Abstract: A method for controlling the atmosphere in a protective gas chamber for the continuous treatment of metal strips. A metal strip is guided into and out of the protective gas chamber via locks. At least one lock has at least two sealing elements for the metal strip which runs through it, with the result that a sealed chamber is formed between the two sealing elements. The gas pressure (P2, PD) is measured in the protective gas chamber and in the sealed chamber of the lock and the pressure (PD) in the sealed chamber is regulated, to be precise in such a way that, during operation, the differential pressure between the protective gas chamber and the sealed chamber is kept as far as possible to an optimum value.

Abstract: A gas blowing cellulose pulp dryer is operative for drying a web of cellulose pulp using gas supplied from gas outlets of blow boxes of a first drying section. The cellulose pulp dryer has an inspection device with at least a first radiation sensor arranged to detect reflected radiation at the first drying section to detect at least one of a position of the web during operation of the dryer, and the occurrence of any residue of the web.

Abstract: A cellulose pulp drying box for drying a web of cellulose pulp having blow boxes that are operative for blowing gas towards the web of cellulose pulp for drying the pulp. At least 10% of the total number of blow boxes of the drying box are provided, in their respective face, with openings having a characteristic measure of 1.8 to 3. mm and constituting at least 20% of the total degree of perforation of the face of the respective blow box.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing torrefied lignocellulosic material in a commercially suitable process.

Abstract: An arrangement for drying a web of cellulose pulp having a drying box which includes blow boxes that are operative for blowing air towards the web of cellulose pulp for drying the pulp in accordance with the airborne web principle. The drying box has a first drying zone, which includes first lower blow boxes arranged to bear the web, and a second drying zone, having second lower blow boxes arranged to bear the web, with the first lower blow boxes being different from the second lower blow boxes.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device to create a hermetic seal for large openings in equipment subject to low pressure. According to the invention it is characterised by at least one sealing cover being provided, which is pressed onto the side wall of the equipment by means of bolts, where the bolts are welded to a strip attached to the side wall at the edge of the opening in the equipment. This provides a good, low-cost and hermetic seal.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus including: an internal mixing chamber including a first chamber section having a cross-sectional area expanding from a biomass inlet to the internal mixing chamber to the a second chamber section; the second chamber section having a substantially uniform internal cross-sectional area from the opposite end of the first chamber section to a discharge end of the mixing chamber; the biomass inlet is coupled to a source of pre-treated biomass external to the reactor vessel, and a rotating mixing device in the internal mixing chamber and coaxial with an axis of the first chamber section.

Abstract: A filter press includes a press frame containing side beams (2) to support filter plates (17) movably along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2). The filter plates (17) are oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) and connected to one another. A pressure plate (4) can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) by a pushing or pulling device, and which presses the filter plates of the sliding carriage (3) against one another during the filtration process. The pushing or pulling device is mounted on a sliding carriage (3) that can be moved on the side beams (2) along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) by a drive unit mounted on the sliding carriage (3).

Abstract: The invention refers to a distributor plate (12) for fluidized bed equipment (9) with openings (3) and deflector strips (1) arranged directly above them. It is characterised by the deflection strips (1) having an oblong shape, being mounted longitudinally in the fluidized bed equipment (9), in parallel to the main flow direction (19) of the product above the openings (3) in the base plate (2), and having spacers (6) that form an outflow cross-section around the periphery of the deflection strip (1) for the fluidizing gas, where the base plate openings (3) can be designed advantageously with an oblong cross-section. This ensures good fluidization of the material, while also conveying it.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing torrefied lignocellulosic material in a commercially suitable process.

Abstract: A sheet forming screen is described which is formed as a multi-layer fabric, wherein the fabric has a longitudinal thread repeat of sixteen longitudinal threads, four longitudinal threads (11 to 14) of which are formed as upper longitudinal threads, eight longitudinal threads (31 to 38) of which are formed as lower longitudinal threads, and the remaining four longitudinal threads (21 to 24) of which form two functional longitudinal thread pairs of two longitudinal threads each arranged next to each other which alternately complete the first weave, wherein at least one of the four longitudinal threads which form the two functional longitudinal thread pairs extends both in the upper fabric layer and in the lower fabric layer and thereby binds the lower fabric layer to the upper fabric layer.

Abstract: A hydraulic turbine has a runner blade fixedly mounted to a runner hub. The runner blade has a mounting flange having a generally rectangular shape held in contact with a complementary generally rectangular shaped outside surface portion of the runner hub. The complementary rectangular shapes increases surface contact area between the blade mounting flange and the hub over that of circular shaped flanges and thereby reduces the stress levels between the blade flange and the hub. Further, the surface contact area between the blade mounting flange and the blade root is increased to thereby reduce the stress level in the blade root fillets.

Abstract: A device for heat transfer, particularly in fluidized bed equipment. Several layers of heat exchanger tubes are provided, with radial arms mounted in between to mix and loosen the product. In addition, a process is disclosed for heat transfer in high-temperature processes for bulk material, particularly granulates or powders, in fluidized bed units, where the heat is transferred to and absorbed by the fluidized bed on several levels, and by the fluidized bulk material being agitated mechanically between these levels. This allows transfer of high energy densities without the risk of bridging or local overheating.

Abstract: Methods of producing mechanical pulps from lignocellulosic material including partial defibration of lignocellulosic material in a chip press followed by liquid impregnation, preheating the lignocellulosic material for 20 seconds or less at a pressure between 7.5 and 12 bar (gauge) prior to mechanically refining the lignocellulosic material in a primary mechanical refiner at a pressure between 7.5 and 12 bar (gauge), thus obtaining a high freeness pulp.

Abstract: A method for torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass using a torrefaction reactor vessel having stacked trays, the method including: continuously feeding the biomass to an upper inlet of the torrefaction reactor vessel such that the biomass material is deposited on an upper tray of a plurality of trays stacked vertically within the reactor; as the biomass moves across an upper surface of each of the trays, heating and drying the biomass material with a gas injected into the vessel, wherein the gas is substantially non-oxidizing of the biomass, is under a pressure of at least 20 bar gauge and at a temperature of at least 200° C.; cascading the biomass down through the trays by passing the biomass through an opening in each of the trays to deposit the biomass on a lower tray; discharging torrefied biomass from a lower outlet of the torrefaction reactor vessel, and circulating gas extracted from a lower elevation of the reactor vessel to an upper region of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A water turbine with a rotatable turbine wheel having a wheel disc, buckets fixed to the wheel disc, and nozzle expelling a water jet on the bucket. The rotatable wheel and the nozzle are arranged in a casing with a water outlet. The interior of the casing reduces splash back of discharging water and detrimental water spray on the rotatable wheel. An energy damping device is attached on stationary, water splash exposed parts inside the turbine casing to dissipate energy from water of high velocity leaving the buckets and dense pulverised water mist.

Abstract: A hydraulic turbine including: a passageway permitting liquid to pass through the turbine; a draft tube defining a portion of the passageway through which liquid normally flows in a vortex flow path during optimal turbine operating conditions; a rotatable runner mounted upstream of the draft tube and rotating about a central axis passing through the runner and extending into the draft tube; at least one nozzle head device positioned relative to the central axis of the runner and adjacent to an upper portion of the draft tube, the at least one nozzle head device has at least one nozzle from which a corresponding control jet of high velocity liquid is injected axially downstream of the runner and into liquid flowing into the upper portion of the draft tube during part load turbine operation, so as to mitigate breakdown of the vortex flow path.

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.

Abstract: Filter press with press frame containing side beams (2) to support filter plates (17) movably along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2), where the filter plates (17) are oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) and connected to one another, and where a pressure plate (4) is provided that can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) by means of a pushing or pulling device, and which presses the filter plates of the sliding carriage (3) against one another during the filtration process. According to the invention, the pushing or pulling device is mounted on a sliding carriage (3) that can be moved on the side beams (2) along the longitudinal axis of the side beams (2) by means of a drive unit mounted on the sliding carriage (3).

Abstract: A stoker device including: a ladder conveyor having legs extending over a bed and a channel, a yoke connecting a rear portion the legs; a beam assembly fixed to the bed and coupling the yoke to a reciprocating drive, wherein the beam assembly an anchor attached to the bed on one side of the channel, a brace beam attached to the anchor and extending over the channel, and a front beam on an opposite side of the channel to the anchor.