Using Advanced Instrumentation for a Successful Gap Former Conversion from Newsprint/LWC to Corrugating Medium, PaperCon 2016  

This paper documents the scientific methodology utilized to study the important drainage characteristics on a proposed 100% recycled corrugating medium sheet, including desired sheet properties, on a gap former machine equipped with Cristini microwave consistency measurement instruments, on a machine with historical experience of lwc and newsprint. Curves were developed in 3 zones, each with a microwave instrument head installed, consisting of 5 total dewatering elements on this gap former configuration. These were drainage curves generated as vacuum in each zone was varied. Consideration was given to which zones required the highest drive loads. The amount of dewatering in each zone was then compared to the desired sheet properties, particularly burst and tensile generation. 

A spread sheet was prepared that summarized total drainage, as measured by consistency going into the press section, and compared those results to amp loadings for the drive and the resultant sheet properties. The most efficient dewatering from a drive load perspective, came from the suction roll in the forming zone, being a rotational vs. a stationary vacuum element. As the loads in each of the 3 zones were varied, it was observed that the overall level of final forming consistency varied considerably.

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