METHOD FOR REFINING CELLULOSE FIBERS IN AQUEOUS SUSPENSION AS WELL AS REFINER FILLING TO IMPLEMENT SAID METHOD
The invention relates to a method for refining cellulose fibers in aqueous suspension, using a plurality of refiner fillings having refining edges, of which one is operated on at least one stator and another is operated on at least one rotor, and the suspension to be refined is processed between the two refiner fillings. A partial flow of the suspension delivered to the outlet side flows back on the back side of the refiner filling on the stator side, and then flows through openings located between the refining edges of the refiner filling on the stator side, and again into the refining zone. This leads to particularly uniform and economical refining.
This is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/EP2009/004739, entitled “METHOD FOR REFINING CELLULOSE FIBERS IN AQUEOUS SUSPENSION AND REFINER FILLING FOR PERFORMING THE SAME”, filed Jul. 1, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for refining aqueous suspended cellulose fibers whereby these fibers are carried in an aqueous suspension between refiner fillings each of which are equipped on their face side with refining edges and which are located either on a rotor or a stator providing rotational movement relative to each other and which are pressed against each other, whereby mechanical refining is transferred onto the cellulose fibers and whereby suspension is delivered to the inlet side of refiner fillings and is then discharged again from outlet side of refiner fillings.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known for a long time that cellulose fibers, that is virgin cellulose fibers or waste paper fibers, are refined so that the subsequently produced paper has the desired characteristics, especially strength, formation and surface. Refining processes of the type considered here have utilized refining tools which are often equipped with bars referred to as blades and which can generally be screwed to the rotor or stator of the refiner. The refiner tools are generally referred to as fillings. The relevant machinery is known as refiners. The method may typically be accomplished by disk refiners or cone refiners.
Refiner fillings for refining of cellulose fibers, utilizing refiner bars and grooves located between them are known for example from DE 20 2005 007 551 U1.
DE 37 00 613 A1 describes disk refiners for processing of a fibrous suspension in paper production, whereby rotor and stator fittings are equipped with axially oriented openings. This divides the suspension which is to be refined into many axial partial flows, refines it and discharges it from the refiner. A similar principle is also employed in the method addressed in DE 10 2004 039 986 A1.
What is needed in the art is a method of cellulose refining which would provide uniform and particularly economical refining, in other words one in which the desired technological refining changes are as uniform as possible on all fibers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a method for refining aqueous suspended cellulose fibers whereby these fibers are carried in an aqueous suspension between refiner fillings each of which are equipped on their face side with refining edges and which are located either on a rotor or a stator providing rotational movement relative to each other and which are pressed against each other, whereby mechanical refining is transferred onto the cellulose fibers and whereby suspension is delivered to the inlet side of refiner fillings and is then discharged again from outlet side of refiner fillings, characterized in that a partial flow of suspension which was delivered to outlet side flows through at least one hollow chamber located on backside of stator-side refiner filling and then through openings which are located between refining edges of stator-side filling to refining edges of this refiner filling.
The present invention further provides a refiner filling to implement the method described in the preceding paragraph, with an inlet side and an outlet side for suspension between which refiner edges suitable for refining suspension are located, characterized in that it has at least one, preferably several hydraulic connections between outlet side and refiner edges through which the suspension can get from outlet side to refiner edges. This refiner filling is especially suitable for the method of the present invention.
A considerable number of various refiner fillings has already been developed, which differ from each other in regard to blade width, number of blades and angle of blade edges relative to the radius. However, the inventive method contributes to a substantial improvement since it offers the possibility to direct the suspension flow so that an additional possibility of influence upon the refining effect provided by the refiner is created. In particular, the return flows inside the stator-side fillings are intensified. Already known fillings can here be used on the rotor side. The effect can be explained as follows:
In a conventional blade type filling the grooves are to be considered as flow channels for the suspension. Here it can be assumed that due to the rotational movement of the rotor and the fibrous stock suspension which is carried along by it, a strong pressure build-up occurs from the inside radial areas to the outside radial areas. Similar action occurs also in rotary pumps, obviously in much stronger form. Because of this pressure differential a backflow of the suspension occurs from radially outside to radially inside in the non-rotating cavities of the stator which are provided according to the invention. This backflow may be influenced by selecting or changing the cross section of the flow-carrying surfaces. On the path which is being taken by the back-flowing suspension inside the cavities, a transfer can occur through the openings which are located between the refining edges of the stator-side refiner filling to the refiner edges of the opposite refiner filling. Since these return flows lead to a repeat of the refining processes, refining becomes more uniform which is of particular advantage, both technologically and economically. The inventive measures can strengthen this transfer.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The invention is further explained with the assistance of and reference to schematic drawings:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
The arrows for the suspension flows are drawn with hollow tips in all drawings.
Grinding plate 12″ in
Advantageous measures can be taken in order to take care of the flow of partial flow S′, especially in order to avoid troubling swirls and stagnation points. In particular, additional hydraulic guide elements and guide surfaces are to be provided for this purpose which, based on their shape, allow an as constant and an as loss free transportation of the suspension as possible from outlet side 6 to refining edges 3 or 3′. Several options which can be used individually, or in combination with each other, for this purpose are shown in
It must also be considered that a wear and tear zone 25 exists on the upper areas of refining edges 3 where possibly the flow caretaking measures would not be advantageous.
As shown in
The current invention not only improves refining with disk or double disk refiners, but also with cone refiners whereby the effect with a steep cone angle is greater than with a flat one.
The method can also be arranged so that in addition to the measures, in particular in combination with the measures described in the claims the flow cross section in grooves 26 of refiner filling 2 on the rotor side is changed by different groove width and/or depth. The groove width and/or groove depth therefore increases or decreases from the inside toward the outside. In particular this allows for the pressure build up through rotor 9 and thereby also the return flow in stator 8 to be influenced and to facilitate the transfer of return flow of suspension into the refining zone.
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for refining a plurality of aqueous suspended cellulose fibers, said method comprising the steps of:
- carrying the plurality of cellulose fibers in an aqueous suspension between a stator-side refiner filling and a rotor-side refiner filling, said stator-side refiner filling being located on a stator and including a first face side and a first plurality of refining edges on said first face side, said rotor-side refiner filling being located on a rotor and including a second face side and a second plurality of refining edges on said second face side, said stator and said rotor providing a rotational movement relative to each other;
- pressing said stator-side refiner filling and said rotor-side refiner filling against each other;
- transferring a mechanical refining onto said plurality of cellulose fibers;
- delivering said aqueous suspension to an inlet side of said stator-side and said rotor-side refiner fillings and then discharging again said aqueous suspension from an outlet side of said stator-side and said rotor-side refiner fillings;
- flowing a partial flow of said aqueous suspension which was delivered to said outlet side through at least one hollow chamber located on a backside of said stator-side refiner filling and then through a plurality of openings which are located between certain ones of said first plurality of refining edges of said stator-side refiner filling and other ones of said first plurality of refining edges of said stator-side refiner filling.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least partially said stator-side refiner filling is used, a plurality of edges of said plurality of openings at least partially forming said first plurality of refining edges.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least partially said stator-side refiner filling is used, at least partially said first plurality of refining edges are formed by a plurality of refiner bars which protrude from a refining plate which is equipped with said plurality of openings.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space, said stator-side refiner filling being used and being equipped with a plurality of said hollow space and said plurality of openings, said aqueous suspension being carried through said plurality of hollow spaces from said outlet side to said plurality of openings.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space, said stator-side refiner filling being used, being equipped with said plurality of openings, and being connected detachably with a support in such a way that at least one said hollow space is formed through which said partial flow of said aqueous suspension is carried from said outlet side to said plurality of openings.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space, said stator-side refiner filling being used, being equipped with said plurality of openings, and being connected detachably with a support in such a way that a plurality of said hollow space are formed through which said partial flow of said aqueous suspension is carried from said outlet side to said plurality of openings.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a greater part of said aqueous suspension is carried through said rotor-side refiner filling from said inlet side to said outlet side.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said rotor-side refiner filling is used, no return flow of said aqueous suspension being generated on a backside of said rotor-side refiner filling, said rotor-side refiner filling being equipped with a plurality of refiner bars and a plurality of grooves located between said plurality of refiner bars.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space, said aqueous suspension flowing in a plurality of said hollow space being directed by a plurality of hydraulic guide elements in a direction toward said plurality of openings thereby one of reducing and totally avoiding a plurality of swirls.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said aqueous suspension flowing through said plurality of openings is directed in a direction of said first plurality of refining edges by way of a plurality of guide surfaces which limit said plurality of openings whereby a plurality of swirls are one of reduced and totally avoided.
11. A refiner filling, comprising:
- an inlet side for an aqueous suspension;
- an outlet side for said aqueous suspension;
- a first plurality of refiner edges located between said inlet side and said outlet side, said first plurality of refiner edges being suitable for refining said aqueous suspension;
- at least one hydraulic connection between said outlet side and said first plurality of refiner edges through which said aqueous suspension can get from said outlet side to said first plurality of refiner edges, the refiner filling being a stator-side refiner filling and being configured for being used in a method for refining a plurality of aqueous suspended cellulose fibers, said method including the steps of: carrying said plurality of cellulose fibers in said aqueous suspension between said stator-side refiner filling and a rotor-side refiner filling, said stator-side refiner filling being located on a stator and including a first face side and said first plurality of refiner edges on said first face side, said rotor-side refiner filling being located on a rotor and including a second face side and a second plurality of refiner edges on said second face side, said stator and said rotor providing a rotational movement relative to each other; pressing said stator-side refiner filling and said rotor-side refiner filling against each other; transferring a mechanical refining onto said plurality of cellulose fibers; delivering said aqueous suspension to said inlet side of said stator-side and said rotor-side refiner fillings and then discharging again said aqueous suspension from said outlet side of said stator-side and said rotor-side refiner fillings; flowing a partial flow of said aqueous suspension which was delivered to said outlet side through at least one hollow chamber forming said at least one hydraulic connection located on a backside of said stator-side refiner filling and then through a plurality of openings which are located between certain ones of said first plurality of refiner edges of said stator-side refiner filling and other ones of said first plurality of refiner edges of said stator-side refiner filling.
12. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of said hydraulic connection are between said outlet side and said first plurality of refiner edges and are configured for getting said aqueous suspension from said outlet side to said first plurality of refiner edges.
13. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space and the refiner filling includes an area of said backside, said at least one hollow space being located in said area of said backside of the refiner filling, being closed on said inlet side, being open on said outlet side, and being connected hydraulically with said plurality of openings which are located between said first plurality of refiner edges.
14. The refiner filling according to claim 13, wherein the refiner filling includes a plurality of said hollow space which are located in said area of said backside of the refiner filling, are closed on said inlet side, are open on said outlet side, and are connected hydraulically with said plurality of openings which are located between said first plurality of refiner edges.
15. The refiner filling according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of hollow spaces are open on said backside.
16. The refiner filling according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of hollow spaces are closed on said backside.
17. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of openings include a plurality of edges that at least partially form said first plurality of refiner edges.
18. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein the refiner filling includes a refining plate that is equipped with said plurality of openings, the refiner filling being equipped on said first face side with a plurality of refiner bars which protrude over said refining plate.
19. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein said at least one hollow chamber is at least one hollow space, the refiner filling including a plurality of said hollow space and being equipped with a plurality of guide elements in said plurality of hollow spaces, said plurality of guide elements being positioned so that a liquid flowing in said plurality of hollow spaces is directed to said plurality of openings.
20. The refiner filling according to claim 11, wherein the refiner filling includes a plurality of edges which limit said plurality of openings, said plurality of edges being a plurality of guide surfaces which are positioned so that a liquid flowing in said plurality of openings is continuously directed to said first plurality of refiner edges.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 18, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2011
Inventors: Oliver Crasser (Ulm), Markus Fursattel (Ravensburg), Harald Hess (Grunkraut), Hans-Herrmann Kleinschnittger (Weingarten), Michael Kramer (Graz)
Application Number: 13/008,176
International Classification: D21D 1/20 (20060101); D21B 1/30 (20060101);