Your logo

Improving Brown Stock Washing by On-line Measurements Mill Investigations

Contents
1. The purpose of brown stock washing 2. Refractometer measurements
Your logo

3. Real-time refractometer measurement results for washer performance optimization 4. Implications of process and mill levels

Target
Series of investigations to find solutions, which will minimize washing loss and consume less energy, water and chemicals.
Pulp Washing in Bleaching

Brownstock Washing
Digester Post-digester Post O2-stage Post screening

Rationale
1. There is a need to improve brown stock washing and its monitoring, for economic and environmental reasons. 2. Conventional on-line and traditional lab sampling methods do not reveal all process variations. Better real time monitoring tools are needed.

Basic Concepts
The reason for brown stock washing Washing before and after Oxygen delignification The parameters, which describe the washing performance and its effectiveness: wash loss and dilution factor Wash loss evaluation

Refractometer
Indicates total dissolved solids in solution, suitable for all concentrations Measures the washable liquid substances concentration exactly Detects organic materials with large molecular size, like lignin Not influenced by COD caused by methanol

Refractometer
Not influenced by suspended solids, bubbles or fibres In-line real-time measurement
Short response time suitable for control Mounts directly in pulp line

Principle
Light source Prism Optical image

Critical angle

Process medium

Arrangement

Process Analyses
A software tool Wedge was used for washing result analyses and for calculating the different factors, which define the washing line performance The Wedge was used to calculate liquor balances and dilution factors in the washing line, as well as to calculate E-value
ln 1 E10 DF y1 y 2 L1 x1 y 2 DF ln 1 9

Experiments
Experiments were divided into three parts: 1. Washing in the digester 2. Washing before oxygen delignification 3. Effects of washing loss on oxygen delignification

Digester washing
Bypass was decreased and the amount of wash liquor fed into the digester was increased (into the central distribution chamber). The same amount of filtrate from the wash circulation was extracted.
900,0 0,8 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0,1 24.7.2009 19:45 0 25.7.2009 4:00

Washing loss, (kgDS/BDt)

840,0 820,0 800,0 780,0 760,0 740,0 720,0 700,0 24.7.2009 11:30

Washing loss from digester

Extraction from wash circulation

Extraction from wash circulation, (t/BDt)

880,0 860,0

Digester washing
The digesters washing result can be increased by utilising radial displacement washing.
11,50 10,50

DS-content, (%)

9,50 8,50 7,50 6,50 24.7.2009 11:31 Liquor in blow

24.7.2009 19:46 Wash liquor to digester

25.7.2009 4:01 Wash liquor to PDs

Pressure Diffusers Feed Consistency Effect

With a higher feed consistency, the washing efficiency is increased.
1,8 1,6 1,4

E10

1,2 1,0 0,8 0,6 0,4 9,0 9,5 10,0 10,5 11,0 11,5 12,0 Feed consistency, (%)

Effect of the Downward Velocity of the Pressure Diffuser Screen

The downward velocity of the screen notably affects the pressure diffusers washing result In literature: The optimum velocity ratio should be slightly higher than one being from 1.1 to 1.3.
Optimum range
760

Optimum range Poor wash results

Washing loss, (kgDS/BDt)
740 720 700 680 660 640 0,110

6 5 4

E10

3 2 1 0 0,110

0,115

0,120

0,125

0,130

0,135

0,115 0,120 0,125 0,130 Downward velocity of the screen, (m/s)

0,135

Downward velocity of the screen, (m/s)

Effect of Dilution Ratio on E10

The dilution ratio notably affects the pressure diffusers washing efficiency
7 6 5

E10

4 3 2 1 0 0,90

0,92

0,94

0,96 Dilution ratio

0,98

1,00

1,02

Dilution ratio

wash filtrate (out ), l / s wash liquor (in), l / s

Effects of Washing Loss in Oxygen Delignification

The oxygen delignification response was highly affected by the amount of washing loss This is due to the oxygen being consumed in the oxidation reactions of the washing loss
Optimum range
34

Process difficulties

Kappa reduction in oxygen delignification, (%)

32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Washing loss to oxygen delignification, (kgDS/BDt)

Effect of Washing Loss in Oxygen Reactors Temperature

Temperature in the oxygen reactor correlates with the amount of washing loss
96,0

Temperature in oxygen reactor, (C)

95,0 94,0 93,0 92,0 91,0 90,0 89,0 88,0 100 200 300 400 500

Washing loss to oxygen delignification, (kgDS/BDt)

Conclusions

By using refractometer measurements, TDS

TDS changes also had a clear effect on
washing loss in the brown stock lines oxygen delignification performance

changes in the incoming washer flows (liquid and pulp suspension) can be detected immediately and reliably

By using refractometers and data-analyses

tools, it is possible to discover the black spots of the washing line and to evaluate the washing result continuously, thus improving the washing efficiency

Implications

Digester and diffuser washing can be

improved by utilising refractometer measurement results

Real-time measurements provide whole

new possibilities for implementing higher level process optimization, e.g. throughout the entire washing department

Refractometer

Thank You

Thank you for your attention! Any questions?