Patents Assigned to Valmet Automation Oy
  • Patent number: 12180655
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a doctoring comprises a vibration sensor which is individual and is attached at a discrete location of a doctor blade arrangement, the at least one vibration sensor converting a mechanical vibration of the doctor blade arrangement to an electrical signal, the mechanical vibration being caused by the doctor blade in response to a scraping operation of a rotating roll which is in contact with a moving web. A data processing unit receives the electrical signal carrying information on the vibration, compares said vibration with a reference of at least one previous measurement of a same grade of the web, and start one or more preventive actions in order to avoid a drop-through in the case said vibration exceeds at least one boundary of the reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Kimmo Mehtomaa, Kari Erkkilä, Juha-Matti Heinonen, Sami Kähkölä, Jukka Österholm
  • Publication number: 20240326071
    Abstract: A spray nozzle includes a first flow channel providing a flow path between a first inlet and a first outlet, and a second flow channel providing a flow path between a second inlet and a second outlet surrounding the first outlet. The first flow channel is delimited by an inner casing and the second flow channel is delimited by an outer casing. In order to achieve an optimized level of uniformity of moisturizing fluid spray, the first outlet includes a plurality of first outlet openings, wherein the first outlet openings are separated by first slats extending helically at least a part of the distance between the first inlet and the first outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Pasi Moilanen, Mikko Laukkala, Kari Söder, Iikka Rytkönen, Tero Hämeenaho, Matti Lindstedt, Henri Väänänen
  • Patent number: 12104319
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chemical recovery boiler. The method includes measuring concentrations of sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, and sodium sulfate from green liquor of the chemical recovery boiler, determining a target temperature for smelt, imaging at least an area of a char bed of the chemical recovery boiler, the area being close to a smelt spout, to obtain an image of the area, determining a measured temperature of the char bed using the image of the area. The method further includes determining that the measured temperature of the char bed is less than the target temperature for smelt, and controlling the chemical recovery boiler such that the temperature of the char bed increases. A chemical recovery boiler for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Jukka Koskinen, Mikko Leskinen, Jarmo Mansikkasalo
  • Publication number: 20240288341
    Abstract: A novel filtrate sampling device for collecting a filtrate sample from a pulp solution. The filtrate sampling device includes: a jacket, a piston rod including a first end and second end, the piston rod being arranged inside the said jacket in the longitudinal direction of the jacket, and a hole screen arranged on the piston rod. The hole screen includes a number of holes in the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Pasi KÄRKI, Jesse JANSA
  • Patent number: 12039239
    Abstract: A method for obtaining information on quality of combustion of a liquor in a chemical recovery boiler. The method comprises entering a value of a first input parameter to a computational model configured to determine, based on the value of the first input parameter, a value of the quality of combustion of the liquor in the chemical recovery boiler, and at a first time, running the computational model to obtain a first modelling result. The method comprises measuring, from the chemical recovery boiler a value indicative of carryover to obtain a measurement result; comparing the first modelling result with [a] the measurement result or [b] a result derived from the measurement result, to obtain a primary comparison result; and adjusting the value of the first input parameter based on the primary comparison result to obtain an adjusted value of the first input parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventor: Jarmo Mansikkasalo
  • Patent number: 11841357
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus of a moving paper web, includes an optical radiation source that outputs optical radiation toward a scattering element of the measurement apparatus. The scattering element scatters the optical radiation, and a transmitting surface of the scattering element directs the optical radiation in a scattered manner toward the moving paper web. A distance between said transmitting surface of the scattering element and a surface of the paper web is known, and the transmitting surface and a detector of the apparatus are on opposite sides of the paper web. The detector receives at least a part of the optical radiation, which is side-scattered from the moving paper web. The detector determines a moisture value and a dry weight of the paper web on the basis of spectral information on the received optical radiation and the known distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Markku Mäntylä, Pekka Suopajärvi
  • Patent number: 11828736
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising: controlling suction with predetermined force in a known measurement area to a moving cardboard or paper web in a manufacturing process, detecting on-line measurement information on deviation of the moving cardboard or paper web in the manufacturing process caused by the suction with predetermined force in the known measurement area, and determining elastic modulus of the moving cardboard or paper web in the manufacturing process on the basis of the measured deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Valmet Automation Oy
    Inventors: Markku Mäntylä, Jussi Graeffe, Anna-Leena Erkkilä
  • Patent number: 11746470
    Abstract: A method for controlling carryover in a chemical recovery boiler. The method comprises feeding black or brown liquor to a furnace of the chemical recovery boiler through an injection gun to burn the black or brown liquor. The chemical recovery boiler comprises a bullnose, which narrows the furnace, and a first superheater, of which at least a part is arranged at a higher vertical level than the bullnose. The method comprises measuring information indicative of a spatial temperature distribution on a cross section of the furnace, wherein the cross section is above the injection gun and below the first superheater; determining primary information indicative of carryover using the information indicative of the spatial temperature distribution on the cross section of the furnace; and controlling a temperature of the black or brown liquor that is fed to the furnace using the primary information. In addition, a system for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Jarmo Mansikkasalo, Jukka Koskinen
  • Patent number: 11692943
    Abstract: Measurement apparatus including an optical sensor, which performs repeatedly transmission measurements through moving sheet of paper or board at at least one wavelength band dominantly absorbed by water, at at least one wavelength band dominantly absorbed by cellulose. The apparatus also includes an X-ray sensor, which performs repeatedly transmission measurements through the moving sheet of paper or board with photons of electromagnetic radiation (1 keV to 10 keV). The apparatus comprises a data processing unit, which receives signals with information on intensities of the optical and X-ray radiations passed through the sheet from the optical sensor and the X-ray sensor, and determines, based on the information, all of the following of the moving sheet: the dry stuff content as a function of the cellulose mass per unit area of the sheet, water mass per unit area of the sheet and the ash mass per unit area of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Kari Veikkolainen, Marko Toskala, Markku Mäntylä
  • Publication number: 20230204489
    Abstract: A solution for controlling cellulose processing includes performing optically first measurements of the cellulose during the processing, performing second measurements of the cellulose by directing optical radiation to the cellulose, the radiation including at least one beam that is polarized and at least one separate beam is non-polarized, measuring attenuations and parameters of polarization of the radiation interacted with the cellulose and determining size of particles in the cellulose based on at least one comparison of the parameters of polarization and the attenuations. The processing is controlled based on the first measurements until a given threshold of the first measurements has been reached and thereafter controlling the processing based on the second measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka HUHTANEN, Ismo JOENSUU, Juha OJANEN
  • Publication number: 20230057366
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chemical recovery boiler. The method includes measuring concentrations of sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, and sodium sulfate from green liquor of the chemical recovery boiler, determining a target temperature for smelt, imaging at least an area of a char bed of the chemical recovery boiler, the area being close to a smelt spout, to obtain an image of the area, determining a measured temperature of the char bed using the image of the area. The method further includes determining that the measured temperature of the char bed is less than the target temperature for smelt, and controlling the chemical recovery boiler such that the temperature of the char bed increases. A chemical recovery boiler for the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Jukka KOSKINEN, Mikko LESKINEN, Jarmo MANSIKKASALO
  • Patent number: 11474501
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for: receiving information on a configurable set of devices defined as a follow-up group, the set of devices including at least one follow-up device configured to at least temporarily operate in a follow-up mode, receiving an instruction to select first process information provided by the industrial process control system, activating a follow-up mode on the at least one follow-up device, determining second process information based on the first process information and instructing the at least one follow-up device to present the second process information according to the follow-up mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Anni Uusitalo, Lauri Lehtikunnas, Jouni Ruotsalainen
  • Publication number: 20220317051
    Abstract: Measurement apparatus including an optical sensor, which performs repeatedly transmission measurements through moving sheet of paper or board at at least one wavelength band dominantly absorbed by water, at at least one wavelength band dominantly absorbed by cellulose. The apparatus also includes an X-ray sensor, which performs repeatedly transmission measurements through the moving sheet of paper or board with photons of electromagnetic radiation (1 keV to 10 keV). The apparatus comprises a data processing unit, which receives signals with information on intensities of the optical and X-ray radiations passed through the sheet from the optical sensor and the X-ray sensor, and determines, based on the information, all of the following of the moving sheet: the dry stuff content as a function of the cellulose mass per unit area of the sheet, water mass per unit area of the sheet and the ash mass per unit area of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Kari VEIKKOLAINEN, Marko TOSKALA, Markku MÄNTYLÄ
  • Patent number: 11435724
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, comprising: performing a second web browser accessible by a first web browser in a remote user device, communicating with a first web application in the first web browser of the user device, performing a second web application in the second web browser configured to communicate with an automation service of an automation system and provide a user interface to the automation service, receiving first feature information from the first web application, and providing, on the basis of the received first feature information, second feature information for adapting the user interface to the automation service for the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Valmet Automation Oy
    Inventor: Henry Haverinen
  • Patent number: 11371832
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring thickness of a planar object, where the measuring device comprises a first optical sensor module and a second optical sensor module that located on opposites of the measured planar object with mutual distance the optical sensor modules having at least one light source, a reference shade with two dimensional pattern and an imaging sensor and computing equipment, where the one light source is set to an angle towards measured object and the reference shade is set between the light and the object so that a shadow forms on the surface of the object and the imaging sensor is set so it can detect the reference shade and the shadow while the computing equipment calculates the distance between the surface of the object and sensor module from the distance between the detected shade and shadow of both optical modules and calculate the thickness of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventor: Toni Muotio
  • Patent number: 11340145
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for collecting dust samples. The apparatus comprises a piston (102) and a cylinder (110) for holding the piston with a body having a hole (108) extending through the body. The cylinder (110) has a first end (112), which is open, the first end of the cylinder being slanted such that underside (130) of the cylinder extends farther than upper side (132). A mechanism (114) moves the piston between inward and outward positions. The apparatus gathers dust flowing past the piston into the hole of the piston when the piston is in the outward position and moves the gathered dust by moving the piston into the inward position. An input feed (116) is configured to spread fluid through the hole filled with dust to flush the dust to an output feed (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Petri Janhunen, Ilkka Pyykkönen, Pasi Kärki, Timo Sirviö
  • Patent number: 11204329
    Abstract: A method of measuring properties of a moving cellulose, paper or board sheet. A first parameter of a first resonance caused by the moving sheet in a frequency range 1 GHz to 25 GHz of electromagnetic radiation is measured. A second parameter of an electromagnetic signal transmitted between at least a pair of transceiver parts of a transceiver sensor located on opposite sides of the moving sheet through the moving sheet is measured in a frequency range 25 GHz to 1000 GHz. A minimum difference between the frequency ranges related to the first parameter and the second parameter being at least 5 GHz. Both the dry stuff content and the weight of water per unit of area are determined on the basis of the first parameter, the second parameter and available information related to a distance travelled by the electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Markku Mantyla, Jussi Graeffe, Pekka Jakkula
  • Publication number: 20210364396
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for collecting dust samples. The apparatus comprises a piston (102) and a cylinder (110) for holding the piston with a body having a hole (108) extending through the body. The cylinder (110) has a first end (112), which is open, the first end of the cylinder being slanted such that underside (130) of the cylinder extends farther than upper side (132). A mechanism (114) moves the piston between inward and outward positions. The apparatus gathers dust flowing past the piston into the hole of the piston when the piston is in the outward position and moves the gathered dust by moving the piston into the inward position. An input feed (116) is configured to spread fluid through the hole filled with dust to flush the dust to an output feed (118).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Petri JANHUNEN, Ilkka PYYKKÖNEN, Pasi KÄRKI, Timo SIRVIÖ
  • Publication number: 20210301466
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a doctoring comprises a vibration sensor which is individual and is attached at a discrete location of a doctor blade arrangement, the at least one vibration sensor converting a mechanical vibration of the doctor blade arrangement to an electrical signal, the mechanical vibration being caused by the doctor blade in response to a scraping operation of a rotating roll which is in contact with a moving web. A data processing unit receives the electrical signal carrying information on the vibration, compares said vibration with a reference of at least one previous measurement of a same grade of the web, and start one or more preventive actions in order to avoid a drop-through in the case said vibration exceeds at least one boundary of the reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventors: Kimmo MEHTOMAA, Kari ERKKILÄ, Juha-Matti HEINONEN, Sami KÄHKÖLÄ, Jukka ÖSTERHOLM
  • Publication number: 20210278200
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring thickness of a planar object, where the measuring device comprises a first optical sensor module and a second optical sensor module that located on opposites of the measured planar object with mutual distance the optical sensor modules having at least one light source, a reference shade with two dimensional pattern and an imaging sensor and computing equipment, where the one light source is set to an angle towards measured object and the reference shade is set between the light and the object so that a shadow forms on the surface of the object and the imaging sensor is set so it can detect the reference shade and the shadow while the computing equipment calculates the distance between the surface of the object and sensor module from the distance between the detected shade and shadow of both optical modules and calculate the thickness of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: VALMET AUTOMATION OY
    Inventor: Toni MUOTIO