Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Pulp screening and Low consistency refining is the primary industrial method of improving pulp quality and provides significant energy savings in mechanical pulp production. This proposed research tools and infrastructure grant would see the creation of a state-of-the-art experimental low consistency (LC) pulp processing facility at UBC's Pulp and Paper Centre (PPC) which will include fully instrumented and controlled industrial scale pulp pressure screen, conical LC refiner and large scale stainless steel tanks and mixers. This infrastructure would be immediately used by a large team of students, industrial partners and faculty researchers. It would be the centre piece for a large, $2.2 Million dollar, 5 year, NSERC-CRD research program that is focused on reducing electrical energy in mechanical pulp production. This project is specifically aimed at increasing the use of the more energy efficient LC refining to replace energy transferred in the less efficient, high consistency refining. This project brings together 8 faculty members (7 at UBC and 1 at the University of Toronto) and 10 students and staff and 11 industrial partners working in this area. This infrastructure will allow each researcher to be able to test new ideas and concepts in all aspects, from chemical and biological treatments to new control strategies. This key infrastructure will ensure the success of the entire program. The infrastructure will also be able to be used by our industrial partners to aid their own development and process improvement efforts. Mechanical pulping and papermaking is a strategically important industry for Canada. This infrastructure will increase our natural competitive advantage, greatly enhance our current energy conservation efforts and provide timely advanced training in this important industry.