Implementation in Modelica of a Virtual-lab for Testing Washing Machine Designs

The implementation of a virtual-lab for testing designs of drum-type washing machines is discussed. It is applied to the analysis of an industrial washing machine (120 Kg load capacity) manufactured by Fagor Industrial. The virtual-lab has been completely programmed using Modelica language. The washing machine dynamic model has been developed using MultiBody Modelica library. The interactive visual interface (i.e., the virtual-lab view) has been implemented using VirtualLabBuilder Modelica library. The virtual-lab supports interactive changes in the position and properties of the springs and the dampers, the properties of the inner and outer drums, and the mass and position of the load. Simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The virtual-lab has demonstrated to be a valuable design and analysis tool, allowing the user: (1) to get insight into the system behavior; (2) to tune the system parameters in order to improve the dynamic behavior; and (3) to simulate special events, such as a component breakage.