Textile machine with energy recovery unit

Abstract

To provide a textile machine with high energy efficiency.SOLUTION: There is provided a textile machine comprising a plurality of work-units for processing fibers and / or threads. The textile machine comprises: at least one central air-flowing mechanism and / or at least one air-flowing mechanism provided in an individual working unit; and an energy recovery unit 12. The energy recovery unit has a rotating element 3 that has a high energy efficiency, and is technically connectable and can be driven by an air flow that flows through an inflow and / or outflow conduits of the mechanism, and the rotating element is connected to a generator for power generation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a textile machine having a plurality of working units for processing fibres and / or yarns, comprising at least one central air-through mechanism and / or at least one air-through mechanism arranged at the individual working units.Furthermore, the present invention relates to an energy recovery unit for a textile machine having a plurality of working units for processing fibres and / or yarns.

[0002] Within the scope of the present invention, a textile machine is understood to mean a machine which is used in the different production steps in producing yarn from fibers, for example a textile machine which produces a traverse package, for example an open-end rotor spinning machine, an air spinning machine or an automatic traverse winder.

[0003] Depending on the intended use, such textile machines have a large number of different mechanisms, which are assigned different tasks within the scope of different processes in the manufacture of yarn. Many of these mechanisms use airflow for their function. These mechanisms through which airflow can be arranged not only in a central mechanism arranged in the textile machine, but also in the individual operating units. Such mechanisms in the operating units can be, for example, spinning devices that require a spinning vacuum or suction nozzles that can pull back the yarn from the traverse package and provide it for re-spinning. The suction devices for generating the required vacuum are often configured as central mechanisms or assigned to at least one group of operating units. The compressed air source is also often a central mechanism that supplies compressed air to, for example, cleaning nozzles or spinning nozzles in the operating units.

[0004] To generate positive or negative pressure in air-driven systems, significant energy is required, which is only partially utilized during the functioning process. A large part of the energy converted into compressed air or negative pressure is lost without being utilized.

[0005] Given this, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide a textile machine which has high energy efficiency.

[0006] The invention solves this problem by a textile machine with an energy recovery unit having the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the textile machine are specified in claims 2-10.

[0007] The present invention solves this problem by a textile machine with a plurality of working units for processing fibres and / or yarns, comprising at least one central air-passed mechanism and / or at least one air-passed mechanism arranged at the individual working units, in which an energy recovery unit is arranged in the inlet and / or outlet ducts of the mechanism.

[0008] The textile machine according to the invention is distinguished by the use of an energy recovery unit, which uses the unused air flows supplied to the individual mechanisms and discharged from these mechanisms to generate electrical energy.Compared to conventional textile machines without an energy recovery unit, the textile machine according to the invention has a higher efficiency.The electrical energy can be fed back, for example, by corresponding electrical components of the textile machine or can be used to charge an energy store.

[0009] The energy recovery unit of a textile machine according to the invention is characterized by a rotating element which is flow-technically connectable to the inlet and / or outlet ducts of an air-flow-driven mechanism of the textile machine or of a working unit and which can be driven by the air flow, and which is connected to a generator for generating electricity.

[0010] The energy recovery unit is configured to be connected to the inlet and / or outlet conduits of the mechanism through which air flows. The air flow through the mechanism drives a rotating element of the energy recovery unit. Through connection of the rotating element to a generator, the rotational motion of the rotating element is utilized to generate electricity.

[0011] The energy recovery unit of the textile machine according to the invention can be arranged, depending on the respective mechanism of the textile machine, either in the inlet line or in the outlet line, where a negative or positive pressure is created, which generates an air flow. The air flow is firstly utilized for the functioning of the mechanism. Furthermore, the air flow passing through the mechanism drives a rotating element connected to a generator, which serves thus to convert the unused air flow into electrical energy. This electrical energy can, for example, be fed back to the textile machine, fed into a central enterprise network or utilized to charge an energy store.

[0012] A textile machine according to the invention equipped with an energy recovery unit thus makes it possible to convert the unused kinetic energy of the air flow into usable energy, thus increasing the efficiency of a correspondingly configured textile machine.

[0013] The arrangement of the rotating element in the inlet and / or outlet lines of the device, for example the suction device, is fundamentally optional. However, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the energy recovery unit has a housing body that can be connected to the outlet line of the device, which housing body has an increased flow cross section from the housing inlet to the housing outlet. According to this embodiment of the invention, the housing body of the energy recovery unit is configured as a diffuser, in which the open cross section of the housing body through which the air flow is passed is increased in the flow direction. This allows an increased flow velocity and a reduced static pressure in a defined area of ​​the flow cross section, so that the air flow can be converted particularly efficiently into electrical energy via the rotating element in a defined area of ​​the flow cross section. Furthermore, the use of a housing body additionally ensures that the influence of the rotating element on the air flow through the device is reduced, as a result of the particularly advantageous embodiment in which the rotating element is arranged in the area of ​​the housing outlet, so that malfunctions of the device due to the arrangement of the energy recovery unit can be particularly reliably avoided.

[0014] The orientation of the rotation axis of the rotating element, which may be essentially any element that can be rotated by the air flow, for example an impeller, can be basically freely selected. This makes it possible to arrange the rotating element in the air flow so that its rotation axis is oriented perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing body. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is specified that the rotation axis of the rotating element extends in a plane that does not extend perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing body. In this case, it is particularly advantageously specified that the rotation axis is arranged so that it can be automatically or controlled oriented via the air flow.

[0015] This embodiment of the invention ensures that the rotating element is optimally oriented with respect to the air flow occurring in the housing body, particularly when using a housing body with an expanded flow cross section. This additionally increases the efficiency of the energy recovery via a generator connected to the rotating element. Automatic alignment of the rotating shaft with respect to the air flow can be achieved, for example, by a correspondingly flexible support of the rotating shaft in the housing body. Controlled alignment of the rotating shaft can be achieved by an actuating drive in conjunction with a sensor.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is specified that the housing body has a guide metal plate which divides the air flow through the housing body, which extends in the area between the housing inlet and the housing outlet, and the rotating element is arranged in the area between the guide metal plate and one housing wall of the housing body. According to this embodiment of the invention, by means of the guide metal plate, a defined part of the air flow provided by the mechanism is used to drive the rotating element. This embodiment of the invention particularly reliably ensures that the function of the air-passed mechanism of the textile machine and / or the working unit is not impaired by the energy recovery. The guide metal plate, which is preferably arranged parallel to one housing wall of the housing body, may be directly adjacent to the housing inlet and the housing outlet or may extend only over a part of the area between the housing inlet and the housing outlet.

[0017] According to another configuration of the invention, it is specified that the housing wall has an opening and that the rotating element is arranged outside the housing body in the area of ​​the opening so that the air flow passing through the housing body generates a suction flow which drives the rotating element.

[0018] According to this configuration of the invention, the rotating element is not arranged in the direct air flow, but on the outside in the area of ​​the housing opening, so that it is driven by a suction flow which is generated in the area of ​​the housing opening on the basis of the air flowing through the housing. This configuration of the invention allows good access to the rotating element when maintenance or repair work is required. Furthermore, via an advantageously specific adjustment of the opening size, the suction flow acting on the rotating element can be easily varied and thus the energy recovery can be adjusted. This configuration of the invention also particularly reliably ensures that the energy recovery unit does not impair the function of the mechanism through which the air is passed.

[0019] According to one refinement of the invention, it is specified that the energy recovery unit or the housing body of the energy recovery unit is designed to be integrated into the supply line, in particular into the compressed air line leading to the mechanism. With this configuration of the invention, the conversion of the compressed air flow into electrical energy takes place already before the compressed air is fed to the air-passed mechanism of the textile machine and / or the individual working units. This configuration of the invention ensures a particularly high efficiency during energy recovery. In this case, the level of energy recovery and thus the proportion of compressed air used for energy recovery can be defined via the adjustable connection of the rotating element to the generator. This configuration of the invention therefore makes it possible to reduce the energy recovery via the rotating element in the event of an increased demand for compressed air, thereby ensuring reliable functioning of the air-passed mechanism driven by compressed air.

[0020] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, in the case of the integration of an energy recovery unit in the supply line according to one of the refinements of the invention, it is specified that the energy recovery unit or the housing body of the energy recovery unit is arranged in the area of ​​the outlet of the compressed air generation unit, in particular in the area of ​​the outlet of the volute housing of the fan wheel which generates the compressed air. A corresponding arrangement particularly reliably ensures that the compressed air generation by the fan wheel is not influenced by the energy recovery unit, so that the supply to the mechanism through which the air is passed is particularly reliably ensured.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the textile machine according to the invention, the inlet and / or outlet ducts of the mechanism, in which the energy recovery unit is arranged, are configured as ducts extending in the longitudinal direction of the textile machine. Such ducts are basically known and may extend over the entire length of the textile machine. The ducts may preferably be the inlet or outlet ducts of a central mechanism, in particular a suction device or a compressed air generating unit. The machine-length ducts can supply the mechanisms of the working units with underpressure or compressed air. The ducts are particularly suitable for the arrangement of one or more energy recovery units, since they have a particularly large air throughput.

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an energy recovery unit with a rotating element formed as an impeller; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a housing body for placement in the outlet duct of an air-flow mechanism; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the housing body of FIG. 2 with the rotating elements of the energy recovery unit; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a housing body with a rotating element. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a housing body with a rotating element. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of energy recovery units in an inlet line.

[0024] 1 shows a schematic diagram of an energy recovery unit 12 with a rotating element formed as an impeller 3 arranged on a frame body 2. The frame body 2 of this energy recovery unit 12 can be arranged, for example, on a support frame 4 of a housing body 1a shown in FIG. 2. This support frame 4 can be connected via a housing inlet 5 to an outlet line (also not shown) of an air-passed device (not shown). The open cross section of the housing body 1a is widened starting from the housing inlet 5 up to the housing outlet 6.

[0025] The housing body 1a functions as a diffuser due to its widened cross section from the housing inlet 5 to the housing outlet 6. This reduces the flow velocity of the air through it and increases the static pressure, which allows a particularly reliable drive of a rotating element 3 (see FIG. 3), which is preferably arranged in the region of the housing outlet 6. The rotational energy of this rotating element 3 is converted via a generator (not shown) connected to the rotating element 3 into optionally usable electrical energy.

[0026] 4 shows another embodiment of the housing body 1b, which has a lateral housing opening 8. The air flow passing through the housing body 1b from the housing inlet 5 to the housing outlet 6 generates a suction flow outside the housing body 1b in the region of the housing opening 8 which drives an impeller 3 of an energy recovery unit 12 arranged there.

[0027] In a further configuration of the housing body 1c, the latter has a guide metal plate 7 which runs from the housing outlet 6 towards the housing inlet 5. Via the guide metal plate 7, part of the air flow passing through the housing body 1c is split off and supplied to the energy recovery unit 12 between the guide metal plate 7 and the housing wall (see FIG. 5).

[0028] In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the impeller 3 of the energy recovery unit 12 is arranged inside an inlet line 10 leading from a compressed air source 9 to a compressed air driven mechanism 11. The compressed air source 9 can for example comprise a volute housing, in the outlet region of which the energy recovery unit 12 is arranged. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1a, 1b, 1c Housing body 2 Frame body 3 Rotating elements / impellers 4 Support frame 5 Housing entrance 6 Housing outlet 7 Guide metal sheet 8 Housing opening 9. Compressed Air Source 10 Inflow pipe 11 Mechanism 12 Energy Recovery Unit

Claims

1. A textile machine comprising a plurality of work units for processing fibers and / or yarns, wherein the textile machine comprises at least one central air-passing mechanism (11) and / or at least one air-passing mechanism (11) disposed in each of the work units, A textile machine comprising an energy recovery unit (12) connected to an inlet pipe (10) and / or outlet pipe of the mechanism, wherein the energy recovery unit (12) has a rotating element (3) that can be driven by airflow, and the rotating element (3) is connected to a generator for power generation.

2. The textile machine according to claim 1, wherein the energy recovery unit (12) comprises a housing body (1a, 1b, 1c) connected to the outflow pipeline of the mechanism (11), and the housing body (1a, 1b, 1c) has a flow cross-section that is widened from the housing inlet (5) to the housing outlet (6).

3. The textile machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating element (3) is located in the area of ​​the housing outlet (6).

4. The textile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the rotating element (3) extends in a plane oriented in directions perpendicular and parallel to the flow direction.

5. The textile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the rotating element (3) is arranged to be automatically or controlledly adjusted in direction with respect to the airflow.

6. The textile machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the housing body (1c) has a guide metal plate (7) that extends in the region between the housing inlet (5) and the housing outlet (6) and divides the airflow passing through the housing body (1c), and the rotating element (3) is positioned in the region between the guide metal plate (7) and one housing wall.

7. The textile machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that one housing wall has a housing opening (8), and the rotating element (3) is positioned outside the housing body (1b) in the region of the housing opening (8) such that the airflow passing through the housing body (1b) generates a suction flow that drives the rotating element (3).

8. The textile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy recovery unit (12) is configured to be incorporated into the inlet pipe (10), particularly in the compressed air pipe leading to the mechanism (11).

9. The textile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy recovery unit (12) is located in the outlet region of the compressed air generating unit, particularly in the outlet region of the vortex housing of the fan wheel that generates compressed air.

10. The textile machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inlet pipe (10) and / or outlet pipe of the mechanism, in which the energy recovery unit (12) is located, are formed as passages extending in the longitudinal direction of the textile machine.

Images