Schematic of Low Consistency Refining Facility
A schematic illustration of the UBC pilot LC refiner loop system used for these trials is shown in Fig. 1.
Low Consistency Refiner
Low consistency refining is the primary industrial method of improving chemical pulp quality and provides significant energy savings in mechanical pulp production. This new infrastructure created a state-of-the-art experimental low consistency (LC) pulp refining facility at UBC’s Pulp and Paper Centre (PPC).
Figure 1: Low Consistency Refiner
The new LC refining facility utilizes an existing experimental pulp pump loop which consists of two tanks (4 m3), 30 kW pump, two 11 kW agitators, pipes etc. A new 14 inch single-disc LC refiner, which is a single disk 14″ lab refiner but is overhang to 16″, has been donated by AIKAWA/Advanced Fibre Technologies Inc. This size of refiner is ideal for industrially focused, university research. It is large enough to reproduce industrial refining performance while being small enough to enable relatively small amounts of pulp to be used. To make this a state-of-the-art facility, following equipment has been included:
(1) 112kW motor and variable speed drive (VFD) to power the refiner and provide variable speed refining up to 1750 rpm.
(2) Flow meter and transmitter for accurate measurement of the pulp suspension.
(3) Accurate measurement sensors for refiner power, rpm, inlet and outlet pressure, inlet and outlet temperature as well as plate position (gap size).
(4) Computer and A/D system for control and data acquisition.
(5) Control valves to measure and control the feed to and the back pressure to the refiner.
(6) Laboratory dewatering press to remove water from the pulp for disposal.
Canadian Standard Freeness Apparatus
Hand-sheet Making Tools
Hand-sheet Dryer
Hand-sheet Cutter
Paper Properties Measurement Tools
