Flow Analysis of a Stenter Machine

Abstract

The Stenter machine is used for the drying of woven and knitted fabrics. It is a very versatile and common machine in textile finishing. Almost every open width textile fabric is treated on Stenters during its textile processing. For maintaining universal use, the Stenter range is usually standing separately, not in a continuous line with other machines. Four types of processes are done on Stenter which are drying, heat setting, finishing and coating. The Stenter machine usually consists of 8-10 chamber and each chamber contains 2-blowers, each blower provided in seperate casing and each casing contains 12 nozzles, i.e total 24 nozzles are provided in each chamber (12 facing down and 12 facing up). In each nozzle there is 48 openings, each of which are supplying the air to the fabric.

In the present study, CFD analysis of fan house was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, CFD analysis of Fan B with casing was done; in the second stage CFD analysis Fan A with casing was done; finally in the third stage, CFD analysis of Fan B with nozzles were performed.

Results were presented in terms of pressure and velocity contours. The CFD stimulation results were compared with experiments and CFD results provided by M/s InspirOn engg. Pvt Ltd, Odhav, Ahmedabad, and found in satisfactory agreement.