Page 11 - New Cloth Market November 2022 Digital Edition

Reducing Gas Consumption at Drying of Nonwovens

Sustainable Success Story at Spunlace Process
AGES

The Situation
• Production of nonwovens with area weights of 20, 50, 80 g/
m2 for hygiene articles, wet wipes, partly hollow fibers with
high water absorption capacity
• Materials: viscose, PES

• Residual moisture values after AquaJet in range of 20...80 g
H2O/m2
EXECUTIVE P
Spunlace laboratory facility at Center of Excellence in Nonwovens
at STFI (Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V.), Chemnitz
For an energy efficient spunlace production, a measure-
ment and control concept consisting of sensors for re-
<-----
sidual moisture, fabric temperature and exhaust humid-
ity as well as a process control system was required.
The Solution - Pleva Sensors and Controls

The Success: At customer trials the goal of saving energy was achieved
Relevant process optimization steps:
• Lowering drying temperature by running on target moisture
• For viscose, setting to 5-7% residual moisture
• Reducing drying temperature by 40°C (from 100°C to 60°C)
---->Equals gas volume reduction of ~ 20%
Transferability to industrial dryers is given.

NCM-NOVEMBER 2022
11