Other Industries Biomass Cement Chemicals Consumer Products Energy: Fossil Fuels Food Environmental Glass Metals Minerals Mining Paper/Wood Pharmaceuticals Plastics Powdered Metals

Globally, pulp and paper plants are faced with heightened competition due to issues of limited production capacity, poor or inconsistent product quality, and questionable reliability and process safety. As a result, pulp and paper plants unwilling to adapt and make the necessary changes, are forced to close.

All of the issues described above are a direct result of poor bulk solids handling at the plant. Wood chips, tree bark, paper scrap, wood pulp, and the various chemical powders used or produced in a pulp and paper plant can experience flow problems such as arching (bridging) and ratholing. Plants that handle fine lime can encounter serious flow, safety, and structural problems during storage, feeding, and conveying of this material. Uncontrolled flow (flooding) of fine lime is a common problem, creating a large process and product variability, along with major safety issues.

Wood chips present a special challenge because of their particle shape. The interlocking nature of wood chips, bark, or mulch, along with inherent moisture and sap (pitch) can induce major flow interruptions during handling in bins, hoppers, and transfer chutes. Even the type of wood can have an influence on handling operations – for instance, softwoods like pine and fir are often problematic, whereas hardwoods like oak and maple tend to be easier handling. Bulk solids handling problems often result in excessive downtime, extra labor, inefficient operation, and off-spec product — all of which are costly. Our key engineering services used to support the paper/wood industry follow.

KEY ENGINEERING SERVICES

• Plant visit for troubleshooting feedstock flow problems
• Flow properties testing of wood chips, paper scrap, pulp
• Pneumatic conveying testing and system design
• Functional design of silos, hoppers, chutes and feeders
  • Reclaim systems for interlocking wood chips
  • Uniform packing/filling of wood chips in a reactor
  • Uniform steaming of wood chips in a digester
  • Hot lime storage bins and feeders
• Physical modeling of wood chip, fiber, or dust application
• Structural engineering for silos, bins, hoppers, chutes
• Detailed design engineering

If your plant is currently experiencing handling difficulties with wood chips, paper scrap, wood pulp, or chemical powders used in paper manufacture, contact Jenike & Johanson for immediate assistance with your bulk solids handling needs.