of expressing how much water remains in a load after extraction. This is water that must be removed by turning into steam in a drying tumbler or ironer. To calculate moisture content, use this formula:

% Moisture Content = [(LWE) – (LWD) / (LWD)] x 100%

LWE = weight of load after extraction, pounds

LWD = weight of load before extraction (dry), pounds

Example:

A load weighs 60 lbs. Before processing. After washing and extracting, the load weighs 119 lbs. The % moisture content would then be:

% Moisture Content = [(119 – 60) / 60] x 100% = 98.3%

The chart below will provide an estimate of moisture content at a given G-Force for the indicated materials. Actual results will vary depending on material age and content, load size and extraction time

You can also estimate the water that would remain after extraction at a given G-Force. Simply rewrite the equation to solve for (LWE – LWD). So

Weight of water to be evaporated = (LWE) – (LWD) = [% Moisture Content / 100%] x (LWD)

This expression shows the differences in extraction forces in "real world" terms.

Example:

A 60-pound washer extracting terry goods at 106 G’s will result in:

Weight of water to be evaporated = 97% ¸ 100% x 60 lb. = 58.2 lb.

While a 60-pound washer extracting the same load at 235 G’s will result in:

Weight of water to be evaporated = 73% ¸ 100% x 60 lb. = 43.8 lb.

So, there will be (58.2 – 43.8) = 14.4 lbs. Less water to be removed in the drying tumbler or ironer.

Recommendations for Sizing Drain Lines and Drain Trenches

A. Determine the total number of gallons that will be dumped at one time by all present and future washers. Use fill volumes at high levels to get this total. (If only 1 washer will use the trench, use level at overflow.)

NOTE: Always assume worst case, i.e. all washer will drain at the same time from the highest attainable level.

B. Divide the total gallons to drain by 7.48 gallons per cubic foot. The result is the minimum volume of the drain trench in cubic feet.

C. Size the length, width, and depth of the trench to meet the above minimum volume and any other parameters, such as washer foundation width, available floor space, etc.

Example:

Size a trench for two (2) UW60 and (1) UW100.

Fill levels: UW60 = 24 gallons

UW100 = 50 gallons at high level

Total to drain, gallons = 98 = 2 x 24 gallons + 50 gallons

Drain trench volume, cubic feet = 14.0 cu. ft. (98 gallons ¸ 7.48 gallons/cu. ft.)

Foundation width will be 13 feet 6 inches (12 inches + 36 inches + 12 inches + 36 inches + 12 inches + 41-1/2 inches = 13 ft. 5-3/4 inches ~ 13 feet 6 inches.)

Required trench cross section, square feet = 1.04 sq. ft. = (14.0 cu. feet) / (13 feet 6 inches)

A drain trench with a width of 12 inches and a depth of 13 inches will provide 1.08 square feet of cross section.

The drain trench should be 12 inches wide, 13 inches deep and 13 feet 6 inches long. The bottom of the trench should be sloped to 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot of length, toward the outlet. For safety purposes the trench should be covered to support light foot traffic.