Low consistency refining is a process that in spite of that it has been in use in its present concept for more than 60 years still is very little understood. During the last 10 years extensive refining research at Innventia has resulted in a unique understanding of refining effects on fibre properties and how different process alternatives effect the refining result. The conventional concept of refining intensity has been found to give a good estimate of refining conditions but is not sufficient to fully explain the refining result   
 
Innventia’s FEX pilot plant allows refining studies to be conducted in industrial-scale equipment. Refining studies can be done to compare the effect of different refiner types, different refiner fillings or different refining conditions on the refining response of a certain pulp as well as to compare different pulps. Refining curves can be produced at constant throughput or at constant intensity. Actual gap clearance can be monitored during the trials. The Innventia expertise can be utilized when planning trials.

 

Extensive off-line furnish testing is available to complete the refining studies. The stock preparation plant at Innventia comprises both conical and disc refiners. Integration with the fractionation and screening systems makes advanced stock preparation studies possible. Pilot-plant studies can be combined with runs on the FEX paper machine to assess the effects of refining strategy on paper quality.

 

 

Refiner plate with pressure sensors for research on the fluid mechanics of low consistency refining.