Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Refining is a critical process for the development of wood pulp, which enhances the properties of the resulting paper, cardboard and tissue products. During the passage of the pulp through the refining zone, the crossing of the blades subjects the pulp to shear and compressive forces that alter the pulp fibre characteristics. One problem in the peration of the pulp refiner is that there may be tramp metal, rocks or other hard debris that are present in the pulp suspension, and that enter the refining zone of the pulp refiner. These contaminants have the potential of damaging the refiner blades, which could compromise the refiner action, shorten the life of the refiner filling, or cause the refiner to be stopped and the refiner fillings to be replaced. To increase product reliability and efficiency, AFT wishes to study the effect of design parameters and manufacturing methods on blade resistance using mechanical testing and computer-driven design. Thus, the research objectives of this project are: 1. Analyze the failure mechanisms and determine the strength of the current fillings. 2. Perform finite element analysis and develop alternate designs with alternate materials. 3. Perform mechanical testing on the improved designs and assess the product strength.