Reducing Energy Costs through Closed Loop Refiner Control, 2011 PaperCon Conference

Please Note: This document will be available in PDF format in the "My Electronic Documents" link on the home page once your order has been completed. Please make sure you have the latest version of Acrobat Reader. Click on the Acrobat Reader icon to check for the latest version, it’s FREE. To print a hardcopy of a PDF file correctly you must have a postscript printer. If you are not sure if your printer is a postscript printer please refer to your owner’s manual.

Purchase of electronic (downloadable) documents made at www.tappi.org by credit cards, followed by instant download CANNOT be cancelled. We do not offer refunds on electronic download documents.

Energy costs are one of the key challenges facing the pulp and paper industry today. One area available to target energy reduction in the papermaking process is refiner optimization.

It is well understood that in order to reach and improve final paper quality, it is necessary to treat fibres by refining. Depending upon the paper type, refining can be a large energy consuming process. Successfully optimizing the refining process can help reduce papermaking costs, achieve the desired final paper quality and allow for increased production.

One method to improve the refining process is through closed-loop control; typically this is done by implementing “specific energy control”. This control strategy targets the specific refining energy based on production throughput and an energy set point. Good consistency control of the stock going into the refiners is paramount to achieve the desired results with this control strategy.