Miele Tumble Dryer PDR 918 [EL SOM] – 3 AC 480V 50/60HZ, Stainless steel

Eighteen kilograms at a 1:18 load ratio in a 325 litre drum sets the PDR 918 [EL SOM] up as a main laundry dryer rather than a corner machine. With a published programme duration of 23 minutes and specific energy consumption of 0.52 kWh per kilogram, it is sized for frequent short cycles on workwear, linen and PPE aboard.

This model is specified and approved for shipboard use and for offshore installations, and it is built around the 3 AC 440V 50/60HZ electrical connection that large vessels and platforms actually have. At a total connected load of 18.6 kW and a fuse rating of 35 A, it needs a dedicated circuit in the laundry distribution rather than adapting a shore-only 230 V class dryer. Net weight is 173.5 kg with a maximum floor load of 2212 N, figures a naval architect can run against the deck design instead of working from estimates.

Physically, the cabinet stands 1400 mm high by 906 mm wide and 1035 mm deep. The door opens through 180 degrees on a left-hand hinge, with a 520 mm diameter opening that makes bulky items easier to handle at full 18 kg loading. Gross transport dimensions of 1526 × 1090 × 1125 mm belong in the route survey from quay to laundry: where stair cores or watertight doors are tight, those numbers can decide whether the unit goes in before or after bulkheads are closed.

The drying system is exhaust air, with a maximum evaporation capacity of 18.5 litres per hour. Heat dissipation into the room is quoted at 4.5 MJ/h and the emission sound pressure level at the workplace is 50 dB(A) re 20 µPa, so this dryer adds modest thermal and acoustic load to a confined laundry compared with heavier ironers or large washers. Service life is stated at 40000 drying cycles, which helps planners relate the purchase to the vessel’s intended operating profile.

Miele lists concrete loading guidelines that matter on board, where PPE, mops and textiles each have their own wash and dry streams. At the 1:25 load ratio, the PDR 918 takes 12 respirator masks, 2 overalls or 3 over jackets in a cycle. The same machine can handle 1 synthetic duvet or 1 down duvet with 3 synthetic or 3 down pillows, or 295 cloths of 22 g. Floorcare is catered for with 68 cotton mops at 40 cm, 59 cotton mops at 50 cm, 108 microfibre mops at 40 cm, 76 microfibre mops at 50 cm, 186 office mops at 100 g and 144 stairway mops at 150 g. For specialist tasks such as equestrian transport, 3 summer horse blankets can be dried together.

Build and control

• Specified for offshore installations
• Specified and approved for shipboard use
• M Touch Pro control system with programmable residual moisture controlled interface
• Remaining cycle time display
• Communication slot for network modules
• Prepared for a payment system for self-service laundries
• Optical service interface for diagnostics
• WiFi networking
• Connector Box for external systems

The combination of 13–18 kg load capacity, 18.6 kW connected load and 4.5 MJ/h heat dissipation means this dryer fits best in a central laundry on a vessel or platform with a steady flow of linen and workwear. It is not the right choice where the deck area or power budget only allows for the smaller Little Giants-class machines; in that case a lower-capacity unit with reduced footprint and load may be more appropriate. Ordered under Miele article number 52918013SOM / material number 11722690.