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Spindle of light: solar-powered pressurised spinning for sustainable fibre production.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Spindle of light: solar-powered pressurised spinning for sustainable fibre production.
Authors: Aydogdu, Mehmet Onur1 (AUTHOR), Edirisinghe, Mohan1 (AUTHOR) m.edirisinghe@ucl.ac.uk
Source: Applied Energy. Sep2026, Vol. 419, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Solar technology, Photovoltaic power generation, Manufacturing industries, Rotational motion, Greenhouse gas mitigation, Sustainability, Energy consumption
Abstract: A sustainable alternative to current fibre manufacturing methods is proposed, featuring a portable, solar-powered, pressurised spinning system that integrates a smart battery and a photovoltaic charger, thereby avoiding grid dependence and reducing energy usage. Decoupling motor operation from the grid with an intelligent battery buffer that maximises thermodynamic efficiency, a comparative analysis of the innovation with the traditional grid-powered pressurised spinning system is conducted. By converting solar energy into mechanical work, the system enables decentralised manufacturing of soft materials. This off-grid innovation enables decentralised manufacturing of soft functional materials, resulting in a 31.8% reduction in energy usage compared to traditional pressurised spinning methods, consuming 21 W to maintain 11,000 rpm, thereby defining a new era in fibre manufacturing with ultra-low energy consumption of 0.175 Wh per 30-s cycle. Furthermore, the system demonstrated a maximum battery runtime of 4.29 h and maintained the fibre yield around 70%. This results in zero direct operational CO₂ emissions and zero operational energy costs, as the device is powered entirely by photovoltaic input. • Portable and modular system targets decentralised and point-of-care manufacturing. • The energy needed to run the device is entirely harvested from solar energy. • Direct operational energy cost and CO 2 emissions during production are zeroed. • Fibre quality and yield are maintained while power consumption is lowered. • Fibre production under fully off-grid conditions for pressurised spinning is enabled without the use of toxic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:A sustainable alternative to current fibre manufacturing methods is proposed, featuring a portable, solar-powered, pressurised spinning system that integrates a smart battery and a photovoltaic charger, thereby avoiding grid dependence and reducing energy usage. Decoupling motor operation from the grid with an intelligent battery buffer that maximises thermodynamic efficiency, a comparative analysis of the innovation with the traditional grid-powered pressurised spinning system is conducted. By converting solar energy into mechanical work, the system enables decentralised manufacturing of soft materials. This off-grid innovation enables decentralised manufacturing of soft functional materials, resulting in a 31.8% reduction in energy usage compared to traditional pressurised spinning methods, consuming 21 W to maintain 11,000 rpm, thereby defining a new era in fibre manufacturing with ultra-low energy consumption of 0.175 Wh per 30-s cycle. Furthermore, the system demonstrated a maximum battery runtime of 4.29 h and maintained the fibre yield around 70%. This results in zero direct operational CO₂ emissions and zero operational energy costs, as the device is powered entirely by photovoltaic input. • Portable and modular system targets decentralised and point-of-care manufacturing. • The energy needed to run the device is entirely harvested from solar energy. • Direct operational energy cost and CO 2 emissions during production are zeroed. • Fibre quality and yield are maintained while power consumption is lowered. • Fibre production under fully off-grid conditions for pressurised spinning is enabled without the use of toxic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:03062619
DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128062