Improving Dryer Performance: Converting from Rotating Siphons to Stationary Siphons with Turbulence Bars, 1998 Engineering Conference Proceedings

In many existing dryers, Siphons are typically Rotating. As speeds increase, the differential pressure required to evacuate the condensate rises. As a direct result of increased pressure differential, blow through rates increase as well, which may require larger piping and new or resized thermocompressors. Undersized piping could result in high pipe wear, steam dumping, wasted energy and/or wasted capital investment and inadequate condensate removal leading to vibration and impacting sheet quality. At operating speeds in excess of 2,500 fpm, Rotating Siphon systems can lead to wasting profuse amounts of energy needlessly, simultaneously impacting runnability of the machine.

The alternative to this historical thinking is the Stationary Siphon system proven in over 200 high-speed paper machine installations worldwide. This combination is a reliable, energy efficient and low maintenance way to remove condensate while optimizing the dryer drainage system.

This technical article includes a discussion of one high-speed machine that was converted from Rotating to Stationary Siphons with Turbulence Bars and presents data supporting (1) the before and after drying capacity rates and (2) dryer surface temperatures.