Abstract: A deflaker plate for a deflaker machine may include a substrate and a plurality of teeth extending from the substrate, wherein a specified number of teeth of the plurality of teeth have a serrated face.

Abstract: A plate segment includes a substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; rows of teeth protruding from the front side of the substrate, wherein each of the rows are arranged along an arc extending from one side of the plate segment to an opposite side of the plate segment. In at least one of the rows of teeth, adjacent teeth are joined by a bridge spanning a gap between the adjacent teeth. The bridge is elevated above the front side of the substrate such that the bridge is separated from the front side by an open space in the gap.

Abstract: A plate segment includes: a substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; and rows of teeth protruding from the front side of the substrate. The rows of teeth are arranged along an arc extending from a first lateral side of the plate segment to an opposite lateral side of the plate segment. A first tooth in the rows of teeth has a first tooth face. A buttress extends from the first tooth face to a face of an adjacent tooth. The buttress has a concave profile at a height above the substrate less than a full height of the teeth.

Abstract: A plate segment includes a substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured to be mounted to a support disc of a disperser; rows of teeth protruding from the front side of the substrate, wherein each of the rows are arranged along an arc extending from one side of the plate segment to an opposite side of the plate segment. In at least one of the rows of teeth, adjacent teeth are joined by a bridge spanning a gap between the adjacent teeth. The bridge is elevated above the front side of the substrate such that the bridge is separated from the front side by an open space in the gap.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to refiner plate segments having feeding grooves having a first width at a first end of the feeding groove, wherein the first end of the feeding groove is disposed closer to an inner diameter of the refiner plate segment, and a second end of the feeding groove having a second width, wherein the second end of the feeding groove is disposed closer to the outer diameter than the first end and wherein the second width is less than the first width. It is believed that the increased width of the feeding groove at the inner diameter, coupled with the change in angle or curve of the feed groove from a feeding angle to a holding angle such that the centrifugal force applied to the lignocellulosic material surpasses the plugging force, allows for improved hydraulic capacity over the refiner plate segment without reducing refining efficiency.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, that optimize operation of manufacturing plants by adjusting the operation of manufacturing devices in manufacturing plants based on an assessment of their operations. Methods may include obtaining, from a first set of sensors, vibration data specifying vibration in a manufacturing device of a manufacturing plant. The vibration data may be processed to identify a vibration signature. Based on the vibration signature and known vibration signatures, a first operational state of the manufacturing device may be determined. One or more operational characteristics of the manufacturing device may be adjusted based on the first operational state of the manufacturing device, to achieve a second operational state.

Abstract: A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor, a sensor configured to record process data from the recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition if the process data of the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sensor is an image capture device. In certain exemplary embodiments, the disruptor assembly can be adjusted remotely.

Abstract: A damper for a furnace, the damper including an air port damper body engaged to an air port opening of a furnace; and at least one velocity plate in hinged engagement to the air port damper body so that an air controlling end surface of the at least one velocity plate is substantially aligned to a wall of the furnace at the air port opening when the at least one velocity plate is in a fully opened position.

Abstract: A trunnion roller thrust measurement assembly includes a trunnion roller assembly and a thrust measurement assembly. The trunnion roller assembly includes a roller configured to provide rotary support of a rotary drum; a shaft attached to the roller, the shaft being aligned with an axis of rotation of the roller; and a bearing housing configured support an end of the shaft. The thrust measurement assembly includes a bearing housing end cap attachable to an end of the bearing housing; and one or more thrust sensors disposed on the bearing housing end cap. The one or more thrust sensors are configured to sense a thrust force exerted on the bearing housing end cap by an axial displacement of the shaft. An adjustment mechanism is utilized to skew the roller based on the sensed thrust force.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing material processing. In one aspect, a method includes collecting, from a set of sensors, a set of current manufacturing conditions. Based on the set of current manufacturing conditions collected from the sensors, a set of current qualities of a material currently being processed by manufacturing equipment is determined. A baseline production measure for processing the material according to the set of current qualities is obtained. A candidate set of manufacturing conditions that provide an improved production measure relative to the baseline production measure is determined. A set of candidate qualities for the material produced under the candidate set of manufacturing conditions is determined. A visualization that presents both of the set of candidate qualities of the material and the set of current qualities of the material currently being processed is generated.

Abstract: Conical inlet refiner elements for a mechanical refiner include: a conical stator element disposed between a feedstock inlet to the mechanical refiner and primary refining plates of the mechanical refiner; and a conical rotor element disposed between the feedstock inlet to the mechanical refiner and the primary refining plates, the conical rotor element configured to form an initial refining gap with the conical stator element. The conical stator element and the conical rotor element are configured to cause a radial change greater than zero but less than 90 degrees in a direction of an axial feedstock flow path through the initial refining gap at a feedstock inlet to a primary refining gap formed between the primary refining plates, where the primary refining gap formed between the primary refining plates lies in a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the axial feedstock flow path.

Abstract: A method for controlling a slice flow of a slurry having two or more component slurries through a headbox for a paper making machine includes, inputting a wire speed of the paper making machine; determining a jet velocity setpoint based on the wire speed; determining a header pressure setpoint for two or more headers to generate the jet velocity determined by the jet velocity setpoint, each header providing one of the two or more component slurries to the headbox; and controlling the slice flow by: generating a first speed command to a first slurry pump to generate a header pressure determined by the header pressure setpoint in a first header; and generating a second speed command to a second slurry pump to generate the header pressure determined by the header pressure setpoint in a second header.

Abstract: A disperser apparatus includes: a first disperser assembly configured to rotate around an axis; and a second disperser assembly facing the first disperser assembly. The first and second disperser assemblies each have a plurality of disperser-refiner plate segments annularly arranged. Each of the disperser-refiner plate segments includes a substrate having teeth extending from the substrate and arranged in rows disposed at radial intervals defining a dispersion section. Each tooth has a tooth height; and walls; and edges at junctions of adjacent walls. Each of the disperser-refiner plate segments further includes a refining section of refiner bars extending from the substrate, wherein adjacent refiner bars and the substrate define a groove between the adjacent refiner bars; and a plurality transition bars disposed between radially outermost teeth and the refining section.

Abstract: A refiner disc including: a refining zone on a front face of the disc; refining bars in the refining zone; and grooves between the bars, wherein each of the grooves include a rotational inducement element arranged on at least one sidewall of the groove and the rotational inducement element is configured to impart at helical flow of feed material flowing through the groove.

Abstract: A removable filter plate for a rotary drum filter that reduces instances of welding to secure the filter plate to the drum and obviates the need for cap strips. An exemplary filter plate assembly in accordance with this disclosure comprises a filter plate and an engagement assembly, wherein the engager of the engagement assembly is configured to extend in a lateral direction toward the leading end or the trailing end of the filter plate, wherein an extended engager having an engagement end disposed under a shelf of the adjacent top hat mounting assembly defines a closed position, and wherein a retracted engager defines an open position.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus for a counter-rotating mechanical refiner configured to mitigate the problems of feeding variations, load variations, high energy consumption due to poor feeding efficiency, low pulp quality, and reduced throughput capacity by positioning a flinger proximate to a rotor gap side of a first rotor, wherein the first rotor further comprises an inlet extending through the first rotor, such that a portion of the operational flinger deflects feed material from the inlet into the refiner gap while rotating in the direction of the first rotor.

Abstract: Refiner plate elements for a conical mechanical refiner include: a rotor plate element including at least one rotor plate segment having a feedstock inlet opening disposed at a first end of the rotor plate segment; and a rotor plate segment refining area disposed between the feedstock inlet opening and a second end of the rotor plate segment. The refiner plate elements may further include: a stator plate element including at least one stator plate segment having a stator plate segment refining area; and first and second attaching rails configured to couple to the stator plate segment to a stator support frame of the conical mechanical refiner. A separation between the first attaching rail and the second attaching rail that is not covered by the stator plate segment is configured to form a feedstock outlet opening.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training an industrial plant controller that controls operation of an industrial plant. In one aspect, a method comprises generating training data using an industrial plant simulation model that simulates operation of the industrial plant. The industrial plant controller is trained by a reinforcement learning technique using the training data. The industrial plant controller is configured to process an input comprising a state vector characterizing a state of the industrial plant in accordance with a plurality of industrial plant controller parameters to generate an action selection policy output that defines a control action to be performed to control the operation of the industrial plant.

Abstract: A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor, a sensor configured to record process data from the recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition if the process data of the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sensor is an image capture device. In certain exemplary embodiments, the disruptor assembly can be adjusted remotely.

Abstract: The problem of inconsistent steam penetration of a fibrous sheet is solved by a steam box having a steam header, a diffuser housing disposed within the steam header, wherein walls disposed in the diffuser housing divide an inside of the diffuser housing into multiple diffuser chambers, wherein a valve is configured to fluidly and programmatically communicate with each of the multiple diffuser chambers, such that a steam from the header box may selectively enter one of the diffuser chambers depending upon the valve's orientation in an open or closed position; and multiple orifices of different sizes per diffuser chamber. Ideally, exemplary steam boxes may also comprise a diffuser plates per diffuser chamber. Preferably, the diffuser plates may be located at a bottom of the diffuser chamber. Exemplary steam box systems may further comprise control equipment to manage the flow of steam from the steam header into the diffuser chambers.