Numerical Study on Refiner Flows: Determination of Refining Efficiency and Pulp Quality By Mixing Analogy, 2007 International Mechanical Pulping Conference

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A refiner is a hydraulic machine, in which complex flow conditions and a heat transfer process are combined with a very delicate wood fiber processing to produce pulp of a required quality. It is therefore extremely important to understand the flow conditions inside the refiner to control the process and to produce the desired type of pulp. A refining process resembles a mixing process, since both aim to produce as homogeneous a suspension or mixture as possible. This is why the mixing theory was adopted for the pulp quality analysis.

In this paper, we have used numerical simulation to analyze refining flows and pulp quality parameters. Simulations clearly showed that mixing theory can be adopted to refining intensity and efficiency analysis. By using the analysis, the refiner’s operating parameters and segment geometry can be connected to produced pulp quality parameters, and the process can be fine-tuned to work as efficiently as possible, thereby, saving considerable energy while still producing standard quality pulp.