Energy and exergy analyses of finishing process in cotton textile production

Abstract

The finishing process is a major energy-consuming procedure in the textile industry because it uses a large amount of thermal energy in the form of steam and heat. This study conducts energetic and exergetic analyses on the finishing process in cotton textile production based on actual operational data. Energy and exergy efficiencies are determined to assess their performance and formulate strategies for improvements. The lowest energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained in singeing. The largest irreversibility is associated with the hot oil boiler, followed by washing in mercerising and washing II in desizing. The greatest energy losses are linked to washing in mercerising and stenter. As such, immediate efforts to improve the process should be focused on these procedures. Most of the thermal energy consumed in the process ends up as waste heat. Technologies of reusing waste heat for water heating should, therefore, be developed.