Enabling Optimization and Growth of Carbon Fiber Production Through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling Analysis
JEC Europe – March 2014
Carbon Fiber producers are challenged to balance product quality, economics, and safety as the industry grows rapidly due to increased demand. All three of these areas are critical to a stable and sustainable supply of product to meet the expanding requirements of end use markets. To help support this, Harper’s presentation at JEC Europe reported the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate the operation of ovens, LT, and HT furnaces in a Carbon Fiber production line. The results reveal important aspects that Carbon Fiber producers must consider in the physical dimensions, operating techniques, and design features of their production line that are highly impactful to product quality, economics, and safety. Download Now.

Enabling Low Cost Carbon Fiber Composites
Composites Without Borders – November 2013
Presented at Russia’s Composites Without Borders 2013 Conference, Harper discusses a multi-faceted approach required to achieve the reduction in manufacturing costs needed to drive rapid adoption into automotive and industrial markets. Download Now.

Modeling Very High Temperature, Dense Cloud, Free-Fall Heating for Particles with Wide Particle Size Distributions
MS&T – October 2013
This technical presentation discusses a modeling tool to properly size vertical free-fall reactors for the desired target production rate. The model considers heavy particles (acceleration), semi-opaque clouds (efficiency vs. efficacy), collisions between particles in different size (or shape) families (in case sticking is anticipated), and temperature dependent properties of the gases and solids (to account for phase changes). Download Paper Now.  Download Presentation Now.

How Mass Automotive Use Will Affect the Carbon Footprint of Carbon Fiber Production Facilities
Go Carbon Fiber – October 2013
As carbon fiber production rates grow to accommodate demand from expanded aerospace usage and new automotive applications, safety and environmental considerations must become a more strategic element of capacity expansion plans in order to mitigate scale up risk and meet demanding schedules.  Harper International’s carbon fiber expert Dr. Bill Stry presented on several critical safety and environmental factors in this context, in order to assist the industry with knowledge that will benefit its’ continued growth. Download Now.

Critical Oxidation Oven Designs to Enable Research System Goals
Carbon Fiber R&D Workshop – July 2013
Harper discusses the various generations of Oxidation Ovens that can help research programs accelerate and achieve program goals, designed from the inside out to meet objectives of speed in lieu capacity/output, precision in data retrieval, efficiency in usage of minimal precursor to garner maximum results, and flexibility in handling multiple precursor formats. Download Now.

Industry Trends in High Modulus Fiber and UHT Technology
Carbon Fiber R&D Workshop – July 2013
This presentation discusses the chemistry and innate challenges of high modulus fiber, leading into the unique thermal technology used to produce this fiber. UHT systems which are required to operate at temperatures up to 3000° necessitate inventive designs for the materials of construction, sealing technology, and atmosphere control. Download Now.

Designing Research Systems for Ease of Scale Up
Carbon Fiber R&D Workshop – July 2013
Harper discusses the thoughtful decisions required in the configuration of a research scale carbon fiber process system that will ensure a correlation to successful commercial scale production. Many research systems solely consider research program goals, however this objective must also be coupled with the requirement to output relevant data to make a successful stepwise progression to a next level of production capacity while minimizing the number of future process and design tweaks. Download Now.

Key Parameters for Consideration in the Development of a Carbon Fiber Research Line
SAMPE – May 2013
In this paper, Harper reviews process technology advancements in research scale systems to enable flexibility, control and management of the development of alternative carbon fiber precursors. We also cover key design considerations and technology solutions to facilitate most innovative areas of carbon fiber research today, such as fractional tow sizes, carbon nanotube containing carbon fibers, lignin, polyethylene and more. Download now.

Processing Advancements Within Reach for Achieving Significant Reductions in Carbon Fiber Cost of Manufacturing
JEC Europe – March 2013
Harper discusses a different approach to rethinking carbon fiber production unit operations to support reduced environmental losses, reduced purge barriers and reconfiguration to meet achievable targets for future growth. Download now.

Innovations in Oxidation Technology to Enable Market Growth
CompositesWorld Carbon Fiber 2012 – December 2012
This presentation discusses the state of the industry and possible challenges, including efficient and cost effective carbonizing lines, with a focus on oxidation ovens as the highest energy consumer in the process. Download now.

Cost Structure and Process Efficiency for Carbon Fibre Conversion
Low Cost Carbon Fibre Liege 2012 – November 2012
Harper discusses key aspects to Carbon Fiber production cost structure for new market entrants and covers previously presented materials on the top challenges for growth in the Automotive sector. Download now.

Ensuring The Future of Carbon Fiber in Automotive and Beyond
JEC Americas – November 2012
As an invited speaker, Harper discusses top challenges for growth in Carbon Fiber production for the Automotive sector, a historical perspective of capacity expansion to date, and opportunities to realize additional increased capacity. Download now.

The Carbon Fiber Conversion Process and Future Market Potential and Optimizations
Carbon Materials India Conference – November 2012
This presentation gives attendees a strong base-level understanding of the CF conversion process, scales of operation, and explores the role of utilities, influents and effluents at each unit operation. Download now.

Scaling Up Your Thermal Processes Successfully
Presented as a Live Webinar – October 2012
The second in Harper’s series on maximizing the production economics of your thermal processing system, this presentation reviews major technical considerations and ways to mitigate risk when scaling from batch to continuous systems. Download now.

So You Want to Build a Carbon Fibre Production Line?
GoCarbonFibre Conference – 2012
As a part of this workshop, Harper covers considerations for new market entrants, including typical development timelines, scale of operations, and keys to building a strong carbon fibre business. Download now.

Expansion Trends in Carbon Fiber, Challenges to Capturing Growth, and a Path to Achieve Greater Capacities
JEC Asia – June 2012
Harper offers a review of technical challenges that exist to further scale up, but are not insurmountable, and an overview of tools to enable growth and further reduce costs of production, including reduced energy and increased efficiency. Download now.

Designing for Energy Efficiency in Thermal Processing
Presented as a Live Webinar – June 2012
A part of Harper’s series on maximizing the production economics of your thermal processing system, this presentation covers design during scale up from batch to continuous processing as well as solutions for existing installations. Download now.

Energy Efficiency in the Carbon Fiber Conversion Process
JEC Composites Europe – 2012
Harper introduces the Beacon™ Program, an innovative model for carbon fiber manufacturers to evaluate and improve the environmental impact of their process line. Download now and visit harperbeacon.com to learn more.

A ‘Highly’ Flexible Carbon Fiber Research Facility
GO Carbon Fiber / IntertechPira – 2011
Harper reviews progress to date on the installation of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, an innovative approach at bridging the gap between R&D and commercialization of carbon fiber technology. Download now.

Advancements in Carbon Fiber Processing for Research & Development
Composites World Carbon Fiber – 2010
Harper discusses results of developmental endeavors in regards to a new product line available for institutional or university-based research, enabling non-industrial organizations to perform reserach in carbon fiber conversion on a continuous operating basis and providing linear paths to scale up. Download now.

Carbon Fiber Line Capacity – Historical & Future Perspective
GO Carbon Fiber / IntertechPira – 2009
Harper presents results of a cost modeling effort to evaluate potential paths for scale up for the next generation carbon fiber production lines. In additon to evaluating the future of the industry, Harper presents evaluations of current state of the art production lines at 1.75 and 3M wide production widths. Download now.