DEWATERING APPARATUS

Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering material suspensions during their passage between two press rolls (10), where liquid is pressed in by overpressure through the shell surfaces of the rolls, and the final dewatering takes place by pressing in a nip (11) between the rolls (10). The upper portion of the rolls (10) is surrounded by a casing (12) with inlets (14) for the suspension. An outlet for the material web is located beneath the nip (11), and doctor blades (16) are located in connection to both rolls (10) beneath the nip (11). The transfer of the dewatered material takes place by means of gravity.

Description: Dewatering apparatus This invention relates to an apparatus for dewatering material suspensions. The apparatus comprises two co-operating press rolls, which between themselves form a press nip. The rolls are formed with liquid permeable shell surfaces, whereby the material suspension, for example a pulp suspension, is dewatered in that liquid is pressed through these surfaces by means of overpressure. The material is finally dewatered to the desired dry matter content in the nip between the rolls. The shell surface of the rolls consists of a perforated metal sheet, which is welded onto a roll body. For the purpose of high capacity, the total open area shall be large, and at the same time the apertures shall be so small as to prevent fibers from following along with the liquid through the apertures. For solving these problems, the press roll can be covered with a wire cloth on the outside of the perforated shell sheet. The wire permits liquid flow even along the shell surface. This implies, that the perforations can be given a greater size, whereby the capacity is increased without risk of increased fiber passage. Wire-covered press rolls have proved especially advantageous for machanical pulp, which contains a large amount of fine material. Compared with a perforated metal sheet, the wire cloth permits a smaller amount of fine material to pass through. The rolls are mounted rotary on two parallel shafts and usually are immersed into a trough, which encloses at least the lower half of the rolls. The material suspension is supplied to the space between the rolls and trough. This space is sealed from the surrodnding so that overpressure can be maintained in the trough whereby the dewatering is facilitated. The pulp is moved from the trough upward through the nip where it is simultaneously dewatered. Doctor blades located after the nip have the object to remove the dewatered pulp web from the rolls. The pulp is thereafter removed by a conveyor to subsequent processing steps. CONFIRMATION By this type of dewatering method and apparatus dry matter contents of up to 55-60% can be obtained. The equipment required for removing the dewatered pulp web from the rolls and for transferring the pulp from below to the conveyor, however, is complicated and sensitive to operation breakdowns. In meny cases when a maximum dry matter content is not required, therefore, a simpler dewatering apparatus would be sufficient and desirable. The present invention offers a solution of the aforesaid problems. The object of the invention, thus, is a simplified method and a simpler dewatering apparatus where the dewatered pulp web easily can be taken off and conveyed away from the apparatus. By means of the apparatus according to the invention, the dry matter content of the pulp can be increased from 0,5-81 to 8-30%, preferably from 1-5% to 8-15%. The characterizing features of the invention ara apparent from the attached claims. The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention, where Fig. 1 is a cross-section of a dewatering apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale doctor blades for transferring the dewatered pulp web; and Fig 3 shows a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of a dewatering apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises two cylindric rotary liquid permeable press rolls 10. The shell surface of the press rolls 10 consists of a perforated metal sheet, which is attached, preferably by welding, to a roll body. On the outside of the perforated sheet, a wire cloth can be located. Such a wire cloth preferably is made of plastic wires. The rolls 10 form between themselves a press nip 11. The upper portion of the rolls 10 is enclosed in a casing 12 in such a way, that a space 13 is formed above the rolls 10. An inlet 14 forthe material suspension is connected to the casing 12. The space 13 is sealed from the surrounding by means of sealings 15 toward the shell surfaces of the rolls 10 and by sealings (not shown) applied to the end walls of the rolls. The pulp web in the press nip 11 acts as a sealing between the rolls. Doctor blades 16 below the press nip 11 ensure the transfer of the pulp web coming from the nip 11 and at the same time prevent re-wetting of the material. Below the doctor blades a collecting means for the pulp is located, for example a conveying screw 17 or a tank. At least one of the press rolls is adjustable for control¬ ling the size of the nip 11. The doctor blades 16, together with associated press roll, are adjustable in a corresponding way. The doctor blades can abut the press rolls, but in the case of wire-covered press rolls a small distance, preferably 1-0,5 mm, must be maintained between doctor blade and roll. The adjustability preferably is brought about by designing one of the press rolls 10 and associated doctor blade 16 stationary, and the other press roll and associated doctor blade movable. It is also possible to couple the two doctor blades 16 one to the other. The doctor blades are then capable to move to and from the nip 11 together in order to maintain the distance to the shell surfaces when controlling the nip size. The doctor blades 16 can be coupled together by means of distance members 18 located at both ends of the doctor blades. A number of distance members 18 can possibly also be arranged along the length of the doctor blades and be designed so as to object the pulp web as little as possible. The doctor blades 16 should extend as long a distance as possible into the nip 11 in order to prevent at optimum re- wetting of the pulp web after the nip, due to liquid penetration out through the shell surfaces of the rolls after the nip. The size of the nip should be 1-5 mm. The distance between the two doctor blades 16 in relation to the size of the nip 11 should be in the interval 10:1 to 25:1. The angle between the two doctor blades 16 should be 0-30°, preferably 5-15°. The material suspension to be dewatered is supplied in a simple way through one or more inlets 14, so that the space 13 is filled by the suspension. By overpressure in the space 13 the liquid is pressed in through the permeable shell surfaces of the rolls 10 while simultaneously the material is deposited on these surfaces. The material is moved by rotation of the rolls through the nip 11. After the nip the material is transferred from the rolls by means of gravity, and the material drops down into the conveyor 17. The doctor blades 16 ensure the transfer of the material web from the rolls. The arrangement implies that a certain re-wetting of the dewatered pulp web is unavoidable, but it is still possible to increase the dry matter content from 0,5-8% to 8-30%, preferably from 1-5% to 8-15%. This is in many cases fully sufficient in view of the conditions desired in subsequent processes. The advantage lies in the simplicity and realiability of the dekatering by a simplified equipment. The transfer of the dewatered material web takes place by the effect of gravity, and the pulp can be easily collected and eyed further in a reliable manner. The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 corresponds substantially to the embodiment of Fig. 1 but it is provided with a distribution device 19 connected to each inlet 14. Each distribution device 19 has openings 20 arranged laterally, so that the flows of the supplied material suspension are directed outward along the casing 12 in the space 13. Further, the distribution devices 19 are provided with a filling means 21 arranged above the nip 11 and extending along the entire length of the rolls 10. Thereby the volume for the suspension in the space 13 is reduced. The cross-section of the filling means 21 should be substantially triangular. According to this embodiment the suspension is supplied through the inlets 14 and distributed laterally from the openings 20 of the distribution device 19. Thereby the two flows follow the casing outward and downward to the sealings 15 where the flows are directed inward to the rolls 10 and follow the rolls to the nip 11. These flows are promoted by the filling means 21. As a result of these flows the deposition of material on the rolls can be performed without disturbances. Thereby the efficiency and capacity of the apparatus can be improved. The intention of course, is not restricted to the embodiment described, but can be varied within the scope of the intention idea.

Claims: Claims 1. An apparatus for dewatering material suspensions, comprising two cylindric rotary liquid permeable press rolls (10), which between themselves form a nip (11), through which the material is intended to pass while simultaneously being dewatered so that a material web is formed, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the upper portion of the rolls (10) is enclosed in a casing (12) with inlets (14) for the suspension, that an outlet for the material web is located beneath the nip (11), and that doctor blades (16) are located in connection to both rolls (10) beneath the nip(ll). 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one of the rolls (10) and associated doctor blade (16) are adjustable for controlling the size of the nip (11) . 3. An apparatus as defined in any one of the claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the doctor blades (16) are coupled to each other by distance members (18) . 4. An apparatus as defined in any one of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a transport means (17) is located below the press nip (11) directly beneath the doctor blades (16) . 5. An apparatus as defined in any one of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the shell surface of the rolls (10) is covered with wire cloth. 6. An apparatus as defined in any one of the claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each inlet (14) is provided with a distribution device (19) with openings (20) arranged laterally, which direct the supplied suspension in flows along the casing (12) . 7. An apparatus as defined in claims 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the distribution devices (19) are provided with a filling means (21) arrangend above the nip (11) and extending along the entire length of the rolls (10) , in order to reduce the volume for the suspension in the space (13) between the casing (12) and the rolls (10) .

Inventors: HAEGGSTROEM BERT, SUNDQVIST INGEMAR, SWAERDH OLOF, HAEGGSTROEM, BERT, SUNDQVIST, INGEMAR, SWAERDH, OLOF
Applicants: HAEGGSTROEM BERT, SUNDQVIST INGEMAR, SUNDS DEFIBRATOR IND AB, SWAERDH OLOF, HAEGGSTROEM, BERT, SUNDQVIST, INGEMAR, SUNDS DEFIBRATOR INDUSTRIES AB, SWAERDH, OLOF
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B30B9
IPC codes: B30B9, D21C9, D21F1