Abstract: A roll assembly temperature sensing system for a pellet mill includes: a thermal sensor (160); and a pellet mill roll assembly rotatably disposed in a rotor assembly. The pellet mill roll (140) assembly includes: a roll shaft; a bearing disposed circumferentially around the roll shaft; and a seal (150) disposed between an end of the bearing and the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes an area defining a die cavity adjacent to the seal (150). The thermal sensor (160) is disposed within the die cavity, and is configured to detect a temperature of the seal resulting from heat conducted from the bearing.

Abstract: A startup burner assembly for a recovery boiler, the startup burner assembly includes a housing having a burner end and a second end distal to the burner end; a main fuel conduit disposed within the housing; and at least one high-pressure air conduit disposed within the burner end of the housing. The high-pressure air conduit includes at least one angled air injection nozzle configured to direct high-pressure air exiting the burner end of the startup burner assembly in a rotational direction.

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 method for additive machining of a refiner plate segment having a feature pattern includes: fabricating the refiner plate segment with a partial feature pattern from a first material: performing optical scanning of the refiner plate segment to identify positions of features in the partial feature pattern: automatically generating first code for performing three-dimensional (3D) printing of a second material at first specified locations in the partial feature pattern from data obtained from the optical scanning; and performing 3D printing of the second material at the specified locations.

Abstract: A refiner plate includes at least one refining zone including a first plurality of refining bars and a plurality of grooves. At least one groove of the plurality of grooves has a first width between adjacent refining bars of the first plurality of refining bars at an inlet of the at least one refining zone narrower than a second width along a remaining portion of the at least one groove. At least one of the adjacent refining bars of the first plurality of refining bars has a widened portion in a circumferential direction of the refiner plate at an inlet portion of the at least one refining zone.

Abstract: A bearing for guiding reciprocating vertical movement of a pressure diffuser screen assembly may include: a bearing cylinder; a screen extension having an upper portion configured to couple to a lower portion of the pressure diffuser screen assembly, the screen extension having a screen extension outer diameter less than a pressure diffuser screen assembly outer diameter and less than an inner diameter of the bearing cylinder; and a bearing assembly configured to couple to the screen extension at a lower portion of the screen extension, the bearing assembly having a bearing assembly inner diameter corresponding to the screen extension outer diameter and a bearing assembly outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the bearing cylinder. An inner diameter of the bearing cylinder may provide a bearing surface for the bearing assembly.

Abstract: The problem of increased energy usage in refiners over the working life of a refining assembly is mitigated by the use of a refiner plate segment having a refiner side and a back side distally disposed from the refiner side, refiner bars engaged to a substrate of the refiner side, wherein the refiner bars have a refiner bar height, and wherein adjacent refiner bars and the substrate define grooves between the adjacent bars, and protrusions disposed in the grooves, wherein the protrusions have a protrusion height, wherein the protrusion height is 30% or less of the refiner bar height.

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.