Charging And/or Discharging Fibrous Material Patents (Class 162/52)
  • Patent number: 9546476
    Abstract: There are provided a toilet cleaning apparatus having a bubble supply mechanism and a cleaning method thereof. The toilet cleaning apparatus having a bubble supply mechanism includes a mixture tank in which raw water supplied from a raw water supply unit, air introduced from an air supply unit, and a cleaning solution supplied from a cleaning solution supply unit are mixed and accommodated, a bubble generation unit provided in the mixture tank and generating bubbles with the raw water, air, and the cleaning solution by using an impeller, and a bubble discharging unit connected to the mixture tank and discharging bubbles generated by the bubble generation unit to the toilet bowl to cover water stored in the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: COWAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Hee Lee, Hyun-Kang Lee
  • Patent number: 9212706
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive assembly for a large pre-existing pressurized digester vessel and a method of installation of the hydraulic drive assembly have been conceived. Such a device includes a stub shaft which has a lower end and an upper end. The lower end engages with a hydraulic drive and the upper end is coupled to a drive shaft. The coupling further includes a top coupling and a bottom coupling. The top coupling is coupled to the drive shaft, and the bottom coupling is coupled to the stub shaft. A drive support bracket is attached to the hydraulic drive and then attached to the drive support bracket by at least one sole plate that is fixed to a foundation. The hydraulic drive assembly installation method is utilized when removing an electric motor and mechanical transmission device and replacing it with a hydraulic drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Vogel, Tim Pease
  • Patent number: 8999114
    Abstract: A process for making bleached pulp comprises contacting an unbleached pulp mixture with a first recycled filtrate obtained from a first location (3) of a first recycled filtrate loop, to obtain a first pulp mixture having a first consistency; bleaching the first pulp mixture, to obtain a first bleached pulp mixture; pressing or dewatering the first bleached pulp mixture, to obtain a first pressed bleached pulp mixture and a second filtrate; sending at least a portion of the second filtrate to a second location (5) of the first recycled filtrate loop, wherein the second location (5) is downstream of and in fluid communication with the first location (3); contacting the first pressed bleached pulp mixture with a second recycled filtrate obtained from a third location (6) of the first recycled filtrate loop, to obtain a second pulp mixture having a second consistency, wherein the second consistency is greater than the first consistency, and wherein the third location (6) is downstream of and in fluid communicati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Caifang F. Yin
  • Patent number: 8888954
    Abstract: The feed system is for a continuous digester where at least two pumps are arranged in parallel at the bottom of a pre-treatment vessel and a stirrer is provided in direct connection to inlets to pumps. The system makes it possible to provide a feed system with an improved accessibility and operational reliability, and to operate the main part of the pumps at optimal efficiency even if the production capacity is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Valmet AB
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Jonas Saetherasen, Daniel Trolin
  • Patent number: 8834633
    Abstract: A method of pre-treating a cellulosic material before hydrolysis is provided. The method comprises the steps of: impregnating the cellulosic material with a reactive water-soluble gas, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) or carbon dioxide (CO2), in an impregnation chamber to obtain impregnated material; and heating the impregnated material to obtain pre-treated material, wherein the cellulosic material is compressed right before or when it is transferred to the impregnation chamber. A corresponding system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sekab E-Technology AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Van Der Meulen, Stanley Forss, Lars Elfving, Staffan Magnusson, Magnus Hägglund, Anders Sjöblom
  • Patent number: 8821691
    Abstract: A reactor vessel including: an upper inlet and a bottom discharge; a generally vertically oriented sidewall between the upper inlet and bottom discharge, wherein the sidewall defines a perimeter of an interior flow passage in the vessel; a first pair of support plates arranged on opposite sides of the sidewall, wherein the first pair of support plates reduces a cross-sectional flow area of the flow passage in a first single direction of convergence, and a second pair of support plates arranged on opposite sides of the side wall, wherein the second pair of support plates reduces a cross-sectional flow are of the flow passage in a second single direction of convergence, wherein the second single direction is angularly offset to the first single direction, and the second pair of support plates is at a different elevation of the vessel than the first pair of support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry R. Johanson
  • Publication number: 20140224441
    Abstract: The feed system is for a continuous digester where at least two pumps are arranged in parallel at the bottom of a pre-treatment vessel and a stirrer is provided in direct connection to inlets to pumps. The system makes it possible to provide a feed system with an improved accessibility and operational reliability, and to operate the main part of the pumps at optimal efficiency even if the production capacity is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: METSO PAPER SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Jonas Saetherasen, Daniel Trolin
  • Patent number: 8795469
    Abstract: Paper comprised solely of a nonwood fiber mix is demonstrated to meet the technical physical specifications of commercially produced papers made from wood. The esthetically impressive paper meets nearly every technical specification of commercially produced paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Prairie Paper Ventures Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Golfman
  • Publication number: 20140138039
    Abstract: The feed system is for a continuous digester where at least two pumps are arranged in parallel in the bottom of a pre-treatment vessel and a liquid level of at least 20 meters is established. The system makes it possible to provide a feed system with an improved accessibility and more reliable operation, and to operate the main part of the pumps at optimal efficiency even if the production capacity is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Metso Paper Sweden AB
    Inventors: Anders Samuelsson, Jonas Saetherasen, Daniel Trolin
  • Patent number: 8691050
    Abstract: Continuous transfer of particulate material into pressurized steam reactors is provided by “flow feeder” methods and devices. Material such as lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks are compacted into a “low density” plug, <700 kg/m3, which provides a dynamic seal against pressurized steam through exploitation of a steam condensation zone. The rate at which the steam condensation zone moves into the “low density” plug is offset by the rate at which compacted material is fed into the pressurized reactor. Preferred devices compact material within a flow feeder chamber by use of a loading device that works against counter-pressure provided by an unloading device. Compacted material is actively disintegrated and fed into the reactor by the unloading device. In preferred embodiments, compacted material is fed in a steady-state operation in which the interface between the steam condensation zone and the low pressure inlet zone remains stationary within the flow feeder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Børge Holm Christensen
  • Publication number: 20140069598
    Abstract: The method and arrangement are for adding treatment liquid to comminuted cellulose material, preferably wood chips, during the manufacture of chemical pulp in a continuous process. The process is using a down-flow vessel wherein chips are descending down the vessel in a plug flow and wherein treated chips are continuously fed out at the bottom of the vessel. By arranging at least one telescopic pipe inside the vessel that extends down into the plug flow makes it possible to adjust the position for the addition of treatment liquid depending on current operational parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Trolin, Fredrik Wilgotson
  • Patent number: 8657960
    Abstract: Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroaccoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nova Pangaea Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Herbert North
  • Patent number: 8628623
    Abstract: A reactor for the treatment of lignocellulosic material and related methods. The reactor includes a vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion. A pressure envelope is formed between an outer wall of the vessel and at least one lower wall of the lower portion of the vessel, and the upper portion of the vessel and the pressure envelope are operatively connected with a pressurization line, such that a pressure of the pressure envelope and a pressure of the upper portion may be equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventors: John Bolles, Joseph Monroe Rawls, Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 8617355
    Abstract: A method to treat a lignocellulosic material including: performing a steam explosion reaction on the lignocellulosic material and discharging a slurry from the; adding an alkali material to the slurry in a first conveyor; transferring the slurry with the alkali material from the first conveyor to a second conveyor; adding an enzyme solution to the slurry while in, entering or at the discharge of the second conveyor; transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the second conveyor slurry to a mixer; mixing the slurry in the mixer, wherein a second portion of the enzyme solution is added to the slurry during the mixing, and transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the mixer to a first reactor vessel wherein the slurry in the first reactor vessel undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis such that the viscosity of the slurry is reduced in the first reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Romero, Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 8617354
    Abstract: Provided is a process for manufacturing shaped cellulose materials from lignocellulose where a dissolving grade pulp is manufactured and dissolved in an aqueous alkaline or acidic solvent system forming a solution suitable for shaping new cellulose structures including fibers, films and cellulose derivatives. At least a part of the spent cellulose dissolving or cellulose shaping chemicals are recovered in one or more unit operations in a pulp mill chemical recovery cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kiram AB
    Inventor: Lars Stigsson
  • Patent number: 8512513
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling the height of a material column in a vessel upstream of a pump, in which method material is conveyed into an upper portion of the vessel, electrical signals are provided on the basis of the presence of material at predetermined measuring levels of the vessel by using a first sensor set disposed at a first measuring level at the upper portion of the vessel and a second sensor set disposed at a second measuring level at the lower portion of the vessel, and material is extracted at a controlled flow speed from a lower portion of the vessel by the pump, wherein the provided electrical signals are used to infer weighting factors of measuring level presence functions, and the flow speed is controlled on the basis of the weighting factors of the measuring level presence functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Kimmo Leinonen
  • Patent number: 8448789
    Abstract: Apparatus for washing and dewatering pump comprising a pair of rotatable press rolls with permeable outer surfaces, a casing comprising a vat in which the rolls are installed, and a feed for feeding the pulp to the gap formed between the vat and the press roll is disclosed. The vat includes a first side vat segment partially enclosing the first press roll and a second side vat segment partially enclosing the second press roll and casing members for each of the vat segments, the first casing member being pivotable about an axis of rotation and between closed and open positions, pulp distribution devices for distributing pulp onto the press rolls, at least one of the pulp distribution devices being mounted on the casing member whereby it is moved away from the press roll together with the casing member when it is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Bylander, Fredrik Pontén, Jörgen Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8366875
    Abstract: Digested softened non-defibrated chips are fed out from a bottom of a digester. The chips are fed out under an influence of a bottom scraper at the bottom of the digester and through an outlet tap at the bottom of the digester and onwards to an outlet line connected to the outlet tap. This takes place before the softened chips pass through a blow-valve arranged in the outlet line, across which blow-valve a pressure drop of at least 0.5 bar and at most 3-5 bar has been established. The chips are exposed to a displacement wash after the chips have passed the outlet tap. The displacement wash has been established in the flow of chips through the outlet line before the chips are defibrated by the pressure drop across the blow-valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper Sweden AB
    Inventor: Allan Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8366876
    Abstract: The method and an arrangement are for the improvement of a wash after completed digestion in a continuous digester for the production of cellulose pulp. The softened chips are exposed to a radially directed displacement wash after they have passed the rotating bottom scraper. The displacement wash has been established in the flow of digested softened chips through the outlet tap before the softened chips are defibrated by the fall in pressure across the blow-valve that is arranged after the digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper Sweden AB
    Inventor: Jonas Saetherasen
  • Patent number: 8317975
    Abstract: An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes. The aqueous extract in embodiments including a water extract step is separated into acetic acid and hemicellulose sugar aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of the State University of New York
    Inventors: Thomas E. Amidon, Raymond Francis, Gary M. Scott, Jeremy Bartholomew, Bandaru V. Ramarao, Christopher D. Wood
  • Publication number: 20120227918
    Abstract: A refiner steam separation system according to the present invention includes a blowline for transporting a mixture of fiber material from a refiner to an inlet of a steam separator. Waste steam is discharged from the separator through a waste steam outlet. Cleaned fiber material is discharged from the separator through an exit, which prevents a substantial portion of the waste steam from passing through the exit. A relay pipe communicates with the exit and a dryer duct, and transports cleaned fiber material therebetween. A resin input communicates with the relay pipe, and supplies resin therein. The resin is mixed with the cleaned fiber material prior to the cleaned fiber material being dried in the dryer duct. The present invention is also directed to a method of reducing VOC emissions generated during refining cellulosic fibrous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis Henry VADERS
  • Patent number: 8216423
    Abstract: The invention combines the step of adding chemicals such as alkaline peroxide to an intermediate line after refining, with the step of applying chemicals such as alkaline peroxide as a pre-treatment before primary refining and/or applying chemicals such as alkaline peroxide at the primary refiner. This is implemented in the preferred embodiment, by pre-treating feed material, refining the materials into a pulp in a superatmospheric refiner, and adding chemicals in the post refining blowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Chao Xu
  • Patent number: 8197639
    Abstract: The system and method reduce the liquid/wood ratio at the top of a vapor phase digester in a continuous digester plant. Chips that are to be cooked in the vapor phase digester are fed as a mixture of chips and liquid at a liquid/wood ratio that exceeds 8:1 in a transfer line to an inverted top separator arranged at the top of the vapor phase digester. The top separator feeds the chips upwardly. More than 50% of the liquid content of the mixture of chips and liquid is withdrawn in the top separator and the remaining liquid is fed out from the top separator to the top of the vapor phase digester. A pile of chips and a liquid volume are established at the top, wherein the pile of chips is disposed above the liquid surface of the liquid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: METSO PAPER Sweden AB
    Inventor: Vidar Snekkenes
  • Publication number: 20120031574
    Abstract: A method for chemically digesting cellulosic fibrous material including: adding a liquor to cellulosic fibrous material to form a slurry in a chip feed system; transporting the slurry from the chip feed system to a batch digester vessel; determining when a chip level rises above an extraction screen in the batch digester vessel; after the chip level rises above the extraction screen, extracting liquor from the batch digester vessel while the transport continues of the slurry into the batch digester vessel; adding cooking liquor to slurry in the batch digester vessel; ceasing the transport of the slurry into the batch digester vessel and thereafter converting the cellulosic material in the vessel to a pulp, and discharging the pulp from the batch digester vessel before restarting the transporting of the slurry into the digester vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: Bertil STROMBERG
  • Patent number: 8088254
    Abstract: Pulp processing equipment used to produce high-quality recycled pulp with little damage to fibers, high brightness and low residual ink by means of a force selectively acting on fiber surfaces during the process of recycling waste paper is disclosed. Moreover, fiber surfaces are modified by means of a force acting on only the fiber surfaces to obtain high-quality pulp and to render harmless dirts deteriorating pulp quality. A jet system is provided having one or more nozzles for jetting an aqueous slurry containing a material comprising cellulose into a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shisei Goto, Keigo Watanabe, Hiromichi Tsuji, Takanori Miyanishi
  • Patent number: 8057639
    Abstract: A system has been developed for pretreating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: a first pressurized reactor receiving the feed stock, wherein the feed stock undergoes hydrolysis in the first pressurized reactor; a sealing device having a first pressurized coupling to a feedstock discharge port of the first pressurized reactor, and a second pressurized coupling to a second pressurized reactor; a drain for a liquid including dissolved hemi-cellulosic material extracted from the feed stock in at least one of the first pressurized reactor and the sealing and extraction device; the second pressurized reactor assembly receiving the pressurized feed stock from the sealing device at a pressure substantially greater than the pressure in the first pressurized reactor, wherein cells of the feed stock are infused with water in the second pressurized reactor, and an expansion device downstream of the second pressurized reactor assembly, wherein the expansion device rapidly releases the pressure of the feed stock disc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Pschorn, Namshee Shin, Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 8025760
    Abstract: A fluid transfer apparatus for bulk material is disclosed. The transfer apparatus includes a rotor mounted on a rotatable shaft and including axially extending flow channels extending through the rotor parallel to the shaft, flow connectors for connecting a low-pressure flow of fluid and a high-pressure flow of fluid into and out of the axially extending flow channels, a casing enclosing the rotor, a pair of axially sealing plates disposed between the ends of the rotor and the casing, a pressurizing fluid fed into the chamber defined by the casing to pressurize the rotor, the flow connectors, and the axially movable sealing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Lasse Hernesniemi, Torbjörn Jacobsson, Peter Danielsson, Anders Jonsson
  • Patent number: 7976675
    Abstract: In a continuous digester system the digester system is greatly simplified by using a single vertical atmospheric vessel, replacing the conventional chip bin, steaming vessel, chip chute, high pressure pumping or sluice feeders, impregnation vessels and top separator. Chips are simply fed to the top of the atmospheric vessel, and a chip level is established in the vessel. Treatment liquids are added to the vessel such that a total liquid volume (Z1+Z2) with a liquid level (LIQ LEV) is established under the chip level (CH LEV). Impregnation stage and subsequent cooking stages are implemented in the atmospheric vessel at successively increasing temperature and depths into the total liquid volume, thus preventing boiling in the stages and preferably reducing steam blow trough of the chip surface in the top of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Paper Sweden AB
    Inventor: Andre Turqueti
  • Patent number: 7967947
    Abstract: The first invention aims to provide a method for preparing stiffer bulky pulp at a freeness level comparable to that obtained by mechanical treatments to improve the bulkiness of product paper by searching for a method capable of adjusting freeness while suppressing damage to pulp fibers and internal fibrillation in a process for producing pulp. The second invention aims to strip contaminants deposited on pulp fibers and/or inorganic particles to reduce adhesion of the contaminants and decrease microorganisms in a treatment of process water containing long pulp fiber fractions used in a process for producing pulp and paper, thereby clarifying process water and thus preparing high-quality pulp and paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shisei Goto, Hiromichi Tsuji, Keigo Watanabe, Takeshi Iimori
  • Patent number: 7887671
    Abstract: The method and a device is for the dilution of dewatered cellulose pulp that maintains a consistency of 20-30% or greater. By shredding of the pulp to a finely divided dry-granulate, dilution to a homogeneous consistency in the medium consistency range can take place exclusively through hydrodynamic effects from the addition of dilution fluid. The dilution fluid is added to granulate at a position at which granulate is in free fall in a standpipe and above a level LiqLEV of diluted pulp in the standpipe. A number of nozzles are arranged around the periphery of the stand pipe, directed in towards the centre of the stand pipe, obliquely downwards in the direction of fall of the granulate. It is possible through this simplified procedure to avoid completely the conventional dilution screws, and this reduces the investment costs and operating costs, while at the same time unnecessary mechanical influence of the pulp fibres can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: GLV Finance Hungary Kft.
    Inventors: Vidar Snekkenes, Lennart Gustavsson, Jonas Saetherasen, Goran Olsson
  • Publication number: 20100314055
    Abstract: A feed system for a comminuted cellulosic material including: a chip bin having an upper chip inlet, an interior chamber oriented generally vertically and a lower discharge port; at least one liquor inlet to the chip bin to inject liquor in the chip bin, wherein the chip bin retains sufficient liquor and chips within the interior chamber to create a hydraulic pressure on the chips at the lower discharge port; a generally horizontally oriented chip conveyor or tube coupled to the lower discharge port to receive the chips and liquor from the bin under the hydraulic pressure, wherein the conveyor or tube includes liquor injectors which inject liquor into the chips and the conveyor or tube, and a high pressure transfer device coupled to a discharge of the conveyor or tube to receive the chips and liquor, whereby the hydraulic pressure of the chips and liquor at the discharge of the chip bin is sufficient to feed the chips and liquor to the high pressure transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Tyson Bradford HUNT, Bertil STROMBERG
  • Patent number: 7758722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an absorbent fiber product, starting with a parent fiber product that comprises fibers that, on the one hand, lie at a statistical distance from one another and, on the other hand, make contact with one another at contact points. The method comprises treating the parent fiber product with a fluid medium in such a way that the fibers are at least partially wetted and the fluid medium is then rapidly evaporated by irradiation, so that the evaporation pressure generated by the evaporating fluid medium has a kinematic effect on the fibers, which increases the distance between them. In this way the risk of inadvertent, in particular, thermal damage to the fibers is eliminated. Furthermore, the intrinsic fiber structure is left unaffected, or is only affected in a controlled manner. This prevents the uncontrolled destruction of the fiber structure and a detrimental effect on the fiber product, for example, to its tear resistance when wet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Saueressig GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Kilian Saueressig
  • Patent number: 7727355
    Abstract: The present invention aims to produce high-quality recycled pulp with little damage to fibers, high brightness and low residual ink by means of a force selectively acting on fiber surfaces during the process of recycling waste paper. Moreover, fiber surfaces are modified by means of a force acting on only the fiber surfaces to obtain high-quality pulp and to render harmless dirts deteriorating pulp quality. A method for producing recycled pulp characterized in that cavitation is generated and used to strip contaminants deposited on fibers and ash during the process of recycling waste paper. Contaminants such as ink deposited on fibers and ash are stripped/fragmented by means of the impact force induced by collapse of fine bubbles by actively introducing bubbles generated by cavitation into a pulp suspension. A jet system having one or more nozzles for jetting an aqueous slurry containing a material comprising cellulose into a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shisei Goto, Keigo Watanabe, Hiromichi Tsuji, Takanori Miyanishi
  • Patent number: 7713382
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing wood chips, wherein the wood chips are treated with steam in a gas removal apparatus. The condensate formed in the gas removal apparatus is removed from the gas removal apparatus and the wood chips are treated with a processing solution in order to remove metal ions from the wood chips. Condensate formed in the gas removal apparatus is used as processing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc
    Inventors: Rami Lampinen, Lasse Hernesniemi, Antti Tuominen
  • Patent number: 7713383
    Abstract: The method and arrangement is for the feed of a chips suspension from one vessel to a subsequent digester in a continuous cooking process for the production of chemical cellulose pulp. The vessel has an inlet defined therein for the input of chips and an outlet defined therein for the output of a chips suspension. The chips suspension in the vessel has a first fluid/wood ratio established above a second fluid/wood ratio that is established at the bottom of the vessel. The second fluid/wood ratio is at least as great as, preferably greater than, the first fluid/wood ratio. After the output of the chips suspension from the vessel and before the chips suspension is placed under pressure for onwards transport to a subsequent digester, a fraction of fluid is withdrawn from the chips suspension, whereby a third fluid/wood ratio is established in the chips suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Jonas Saetherasen, Vidar Snekkenes, Bo Wilke, Lennart Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 7695591
    Abstract: A washing arrangement for washing and dewatering of cellulose pulp is disclosed, comprising a rotatable drum having a plurality of outer compartments defined by axial compartment walls distributed along the circumference of the drum, a stationary cylindrical casing that encloses the drum, whereby an annular space is defined between the casing and the drum and longitudinal seals extending in the axial direction of the drum divide the annular space into zones for forming, washing and discharge of the pulp. The function of the longitudinal seals is optimized by units for seal adjustment having force sensors for measuring a force acting on one of the longitudinal seals in the direction from the drum, and positioners for automatically moving the longitudinal seal substantially in the radial direction of the drum according to a predetermined pattern based on the measured force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Jörgen T. Lundberg, Stefan Mattsson, Johan Bylander, Magnus Henriksson
  • Patent number: 7658820
    Abstract: A continuous digester comprises a wash zone having a plurality of individual wash screens disposed about an inner wall of the digester for the withdrawal of co-current downflow liquor from the wash zone. A conduit is connected in fluid communication between each of the wash screens and a collector for co-current downflow liquor withdrawn from the wash zone of the digester. A valve is interposed along the length of the conduit leading from each of the wash screens. The valve is operable between open and closed positions in response to a signal received from a temperature sensor associated with the conduit leading from each of the wash screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Dean K Lawrence, Wayne G Hill, Stanislaus L Ludwig, David R Code
  • Patent number: 7658818
    Abstract: A method for converting a vapor phase continuous digester to a hydraulic digester including the steps of: operating the vapor phase digester in a vapor phase mode wherein a chip slurry enters the vessel of the digester through a lower chip inlet port, moves up through a top separator, discharges from an upper chip discharge chute of the separator to an upper vapor region of the vessel and falls to a liquor filled region of the vessel; ceasing the flow of the chip slurry to the separator; establishing a chip slurry flow path to an upper portion of top separator, and filling the vessel with liquor and chips such that the chip discharge chute is immersed in liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Keith P. Vogel, John F. Bolles, Patrick J. Sullivan, C. Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 7615134
    Abstract: The method and an arrangement are for improved impregnation of chips in association with the manufacture of chemical cellulose pulp. Un-steamed chips are fed into an impregnation vessel (30) in which a fluid level (LIQ_LEV) is established under the highest level (CH_LEV) of the chips. An improved impregnation arrangement for the chips is obtained by the addition of impregnation fluids (BL1/BL2/BL3) with increasing temperatures at different heights (P1, P2, P3), and by the establishment of a counter-flow zone (Z1) in the uppermost part of the impregnation vessel. The requirement for steaming may in this way be dramatically reduced while at the same time the amount of expelled waste gases may be minimized. A major part of the volatile compounds present in the wood are bound to the impregnation fluid (REC) that is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Vidar Snekkenes, Lennart Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 7601243
    Abstract: System for conveying, mixing, leveling, and flaking dewatered pulp to produce pulp flakes suitable to be used in a dryer. The system produces a consistent flow rate of pulp and uniform pulp flakes in terms of pulp flake size and pulp flake moisture content. The system includes a rotating shaftless screw conveyor for mixing and conveying dewatered pulp. The system includes a belt conveyor. The pulp is deposited from the screw conveyor onto the moving belt conveyor through a chute. The system includes a rotary doctor. The pulp is leveled with the rotary doctor located above the belt conveyor to produce a substantially even rate of mass flow of pulp along a length of belt conveyor. Uniform and consistent quantities of pulp per unit time can then be fed from the belt conveyor to a pulp flaker that then translates into an even rate of pulp mass flow to the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Ramon C DeZutter, Christopher Q Tveter
  • Patent number: 7569120
    Abstract: The method is for converting a vertically standing up-flow tower by inserting a freely insertable pipe into the conical part of the up-flow tower the tower is converted to a down-flow tower where the tower can easily be restored to the up-flow tower and optimized with regards to a minimized stagnation volume in the tower. The upper open end of the pipe is disposed at a first distance (A) from the lower part of the conical inlet part. The first distance (A) is less than the total vertical extension (B) of the conical inlet part. The cellulose pulp establishes a self-forming stagnation zone around the pipe at a lower part of the down-flow tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: GLV Fiance Hungary Kft.
    Inventors: Jonas Bjorkstrom, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 7556713
    Abstract: A method for feeding a cellulosic fibrous material to a high pressure processing vessel including: pressurizing a low pressure flow of the fibrous material in a high pressure transfer device; discharging a high pressure flow of the fibrous material from the transfer device to a conduit in fluid communication with the processing vessel; discharging a low pressure flow of fluid and fibrous material from the transfer device; downstream of the transfer device, pressurizing the discharged low pressure flow; merging the pressurized low pressure discharge flow with the discharged high pressure flow, and transferring the merged flow to the processing vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Andritz, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Bertil Stromberg
  • Publication number: 20090095430
    Abstract: A method to chemically treat light weight, bulky cellulosic material including: introducing the material to an upper inlet of a substantially vertical treatment vessel; maintaining the material in the vessel at a pressure of at least 20 bar and at a temperature of at least 200° C.; treating the material with a cooking liquor in the vessel; moving the material past at least one anti-compression ring on an inside surface of the vessel, as the material moves downward through the vessel; agitating the material in the vessel, and discharging the treated material from a lower discharge port of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: C. Bertil Stromberg
  • Publication number: 20090090477
    Abstract: A fluid transfer apparatus for bulk material is disclosed. The transfer apparatus includes a rotor mounted on a rotatable shaft and including axially extending flow channels extending through the rotor parallel to the shaft, flow connectors for connecting a low-pressure flow of fluid and a high-pressure flow of fluid into and out of the axially extending flow channels, a casing enclosing the rotor, a pair of axially sealing plates disposed between the ends of the rotor and the casing, a pressurizing fluid fed into the chamber defined by the casing to pressurize the rotor, the flow connectors, and the axially movable sealing plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Lasse Hernesniemi, Torbjorn Jacobsson, Peter Danielsson, Anders Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20090084511
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing wood chips, wherein the wood chips are treated with steam in a gas removal apparatus. The condensate formed in the gas removal apparatus is removed from the gas removal apparatus and the wood chips are treated with a processing solution in order to remove metal ions from the wood chips. Condensate formed in the gas removal apparatus is used as processing solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Rami Lampinen, Lasse Hernesniemi, Antti Tuominen
  • Publication number: 20090078382
    Abstract: A washing arrangement for washing and dewatering of cellulose pulp is disclosed, comprising a rotatable drum having a plurality of outer compartments defined by axial compartment walls distributed along the circumference of the drum, a stationary cylindrical casing that encloses the drum, whereby an annular space is defined between the casing and the drum and longitudinal seals extending in the axial direction of the drum divide the annular space into zones for forming, washing and discharge of the pulp. The function of the longitudinal seals is optimized by units for seal adjustment having force sensors for measuring a force acting on one of the longitudinal seals in the direction from the drum, and positioners for automatically moving the longitudinal seal substantially in the radial direction of the drum according to a predetermined pattern based on the measured force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Metso Paper Sundsvall AB
    Inventors: Stefan Mattsson, Jorgen Lundberg, Johan Bylander, Magnus Henriksson
  • Patent number: 7459058
    Abstract: Chips are sluiced from a low-pressure section to a high-pressure section with a sluice feeder. The fluid that is used to expel the chips from the sluice feeder principally includes pressurized fluid withdrawn from the treatment vessel. This pressurized fluid is normally withdrawn from the treatment vessel for recovery (REC). By using this pressurized fluid instead for expelling the chips from the sluice feeder and subsequently sending the previously pressurized fluid to the recovery system (REC), the requirement for high pressure pumps that consume large quantities of electrical energy can be considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
    Inventor: Vidar Snekkenes
  • Patent number: 7452444
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for cooking wood chips in a digester for the separation of wood fibers from their bonded state, the digester having a vertical centerline, a substantially circular cross-section, and a wash zone adjacent the bottom end thereof and a plurality of individual wash screens disposed about the inner wall of the digester for the withdrawal of liquor from the wash zone. In the first step of the method, substantially equal volumes of liquor are dynamically withdrawn from the wash zone through individual ones of the wash screens, while monitoring of the flow rate of liquor exiting the digester through individual ones of the wash screens. The monitored flow rate is used to increase or decrease the flow rate from screens to a value substantially equal to the flow rate of liquor from the digester through each of the screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Dean Kenneth Lawrence, Wayne Hill, Stanislaus Leo Ludwig, David Richard Code
  • Publication number: 20080271860
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for introducing liquors into a batch digester to produce enhanced or plug-flow of the liquors through the bed of cellulosic material. Wash out liquor can be introduced into the digester during the discharging of delignified cellulosic material in a manner to add wash out liquor into the digester in order to maintain consistency of the delignified cellulosic material and to prevent formation of a vortex of delignified cellulosic material during discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Craig Alan Bianchini
  • Patent number: 7422657
    Abstract: The method is for feeding a chips-slurry from a low-pressure to a high-pressure system during the continuous cooking of chemical cellulose pulp. The feed takes place through a sluice feeder 53? between these systems. The sluice feeder is provided with a rotor with through-pockets 1, 2 that are alternately connected with the low-or the high-pressure system. A recirculation line 54?, that has a high-pressure pump 57?, extends from the first outlet 53b? of the sluice feeder to the second inlet 53c? of the sluice feeder for transporting the fluid that has been expelled from the pockets of the sluice feeder when these are located in their first position. The fluid expels the chips mixture from the pockets of the sluice feeder in their second position and is essentially exclusively constituted by the fluid that has been expelled from the pockets in their first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Fiber Karlstad AB
    Inventors: Lennart Gustavsson, Vidar Snekkenes