by Brianna Crandall — July 18, 2018 — The new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer from global technology company Dyson allows users to both wash and dry hands at the sink, with even less noise than its predecessor.
In 1907, paper towels were introduced to washrooms, notes Dyson, then the electric hand dryer made its first appearance in 1948. In 2006 Dyson engineers invented the hygienic, efficient Airblade hand dryer.
But even with an efficient hand dryer, water dripping on the washroom floor can be a concern as users transition from the sink to the hand-drying area, points out Dyson. And excessive sound from the washroom can be an issue. With these challenges in mind, Dyson engineers set out to re-engineer the existing Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryer, to reduce loudness while maintaining a fast dry time.
Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer allows users to both wash and dry hands at the sink, with even less noise than its predecessor. Image courtesy Dyson
The result is the new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer. The single touchless unit combines a tap and a hand dryer that dries hands in 14 seconds with HEPA-filtered air. The multifunction design helps to save space in the washroom and reduces the problem of water dripping on the floor as users move from a handwashing area to a separate hand drying station.
Up to 39% quieter
Dyson engineers achieved the loudness reduction, compared to its predecessor, by re-tuning the Dyson digital motor V4, which powers all Dyson Airblade hand dryers. The re-tuned 1000W motor draws in less air overall, reducing the sound generated by turbulence and air moving quickly through narrow spaces.
Dyson engineers also optimized slot blade geometry, reducing the air apertures from 0.8mm to 0.55mm to maintain high air velocity at exit, despite the reduced volume of air passing through the machine. The re-engineered air apertures are also shaped to help reduce the sound associated with high pressure air mixing with lower pressure ambient air. Lastly, a Helmholtz cavity inside the motor bucket cancels out high-pitched motor tones and improves sound quality.
Lower CO2 emissions
The new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer reportedly produces 3.6g of carbon dioxide (CO2) per dry, compared to its predecessor’s 4g. Dyson Airblade hand dryers produce up to 79% less CO2 than paper towels and some other hand dryers.
Uses 52% less water
The new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer’s flow is 1.9 l/min compared to its predecessor’s 4 l/min. The water only activates when a user’s hands are underneath.
Product information
The new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer is available in Short, Tall and Wall variants. All Dyson Airblade hand dryers have HEPA filters that capture 99.95% of particles the size of bacteria (0. 3 microns) from the washroom air.
The new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer comes with a five-year guarantee and is certified by Quiet Mark, tested and approved by The Noise Abatement Society.
Measuring sound
The original Dyson Airblade Tap hand dryer measured 87dB, while the new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer measures 80-81dB(A). The decibel scale is non-linear and difficult to correlate with what the human ear perceives. For example, +3dB(A) is double the sound power, while +10dB(A) is ten times the sound power. Therefore, we’ve declared the new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer’s sound reduction in loudness, as a linear scale and representative of what your ear actually hears. The loudness of the new Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry hand dryer has been reduced by up to 39%. This means it sounds up to 39% quieter at your ear, explains the company.
Motors expertise
The Dyson digital motor V4 is said to be small, light and powerful. And instead of old-fashioned carbon brushes, it uses digital pulse technology to spin up to three times faster than a conventional motor. Dyson has been researching and developing motor technology for over a decade. To date, Dyson has 934 patents and patents pending for its motor technology globally.
For more information about the Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry combination hand dryer, visit the company’s website.
