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.

Abstract: A system and process of producing pulp from lignocellulosic material after the lignocellulosic material has undergone compression (pressurization), maceration and removal of extractives produced during compression and maceration followed by chemical addition, fiberization, digestion (cooking) and further mechanical refining.

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 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 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: 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 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 method is provided for controlling airflow into a furnace that employs a velocity type damper. In one embodiment, the method for controlling airflow may include engaging a velocity type damper to an air port opening of a furnace. The velocity type damper includes at least one air controlling surface that is positioned proximate to a wall of the furnace at the air port opening so that air velocity exiting the at least one air controlling surface is substantially equal to the air velocity entering the air port opening to the furnace. The method may further include adjusting a cross sectional area through the velocity type damper to control air velocity into the furnace through the air port opening.

Abstract: Dispersers and disperser plate segments configured to be mounted in dispersers, wherein the disperser plate segments comprise rows of teeth and wherein bridges span gaps between adjacent teeth in at least one of the rows of teeth, wherein the bridges are separated from a substrate of the front face by an open space in the gap. In other exemplary embodiments, a buttress extends from at least one face of the tooth to support the tooth.

Abstract: A disperser-refiner plate segment includes a refining section disposed radially outward from a dispersion section. Teeth in the dispersion section have a height that exceeds a height of refining bars in the refining section.

Abstract: A refiner includes two or more facing refining assemblies. Each refining assembly includes a backing structure and refiner plate segments engaged to the backing structure A series of alternating bars and grooves defines a refining surface on each refiner plate segment. The refiner plate segments of the first refining assembly have a terminal edge perimeter defined by two or more terminal edges of bars disposed closest to the outer arc of the substrate of the first refining assembly. The refiner plate segments of the second refining assembly have an outermost edge circumference defined by an outermost terminal edge of a bar disposed closest to the outer arc of the substrate of the second refining assembly facing the first refining assembly. The terminal edge perimeter of the first refining assembly is not parallel to the outermost edge circumference of the second refining assembly.

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 high-pressure air conduits disposed within the burner end of the housing. The high-pressure air conduits include angled air injection nozzles configured to direct high-pressure air exiting the burner end of the startup burner assembly in a rotational direction.

Abstract: An engagement assembly for a rotary drum filter, the engagement assembly includes a retaining clip having a body, a first shelf extending outwardly from the body in a first direction and a second shelf extending outwardly from the body in a direction opposite the first direction; and an S-clip having a major concave area configured to receive a leading end or a trailing end of a filter plate, and a minor concave area, and configured to receive the first shelf or the second shelf of the retaining clip.

Abstract: A vapor relief strainer cleaning assembly comprises a turbine and dislodger assembly, wherein the turbine is configured to move a dislodger assembly disposed within a vapor screen relief vessel. Exemplary dislodger assemblies are configured to be powered by vapor or gas and to use excess vapor or gas optionally to dislodge non-condensable contaminants from the filter screen or to facilitate contaminant dislodgement from the inner wall of the filter screen.

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 feedwell design for a clarifier that may better dissipate the entrance energy of feed slurry liquid exiting the feedwell and entering the clarifier. Plates having a surface area twisted around a longitudinal axis may be provided at the bottom of the feedwell. The plates may cause a change in the flow direction of the feed, from being mostly horizontal to mostly vertical, to slow the slurry. The provision of plates at the bottom of a feedwell in a clarifier may advantageously reduce the velocity of the materials entering the clarifier, or may increase the uniformity of the flow rate of the materials while reducing or maintaining the amount of shear force, turbulence, or other forces that may have a detrimental effect on clarification. Likewise, this may improve the rate at which solids settle out of the feed slurry solution, and thus improve the clarity of the removed liquid.

Abstract: This application discloses exemplary processes and systems for reducing mineral ring accumulation in calcination kiln. The processes and systems comprise inserting non-condensable gases (“NCGs”) in a preheating zone of a calcination kiln, upstream of the burner end. The pre-heating zone may be characterized by temperatures ranging from 1,300° F. to 1,750° F. The system may desirably comprise a plenum for inserting the NCGs into the rotating calcination kiln at the pre-heating zone.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a rotary feeder for transferring comminuted fibrous material is provided having as components: a rotary feeder housing, having at least one inlet opening for receiving material (chips) and at least one opening for discharging material (chips), and an internal shear edge assembly adjacent the inlet; wherein a protective baffle (doctor blade) is adjacent to the shear edge assembly; a rotor, rotatably mounted with the rotary feeder housing and having pockets for accepting material introduced to the rotary feeder housing; and a power source which rotates the rotor in said housing; and wherein the rotary feeder housing has a recess along the length of the rotor in the inlet at an exit end of the inlet, the recess being of sufficient size to allow the shear edge assembly and doctor blade to sit within the recess.

Abstract: A system and process of producing pulp from lignocellulosic material after the lignocellulosic material has undergone compression (pressurization), maceration and removal of extractives produced during compression and maceration followed by chemical addition, fiberization, digestion (cooking) and further mechanical refining.