LC Refiner Use: Operation

1. Press the run button in LabVIEW
2. Check that the set RPM and frequency for the refiner and pump are low in the LabVIEW UI, and that gap is greater than 8 mm.
3. In LabVIEW ensure valve is fully open (at 0%)
4. On the pump VFD, press the SEL button repeatedly until Local / Remote status is shown. Press Local / Remote button to toggle status, ensure it is on Remote
5. Press forward to start the pump in the forward direction. The seal lubrication water solenoid opens and water now begins to flow. The pump is rotating slowly and is now ready to be controlled via LabVIEW.
6. Press the drive start button on the refiner VFD electrical cabinet. Ensure the refiner seal water (green handle) is turned on, and has flow.
7. In LabVIEW turn on refiner at low RPM (~600 RPM)
8. In LabVIEW turn on the pump to desired Hz (23 Hz is good), pump starts slowly before increasing to desired frequency on its own
9. Turn refiner to 800 RPM
10. Recirculate with valve completely open for 5 minutes to mix suspension.
11. Slowly increment refiner speed to desired RPM
12. Slowly change valve position, and, if necessary, pump frequency and refiner RPM to get desired inlet pressure and flow rate. Inlet pressure should be around 14 PSI (as little as 10 PSI can be OK if there is no evidence of cavitation in refiner). See valve control guidelines in the detailed operation guidelines section.
13. If logging continuous data for the trial, start the trial log before changing gap
14. Immediately before readings begin, you can take a sample to measure consistency of later, and use this consistency value in subsequent calculations
15. See gap control guidelines in operating notes below
16. No-load power is read at gap = 2.5 mm, enter this value into appropriate field
17. If desired, an extra person can sit by the VFD and record the RPM off the display at each sample point, as the displayed RPM is slightly different from that read by LabVIEW.
18. Sampling sequence:
    1. Change file name to next sample
    2. Click “Log Data” to start logging, prompt RPM reader to record RPM displayed on VFD
    3. Count  ~5 s (One one thousand, two one thousand… five one thousand)
    4. Click “Log Data” to stop logging
    5. Call to sample taker to collect sample from valve
19. At end of trial, look at no-load power at gap = 2.5 mm to see if it is similar to initial no-load power. Take a data reading if desired.
20. Open gap back up to ~9 mm
21. Turn down refiner RPM to 800
22. Turn off pump first, then slowly increment refiner to 0 RPM.
23. Hit stop on Refiner and Pulp VFDs
24. Turn off refiner seal water

LC Refiner Use: Preparation – Operation – Conclusion – Detailed Guidelines

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