OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - A researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is experimenting with a quick way to dry clothes that doesn't use a lot of energy.
Ayyoub Momen told WPLN-FM his dryer uses an ultrasonic humidifier to turn water into steam with high-frequency vibrations.
Momen said the ultrasonic humidifier takes a piece of fabric from wet to dry in about 14 seconds, something that would take 20 to 40 minutes to do with a heat dryer.
Momen is still working on the idea, but he already has an agreement with GE Appliances if the tests are successful.
Because typical clothes dryers use so much electricity, Momen says the ultrasonic dryer has the potential to reduce total U.S. energy consumption by one percent.