Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for maintaining a constant refining intensity under varying tonnage rate and applied power conditions to a slurry of paper stock being passed through a disk type refiner. The system utilizes a control strategy and several unique control algorithms which combine to provide a result which relates the speed of rotation of the refiner elements to the power consumed by the drive motor. The present invention is based on intensity which is defined as the net refining power applied divided by the number of bar crossings (refining elements) per unit time. The system is an adaptive control system which operates on the basis of real time measurements of the refiner process.

Abstract: A refiner control continuously calculates required gearmotor output speed in opposition to the main motor drive power such that an increase in main power causes a decrease in gearmotor output speed and therefore provides a variable resolution over the entire power range of the main drive for stable refiner operation at various setpoint levels.