Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The disk filter is an essential component of a paper mill. Its dewatering and filtration actions reduce the space needed to store the pulp as well as water consumption. Much like the paper industry, the disk filter design and operational conditions must reflect the changing production framework of the industry. The overall shift from writing and printing to packaging grades, combined with an increased use of recycled fibres necessitates an increase in the operational window of the disk filter and an ability to treat high freeness pulps. Further water consumption reduction efforts also require the disk filter to accept pulp at higher consistency than what is presently the case. Kadant is a leading supplier of stock preparation and approach flow systems designed to produce high-quality white and brown paper grades, with extended expertise in the use of recycled fiber pulps. The company started the development of a disk filter that can process a fiber slurry with a high solid proportion (high consistency). Innofibre plays a leading role in this development. A pilot scale unit of the disk filter, specially designed for this kind of development work, is located at Innofibre and joint efforts by Kadant and Innofibre already led to significant design improvements with respect to the original design. In particular, Innofibre reached an essential milestone when it operated the filter disk at a flow input close to 100 odmt/day/disk. Another success of the joint research and development work was the design of a side-injector to increase the disk filter capacity for high-consistency input pulp. Kadant wishes to pursue the development of the disk filter with Innofibre. The overall goal of the present research and development proposal is to increase the operational flexibility of the disk filter in the modern context of the pulp and paper industry.