Nederlands
The rotor spinning process for fibre production
Everdien Kolk

Site of the project:
Teijin Twaron
Velperweg 76
Arnhem
The Netherlands

This project has been motivated by the 48th European Study Group SWI 2004 "Mathematics with Industry" 15- 19 March 2004, Delft, The Netherlands

start of the project: February 2005

In May 2005 the Interim Thesis has been appeared and a presentation has been given. The Master project has been finished in November 2005. For working address etc. we refer to our alumnipage.

Summary of the master project:
At Teijin Twaron in Arnhem new ways of producing fibres are being developed. One of the interesting new techniques is "The Rotor Spinning Process". See figure below.



In this process we consider a polymer-filled rotating circular disc (cylinder) with tiny holes (the rotor). The polymer is, due to inner pressure and the centrifugal force, pressed through the holes to the outside. Each hole 'produces' a so-called spinning line consisting of liquid polymer. The velocity of the particles in the rotating spinning lines increases with the distance to the rotor. The spinning lines are 'catched' by another stagnant, concentric, circular cylinder (the coagulator). At the coagulator the velocity of the particles in the spinning lines has to be equal but opposite to the rotational velocity. On the inner wall of the coagulator the liquid polymer solidifies to filaments by means of a cold water layer and is transported further.

The purpose of of the master project is to verify an existing model on the basis of momentum and mass balances. Thereafter a stable numerical or analytical solution method should be given. Depending on the results the model can be improved or extended. The purpose of the modelling in some more detail reads:
  1. Try to determine the situation (process and geometry) in which a continuous filament can be generated. Breaking of filaments may cause problems in the use of the material if the length of the filament is below a critical length.
  2. Try to determine the circumstances (process and geometry) in which the length of a broken filament can be determined beforehand. In this case, fibres can, in principle, be produced.
  3. Determine the effect of the temperature, rotor speed, etc. in the present operating situation in order to achieve a robust production process

Contact information: Kees Vuik

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