Improving the energy efficiency of the drying process of fibre materials
Abstract
In the modern textile industry, one of the most energy-consuming and widespread processes is drying, to which fibers, yarns and fabrics are subjected after various operations (impregnation, extraction, dyeing, etc.). A complex heat and mass transfer drying process is carried out at sufficiently high temperatures and is energy-consuming. To reduce the overall energy consumption in textile production, it is necessary to carry out preliminary dehydration of materials before drying, for example, in centrifuges, intensification of drying by physical fields, etc. Modern industrial drying plants for textile materials provide sufficiently fast and uniform drying, increasing the overall efficiency of this stage of production of finished textile products. Energy-efficient solutions for the drying process can reduce the negative impact of the process on the environment. Industrial drying of textile materials is carried out in convective or contact dryers using thermal energy. In convective dryers, the drying agent is air. In contact dryers, water vapor is used to heat the drums. The article discusses important areas of improvement of the technological process and equipment designed for drying fibrous materials. These include: the introduction of me-chanical pre-drying dewatering; the choice of hybrid systems in drum dryers; utilization of condensate and steam in drum dryers; insulation of end panels and the abolition of intermediate drying in drum cylindrical dryers; con-trol of moisture content of the material to prevent drying of the fabric; reduction of dryer downtime by planning the supply of batches of fabric; the use of multiple drying of fabric in drum dryers. The improvement of the drying pro-cess of textile materials is possible with the use of an ultrasonic field, infrared radiation and other intensification methods while ensuring timely maintenance of drying equipment, programmable temperature changes during the drying process.