Textile Non-woven Fabric

Integrated Process Control and Air Handling Optimization for Spunbond Non-Woven Lines

Update: 2026-02-10

Problem Definition

Industry Challenges

  • 01 High specific energy consumption (kWh/kg) due to inefficient process air attenuation and heating systems
  • 02 maintaining consistent fiber diameter and web uniformity at high production speeds (>600 m/min)
  • 03 Managing polymer rheology variations affecting filament formation

Specific Pain Points

  • Significant Cross-Direction (CD) basis weight profile variation exceeding ±3%
  • Frequent filament breakage leading to 'drips' and subsequent line stoppages
  • Inability to dynamically adjust quench air velocity based on polymer throughput changes

Current State Analysis

"Existing quench air systems rely on manual damper controls with slow response times Open-loop extruder pressure control results in surging during ramp-up Lack of integrated safety torque off (STO) features on main winder drives poses safety risks during threading"

Performance Impact

Oee Improvement
Increase to ≥ 92% due to reduced web breaks
Line Speed Capability
Stable operation at 800 m/min
Specific Energy Consumption
Reduction of ≥ 15% (kWh/kg of polymer)
Basis Weight Uniformity (Cv%)
≤ 1.2% across web width
Beam Width 3200 mm
Extruder Capacity Up to 1200 kg/h
Control Cycle Time < 10ms for tension loops
Filament Denier Range 1.5 - 2.5 dpf (denier per filament)
Engineering Verification

This solution has been validated by Atlamech Engineering based on the following standards:

View Details

Technical Scope

  • Retrofit of Quench Air system with VFD-controlled high-efficiency centrifugal fans
  • Implementation of closed-loop GSM control using inline Beta-gauge feedback to extruder pumps
  • Upgrade of winder tension control system with load cell feedback and AC Vector drives

Compliance Standards

ISO 9092:2019 (Nonwovens - Vocabulary)
EN 60204-1:2018 (Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment)
ISO 13849-1 (Safety-related parts of control systems)

Implementation Strategy

Phase 1 (Week 1-2): On-site audit of air flow dynamics and energy baseline measurement. Phase 2 (Week 3-6): Engineering design, drive sizing, and control cabinet fabrication. Phase 3 (Week 7): Shutdown for installation of VFDs, sensors, and PLC integration. Phase 4 (Week 8): Cold commissioning and I/O checks. Phase 5 (Week 9): Hot commissioning, PID tuning for tension/pressure loops, and final acceptance testing.
Key Deliverables
Updated P&ID and Electrical Schematics (EPLAN)
PLC/HMI Control Logic Source Code
Functional Safety Assessment Report (SIL/PL determination)
Commissioning Report verifying CV% and Energy metrics

Consultation Notes

Process Air Dynamics

The stability of the quench air is critical for filament cooling and attenuation. Design must ensure laminar flow within the quench chamber to prevent filament fluttering. Rectifiers and honeycombs must be inspected for blockage or deformation.

Tension Control & Winding

For high-speed non-woven lines, surface winding with gap control is preferred to prevent roll telescoping. Tension zones must be isolated using S-wrap bridles. The control loop should utilize a calculated diameter reference augmented by load cell feedback.

Safety Considerations

Given the high inertia of calender rolls and winders, Safe Stop 1 (SS1) is required. Standard VFD STO (Safe Torque Off) is insufficient for high-inertia loads without controlled braking ramps. Mechanical braking redundancy must be verified.

Polymer Filtration

Ensure continuous screen changers are integrated into the pressure control loop to prevent pressure spikes during screen indexing.

Infrastructure Taxonomy

Regenerative AC Vector Drives (Common DC Bus)
High-Precision Gear Pumps for Polymer Metering
Inline Beta/X-Ray Transmission Gauges
Differential Pressure Transmitters (0-5000 Pa range)
Safety PLC with Distributed I/O (SIL3 rated)
Typical Application Patterns: Spunbond (S) and Meltblown (M) composite lines (SMS/SMMS) for hygiene applications High-speed geotextile production lines requiring high tensile strength

Engineering Relation Summary

Technical Components

VFD-controlled centrifugal fans, Inline Beta-gauge feedback, Safe Stop 1 (SS1) function

Engineering Constraints

Control Cycle Time < 10ms

Core Optimization Logic

Calculated diameter reference logic

Implementation Evidence Summary

Project Brief

Spunbond Non-Woven Line Process Control and Quench Air Optimization

System Scale
3200 mm beam width spunbond line with a maximum extruder capacity of 1200 kg/h, producing filaments in the 1.5 - 2.5 denier per filament (dpf) range.
Operating Conditions
Continuous production environment requiring stable operation at line speeds up to 800 m/min. Existing quench air systems utilized manual damper controls with slow response times.
Implementation Constraints
Open-loop extruder pressure control caused surging during ramp-up. The main winder drives lacked integrated Safe Torque Off (STO) functionality, necessitating compliance upgrades to EN 60204-1:2018.

Technical Knowledge Cluster

Spunbond Non-Woven Process Control and Aerodynamics

Technical analysis of integrated automation and air handling systems in spunbond manufacturing, targeting improvements in filament uniformity, tensile strength, and energy efficiency through closed-loop control.

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