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Optimizing refiner operation with statistical modelling
Author(s) -
Broderick G.,
Lanovette R.,
Valade J. L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450750114
Subject(s) - pulp (tooth) , process engineering , specific energy , refining (metallurgy) , pulp and paper industry , consistency (knowledge bases) , environmental science , yield (engineering) , computer science , mathematics , materials science , engineering , composite material , metallurgy , dentistry , artificial intelligence , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract A series of pilot scale refining trials has been conducted to study the impact of refining conditions on the energy efficiency of the process and on the handsheet quality of a chemimechanical pulp. Black spruce ( Picea mariana ) chips, cooked to a yield of 90% and a sulphonate content of 1.4%, were refined in two atmospheric stages. Plate gap and consistency in each stage was controlled according to a central composite design. Statistical models of refiner performance were constructed from these experimental results and a non‐linear optimization of process conditions was conducted. Optimization results were verified with plant trials which indicate that increasing the ratio of specific energy applied in the first stage leads to a reduction of approximately 15% in the total energy required. Inversely, this strategy can be used to obtain significant increases in pulp quality for a given energy input. The results also indicate that the largest proportion of energy must be applied to the fibres at high consistency.