Textile humidification and how Rotronic Instruments products are involved
24/05/2012 Rotronic Instruments (UK)
Textiles in generalIn the days when cavemen ruled the world, people wore animal fur to protect themselves from the elements.
Nowadays, we are a very long way beyond that point and a wide range of natural as well as synthetic fibres have replaced animal fur.
The modern textile industry that we know today, grew out of the industrial revolution in the 18th Century as the mass production of clothing became a mainstream industry. To handle the huge demand for textiles today, sophisticated machines have a high production rate. Up to one square metre of denim per minute for example.
To get the most out of these high performance spinning, twisting & weaving machines a constant environment and well conditioned fibres are absolutely crucial.
That is where precision humidity and temperature measurement plays a key role.
Facts & figures:
China has the biggest textile industry directly followed by India. In 2010 China's textile industry exported 25 billion dollars worth of textiles.
The Indian textile industry has accelerated to annual growth of 9-10%.
The biggest producer of cotton is China with 34 million bales followed by India with 24 million bales.
Australia's merino sheep provide most of the world's demand for wool.
Why the need to measure humidity?
Controlling humidity in the textile industry is essential for many reasons. A very dry or unstable environment will have the following negative effects on products and processes:
Static electricity
Dry materials create greater friction and are more likely to generate static electricity. Higher humidity reduces static problems and makes materials more manageable allowing faster machine speeds.
Standard moisture regain
Dry air causes lower moisture within the product and this contributes to poor quality and lower productivity. Humidification ensures the materials are kept at optimum regain and are less prone to breakage, heating and friction effects, they handle better, have fewer imperfections, are more uniform and feel better.
Yarn strength
Yarns with low moisture content are weaker, thinner, more brittle and less elastic.
Fabric shrinkage
Low humidity causes fabric shrinkage. Maintained and stable humidity permits greater reliability in cutting and fitting during garment creation and contributes to the maintenance of specifications where dimensions are important, such as in the carpet industry.
Product weight
Textile weights are standardised at 60 %rh and 20 °C. Maintaining humidity also ensures low product weights don't lead to lowered profits.
Dust
Humidification reduces fly and micro dust, providing a healthier and more comfortable working environment.
What solution can Rotronic offer?
At the heart of the humidity measurement is the Rotronic capacitive sensor: HygroMer IN-1.
The AirChip3000 is the brains: combining an ASIC, a micro-controller and an EE-PROM memory. All products with this logo contain an AirChip3000.
AirChip3000 advantages:
* Relative humidity, temperature and dew point outputs
* Can store 2,000 points
* Sensor self-test function And much, much more...
Rotronic products:
Humidity and temperature probes:
* HC2-IM Series -100...200 °C, 0...100 %rh, Ø15 mm, metal probe ±0.8 %rh and ±0.1 K...
* HC2-IC Series -100...200 °C, 0...100 %rh, Ø15 mm, PPS probe ±0.8 %rh and ±0.1 K...
* HC2-S -50...100 °C, 0...100 %rh, Ø15 mm, ±0.8 %rh and ±0.1 K...
Transmitters:
* HF5 series For interchangeable probes, 2x2 or 3/4 wire configuration, Various analogue and digital outputs, Display, All psychrometric calculations available...
* HF7 series
Stainless steel probe, -100...200 °C,3/4 wire configuration, Various analogue outputs, Display...
Handheld instruments:
* HP22For interchangeable probes, High accuracy relative humidity and temperature measurement, Dew point and other psychrometric calculations, Display
* HP23 Same functionality as HP22 plus: two interchangeable probe inputs, 20,000 data point memory with real-time clock, Data capture of 250 data points each for up to 8 defined locations
Customer benefits:
Accuracy:
Choosing Rotronic gives you the best accuracy on the market.
Precise humidity measurements enables the HVAC controller to maintain a constant and stable climate. Due to the fast reaction time of our sensor, the humidifier or dehumidifier only operates for the minimum time needed to reach the desired environment. In addition to a stable (i.e. not overshooting) system, your energy consumption to maintain the room climate will decrease significantly saving money.
Communication: Networking with Rotronic is an easy affair! With all of the different communication methods available, from analogue output signals to RS-485, Wireless or Ethernet RJ-45, Rotronic can interface with your building management system.
Long-term stability:
With long-term sensor drift of under 1%rh per year (depending on the environment), Rotronic offers the possibility to "plug & play": install the device and leave it. We would however recommend periodic spot-checks between annual calibrations.
Calibration:
In order to calibrate humidity measurement devices, we offer a UKAS accredited calibration service with certificate. We can supply a portable humidity and temperature generator, the HygroGen as well as unsaturated salts and calibration devices.
For comprehensive information on humidity and temperature measurements contact:
Rotronic Instruments (UK) Ltd
Web: www.rotronic.co.uk
Tel: 01293 571000
Email: instruments@rotronic.co.uk
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