alkaline pulping
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ALKALINE PULPING,
WASHING, SCREENING ANDCLEANING PRINCIPLES
Alkaline pulping fundamentals
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Alkaline Pulping is the separation of fibers from rawmaterials by dissolution of lignin
Alkali attacks cellulose/hemicellulose & lignin.
The attack is faster on lignin than carbohydrates.
As pulping reaction proceeds lignin concentrationdecrease
More carbohydrate fraction is attacked leading topulp degradation & reduction in strength properties.
Complete removal of lignin during pulping is notattempted
It would give a highly degraded pulp unsuitable forpaper making.
Pulping to a target kappa number is attempted wherethe attack on carbohydrate function is minimal.
Further removal of lignin is attempted duringbleaching with more selective bleaching agents
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Carbohydrates in the alkaline liquor areattacked by peeling reaction.
Removal of end glucose unit by breakdownof 1,4 glucoside/xyloside linkage
This is due to active aldehydic grouppresent in one end unit of cellulose chain.
Removal of one unit, generates anotheractive end unit and removal processcontinues till such time a stopping reactiontake place in which the active aldehydicgroup is converted to non reactive group.
This take place when about 300 glucoseunits have been removed
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Plot of alkali concentration vs. time
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Removal of lignin during pine kraft cooks
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Change of alkali concentration, lignin & hemi-
cellulose removal as a function of cooking time
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Effect of Temperature
Rate of reaction varies with temperature and time.
The extent of reaction - kdt = H
The rate of reaction follows Arrehenious equation
k = Ae-Ea/RT
ln k = ln A Ea/RT
ln k100= ln A = Ea/373R
ln k/k100= ln kr= Ea/R[1/373 1/T ]
At Ea= 32 kcal mole, kr = relative rate constant
ln kr= - 16113/T + 43.2
The values of krhas been evaluated at differenttemperatures. H factor has been defined as
H = krdt = Extent of reaction
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H factor
It is a useful parameter
It can indicate the change in reaction time if there isa small change in the cooking temperature
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Chip Impregnation
The pulping liquor must be uniformlydistributed in the chip before cookingtemperature is reached.
The transport of the liquid is throughdiffusion, because the chips are pre steamed
& the cavities are full with water. Diffusion is a slow process
Diffusion improves by raising thetemperature, or increasing impregnation time
or increasing hydraulic pressure At pH 13 or above, the rate of diffusion is
same in all the directions, longitudinal, radialor tangential directions
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So chip thickness is the controlling factor forchip impregnation.
But as the cooking liquor enters the chips, itreacts and pH drops.
If the pH drops below 12 the rate of diffusiondrops sharply and liquor may not be able to
reach the center of the chips. So thinner (3-6 mm) chips are preferred.
Increase of temperature by 10oC nearlydoubles (2.2) the rate of delignification butrate of impregnation increases by 2%
(dependent upon temperature in oK). Hard wood require 4mm and soft woods
7mm thick chips.
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Chip Damage Chipping damages the fibers at the ends.
Many fibers are cut and are shortened bychipper knife.
But most damaging effect is due to wedgeshaped blade causing localized distortions of
the wood structure. The damaged parts are more susceptible to
acid hydrolyses than alkaline liquors.
Sulphite pulps give 15% reduction in
strength where as in kraft process thereduction is minimal.
Crushing parallel to fiber axis is moredetrimental than perpendicular to the grain.
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Active alkali=NaOH+Na2S
Effective alkali=NaOH+1/2Na2
S
Sulphidity=NaOH/(NaOH+Na2S)d
All quantities expressed as Na2O
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Pulping Variables
Alkali (NaOH + Na2S) dose : 16% in case of softwoods and 12% in
case of hardwood expressed as Na2O
Unbleached screened yield 50-55%
However pulp yield depends upon the
chemical composition of raw material
i.e. hollocellulose content
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Pattern of chemical consumption
The results are of a study with soda pulping
of spruce with 19% alkali as Na2O. 12.5% was consumed in pulping wood to
give lignin content of 2.8% based on woodand at a yield of 44%.
Out of 12.5%, 2.3-3.0% was consumed fordissolution of lignin
1.3% was consumed for hydrolysis of formyland acetyl groups.
Of the remaining 8.2-8.9% most of it wasneutralized by acidic degradation products ofcarbohydrates but a small part was retainedon the pulp by absorption
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About 20% is used for attacking lignin
70-75% for attacking carbohydrates and
neutralization of degradation products 3-4% residual alkali is maintained to
prevent re-precipitation of dissolvedlignin on fibers.
Since the alkali concentration is highand reduces with reaction time.
So sufficient alkali must be added so
that a minimum residual alkaliconcentration of 6-8 gpl is maintainedto prevent precipitation of lignin
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During the initial part of the cook, i.e. raisingof temperature carbohydrates are attacked.
Lignin starts getting attacked at 1300C Rate of reaction increases with increase in
temperature.
By splitting alkali charge i.e
lower alkali charge at the beginning
second dose added near the cookingtemperature
some alkali charge at the end of the cook Pulp of lower kappa number, high viscosity
and improved yield can be obtained.
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Wood to liquor ratio
Wood liquor ratio of about 3.5-4.1 for soft
woods, 2.8 for hard woods is maintained
A lower bath ratio is preferred
It reduces steam demand in evaporation
section of the chemical recovery Lowering the bath ratio increases
alkali concentration
rate of delignificationdegradation of cellulose
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Effect of chemical to wood ratio on
chemical consumption and pulp yield
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The brightness of bleached pulp (CEHDED) asa function of the effective alkali during the cook
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Kappa number and yield for the differentcharges of effective alkali and different times
of maximum temperature (1700C) in cooking
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Summary of impact of increased effective
alkali charge on pulp quality
Xylan content is reduced
Glucomannan content is increased.
Brightness of unbleached pulp increased.
Longer beating time is required to reach
given breaking length or drainage resistance
Maximum breaking length is reduced.
Tear factor at a given breaking length isincreased.
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Effect of sulphidity on pulp composition and yield
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Effect of sulphidity during kraft pulping of southern yellow pine
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Influence of sulphide charge onstrength-yield
relationship (constant EA 15% on wood as Na2O)
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Influence of effective alkali andsulphide charges on pulp
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Kraft Pulp Modification Modifications for improving pulp yield.
Major reduction is loss of hemicelluloses and somedissolution of cellulose.
This loss is by peeling reaction involving the activeend unit containing aldehyde group.
Modification of aldehydic group by
oxidation to carboxylic
or reduction to hydroxy OH
the peeling reaction will stop
dissolution of carbohydrate fraction reduces, giving
higher pulp yield. This is done by using polysulphide or anthraquinine
where the CHO group is partially converted to COOHreducing peeling reaction giving an improvement inyield of 3-5%
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Mechanism of anthraquinone action
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Effect of yield on strength properties
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Effect of anthaquinone on mixed southern hardwoods
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Alkaline Digester Systems Two types of digesters :Batch & Continuous.
Batch digesters arelow cost, easy to operate and maintain
responds well to raw material variation
gives a pulp with high quality variations
have low energy efficiency,give a weaker pulp due to hot blow
emits higher amount of odourous mercaptan
Continuous digesters give pulp of
consistent & superior quality (stronger pulp)
Give low emissions and has high energyefficiency but are expensive.
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Batch digestor Batch digesters are spherical or cylindrical
shape, direct heating or in directly heating
type, stationary or tumbling type.
A stationary cylindrical digester withindirectly heating is used at many places.
In indirect heating, heating of liquor is doneoutside the digester using heat exchangers
Heated liquor is circulated in digester givinguniform temperature and liquor composition
In direct heating type steam gets condenseddiluting the pulping liquor. Tumbling actiondo not give uniform temperature profile inthe digester giving a non uniform cooking
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Batch digestion system- stationary,
cylindrical and indirect heating type
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Chips are added from top along with hotblack liquor
When full, lid is closed, heating is done bycirculating hot liquor through heatexchangers
Before reaching to a cooking temperature of165-170 oC, digester is vented for a short
time to allow air in the chips to escape Air acts as a barrier to heat transfer and also
gives false pressure.
The temperature (165-1700C) in the digester
corresponds to saturated steam pressure 6-7kg/cm2
If air is there in the digester the temperatureis lower
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After cooking the chips, the digester is blown
by connecting to blow tank at 1 atm pressure
The feed is tangentially at the top, which
feeds the cooked chips into the blow tank
and gives circular motion. Because of centrifugal forces the gases are
separated from chips & liquor, which falls
under gravity and collects in the blow tank
Blow Tank
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Flat bottom blow tank with side entering
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Cone bottom blow tank
Condenser system
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Condenser system
Hot vapors pass through a condenser wherethese are cooled giving condensate
containing dissolved organics imparting highBOD
Non condensable gasses escape to theatmosphere which contains mercaptansresponsible for odor.
The hot gases are cooled in the condensersystem giving only hot water.
This heat is not recovered.
Energy requirements are high or energyefficiency is low.
Blowing is done at 1650C, the fibers are softand some rupture in the internal structuretake place, lowering the strength properties
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Surface condenser system
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Jet condenser system
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Cold blow in a batch digester In this process, after the cooking is over, the heat of
the black liquor is used to heat the white liquor andraising the temperature of the digester
Some steam is needed to raise temperature ofdigestor to cooking temperature and maintainingcooking temperature during cooking period
Cold black liquor from the previous cook is pumpedin to the digestor to displace the hot black liquor
Energy (steam) requirements are lower by 40%
Temperature of the chips goes down below 1000C,atmospheric blowing using air compressor is done
Damage to the chips is reduced,vapours are greatlyreduced requiring small condenser systemsignificantly reduced emissions of non condensablegases mercaptans, sulphides etc
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Low energy cooking sequence
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RDH Process
After the cooking is over, the black liquor at
130-140oC is pumped in to the digester Displaced black liquor is collected in the tank
Cold black liquor at 70-80oC is fed to thedigester, hot black liquor of 130-140oC is
displaced Displaced liquor is collected in another tank
which is used for heating of chips and liquor
Temperature of chips now falls to 80-90oC
Digester is now blown at 80-90
o
C using airblow
For the new batch the chips along with hot
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p gblack liquor is added
This liquor is displaced by hot black liquor at130 140oC to which white liquor is added
This raises temperature of chips to130- 140oC This liquor is then replaced by black liquor at
150-160oC along with steam to raisetemperature of the digester to cooking
temperature The process has high steam economy,
low TRS emissions and gives a stronger pulpwith a lower kappa number
The pulp kappa number is lower due to indigester washing (displacement) whichreduces the bleach chemical demand
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Wash Loss in a pulp mill
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Reducing wash loss by installing a
press at the end of a washing
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Pulp Washing Blown pulp is screened to remove uncooked/
undercooked chips, knots etc. from pulpsuspension
Pulp is washed to remove dissolved solidsparticularly black liquor which containsdissolved lignin and will contribute towardsresidual lignin content kappa number of pulp
This will enhance the bleach chemicalrequirements in bleaching, increasing bleachchemical costs, degrade pulp and increase
environment pollution Direct counter current washing (4-5 stages)
is generally used
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Washing Principles The principle of washing is displacement
A pulp mat is formed on the washing equipment The mat contains black liquor. This liquor is
displaced by wash liquor and washes pulp
Ideally wash liquor required for washing must be
equal to liquor present with pulp In real system because of turbulence and
movement of organics due to diffusion mixing atinterface take place, more wash liquor is neededto wash the pulp than present with washed pulp
DF is equal to difference in outgoing liquor andincoming liquor with pulp or difference in washliquor used and liquor with outgoing pulp
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Increasing DF will improve the washing butthis additional water will have to beevaporated in the chemical recovery
Low values of DF are preferred 2.2-2.4 Washing improved by increasing number of
wash equipment
Washing efficiency is ratio of dissolved
solids removed to actually present with pulp. It is expressed as ratio or as percent
Dissolved solids contain two components:inorganic sodium and organics -
carbohydrates, lignin etc expressed as COD Both quantities are used in estimating
washing efficiency
I th fi t b ti ti di
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In the first case by estimating sodiumcontent in washed and unwashed pulp
This gives good results when washing
efficiencies are moderate Sodium is present in two forms free and
bound
Free sodium can be removed by washing ,
bound sodium remain attached with pulp (0.51.0 meq/g)
Other approach is to measure COD of liquoraccompanying washed and unwashed pulp
COD is a measure of organic content
Washing efficiency of an equipment/systemcan be expressed by two methods
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Washing means adding wash liquor and removing/displacing equal
volume of the dirty liquor with the unwashed pulp
If the pulp suspension is diluted by adding wash liquor, concentration
of dissolved solids in the pulp is reduced indicating washing.
In this case no dissolved has been removed and thus no washing
DR gives correct results only when inlet and outlet pulp consistencies
in wash equipment s same
Nordon Method
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Nordon Method
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W = Liquor weight of inlet pulp / Liquor weight of outgoing liquor
R = Wash Liquor used / Liquor with outgoing washed
pulp Values of both W and R are always greater than 1
If more than one wash equipments are used in series(Direct counter current washing) each equipment willhave a value of R represented as R1, R2, R3etc
These values may be same or different. Each wash equipment has E value as E1, E2EN
Identical wash equipments E1, E2ENwill be same
Wash Yield = Y = 1 - (W-1)/[ WR1E1R2
E2 .RnEn1]
This equation can be used to know what will be theeffect on washing if the number of wash equipmentsare changed, a change in DF, change of inlet/out CYor a wash equipment is replaced by other washequipment or a different wash equipment is addedto the existing set of wash equipments
A i l hi t ill i l d ddi h
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A single washing step will include adding wash
liquor in the pulp mixing it and removing the
equivalent volume of liquor from pulp
The same process is repeated a number of times A curve is plotted between dissolved solids in the
pulp as a function of number of washing stages
This curve is used to evaluate the E value of
particular equipment E value is defined as the number of washing steps
needed to give the same wash result as obtained
from a given wash equipment
The E value depends upon inlet and outlet pulpconsistencies
E values of some of equipments are given in Table
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E value of different wash equipments
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Filter equivalent Filter equivalent = E value of equipment/
E value of filter Filter equivalent indicates that the washing
efficiency of a equipment will be equal to thatobtained from such number of filters
Filter equivalent of radial washer is 2indicating that it will give the same washresult as obtained from 2 vacuum fillers
Examples -- Single/double stage vacuum
filter, Radial washer (Atmospheric diffuser),Pressurized diffuser, Wash press, Beltwasher, Displacement washing in Kamyrdigester or in batch digesters etc
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Screening & Cleaning Principles Pulp contains two types of impurities dissolved
solids which are removed by washing and the othersuspended solids shives, sand etc which areremoved by screening & cleaning
For screening of the pulp, screens with circular/slotted perforations are used
If there is a sizeable difference in the sizes of fibers& impurities, these can be separated by screening
Fibers being small are able to pass through screenopening and bigger under cooked material like knotsare retained as done in case of Johnson screen
Johnson screen is an example of positive screeningwhen the separation is taking place based ondifference in size of fibers and impurities.
Fibers & shives have similar fiber dimension
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Fibers & shives have similar fiber dimension
Both pass through or retained on screenplate
Major difference is to pass or retain onscreen plate
Screening is a statistical process.
A high probability for fibers to pass through
screen Impurity has a low probability to pass
through and it is retained on the screen plateand is rejected.
Pulp slurry is divided into accepts andrejects
In accepts there is lower amount ofimpurities in comparison to inlet pulp
So the pulp has become clean
One of major parameter influencing
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One of major parameter influencing
screening operation is difference in flexibility
of fiber & impurity
A shive is a group or bundle of fiber, has
higher stiffness
It can not easily bend, flexibility is small
A screen plate is a cylinder shell with holes The pulp stock is rotated
Fib d hi li th l ith
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Fibers and shives align themselves with
rotary flow
Water flow through the perforations,fibers being flexible, bend easily and
pass through perforations where as
shives are stiff, do not bend easily andare not able to pass through the
perforations of screen plate and are thus
retained on screen plate.
So accept fraction will have lower
proportion of shives, giving a clean pulp.
T t d t d ib
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Two parameters are used to describe ascreen
Screened Efficiency(%) = Impuritiesremoved/ Impurities originally present
Over screening reject rate(%) =Weight of Pulp rejected/ Initial weight of pulp
Usual values of screening efficiency are 70-80% and over screening is 10-30%.
Screening efficiency increases withdecreasing size of the perforations andcleanliness of pulp
Value is higher at higher value of Reject ratebut total amount of pulp rejected is increased
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Hydraulic load vs. pulp consistency
Capacity of the screen depends flow rate (hydraulicload) across the screen plate
Increasing pulp consistency decreases flow rate
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Kraft pulp fluidization energy vs. pulp consistency
For screening, pulp fibers must be present as individual fibresor as separated fibers at the time it reaches screen plate
Above 0.5% Cy, fibers start forming net works, strength ofnetworks increasing with Cy
So these net works are to be broken by providing agitationalenergy fiberizing energy.
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For screening, pulp fibers must be present asindividual fibres or as separated fibers when thesereach screen plate
Above 0.5% Cy, fibers start forming net works,strength of networks increasing with Cy
So these net works are to be broken by providingagitational energy fiberizing energy
This energy increases with Cy. Above 4% Cy fiberizing energy starts rising sharply
and agitational energy may not be sufficient to breaknetworks.
Above 4% Cy, the flow rate becomes small, so
capacity becomes small This indicates operating consistency range of
screens as 1-4%.
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Time for reflocculation vs. pulp consistency
Time of re-flocculation decreases with pulp consistency.
This time should be greater than the time required to reach thescreen platefrom the point of agitation of pulp
I t f ti l t
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Impact of operational parameters
Raising the pulp temperature may make the impurity
more flexible and reduce the screening efficiency Screens work with screening efficiency on a
percentage basis
The purity of the accept will be directly influenced by
the amount of debris in the inject If pressure drop increases, a large portion of small
impurities will be forced through the openings of
screen plate thus lowering the screening efficiency
If the inject flow rate is constant and the pressuredrop across the screen starts to increase, indicating
that the inlet consistency has increased or screen
plate has started to plug
Types
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Types Flat screens
Rotary Screens
Centrifugal Screens
Pressure Screens commonly used
MC Screens becoming popular
Pressure screens are compact (small size), require
unattended operation and have high capacity Screens work at lower consistency and hence
require pumping of large volumes of water
Pressure screens are used as coarse and fine screenas well as knotter screens depending upon size and
type of perforation MC screens work at medium consistency, do not
require lowering of consistency and require muchwater handling
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Pressure Screen
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Examples of flow patterns in pressure screen
S i f il k l t
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Sweeping foil keeps pressure screen plate open
Combination of screens
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Combination of screensScreening in more stages Double screening
Double screening give high cleanliness but yield is quite low.
Reject screening give high pulp yield but cleanliness has decreased
as compared to a single screen
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Mixing of accepts of different purity
Cascade co pling Reject screening in
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Cascade coupling Reject screening in
in two stages two stages
Cascading of screens, the accept from a secondary screen is mixedwith inject of the first screen,
This will improve the cleanliness of the pulp from screening system
Optimum screening system
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Optimum screening system
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Centricleaners
Centricleaners (centrifugal cleaners)
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Centricleaners (centrifugal cleaners)
are used to remove heavier matter like
sand from pulp suspension Inverted centricleaners are used to
remove lighter impurities.
The use of centricleaners has declinedas these works at very low consistency
0.5-1.0% and is considered to be
expensive in operation due to pumpingof very large quantities of water