Effects of Some Wood Chip Properties on Pulp Quality
A series of TMP experiments were performed at CIPP’s TMP pilot plant, and some pulp properties were measured. By comparing chip and pulp properties, and using projections to latent structures (PLS) analysis, we were able to demonstrate that on-line CMS measurements can be used to predict some pulp properties. It should be pointed out that the focus of this paper is to show how CMS measurements can be used to predict some pulp properties. This prediction will suggest ways to control chip quality so as to ensure pulp quality. We tried to explain some important chip properties included in the measurements, but did not try to model them.
Determination of Moisture Content and Basic Density of Poplar Wood Chips under Various Moisture Conditions by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
The potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with partial least-squares (PLS) regression was used to determine the moisture content and basic density of poplar wood chips. NIR spectra collected from the surface of wood chips were used to develop calibration models for moisture content and basic density predication, and various spectral preprocessing techniques were applied to improve the accuracy and robustness of the prediction models. The models were tested using totally independent sample sets and exhibited acceptable predictive performance for moisture content (coefficient of determination for prediction [R2p] = 0.98 and standard error of prediction [SEP] = 2.51 percent) and basic density (R2p = 0.87 and SEP = 17.61 kg m–3). In addition, the effect of moisture variations on prediction of basic density was investigated based on NIR spectra from wood chips under various moisture levels. The results demonstrated that broad absorption bands from water molecules, especially when free water exists in the cell lumen, overlap with informative signals related to wood properties and weaken the calibration relation between spectral features and basic density. Thus, maintaining wood chips in a low and even moisture state would help achieve reliable estimates of wood density by NIR analysis models.
Characterization of ceramic composite membrane filters for hot gas cleaning
Abstract Novel composite ceramic membrane filters suitable for hot gas cleaning operations have been prepared from fly ash and titania particles on stainless steel woven mesh substrates. Both membranes had a structure like a solid packed bed with a thickness of less than 100 μm. In the domain of laminar flow, significant differences in the pressure drop between experimental results and those predicted from the Kozeny-Carman relationship were found, particularly for flow through the titania membrane. Membrane filters with extremely small pores such as the titania membrane are greatly affected by slip up to 80% in permeability at elevated temperatures. Efficiencies of filtration of typical coal fired power station exhaust fly ashes were found to be greater than 909% for both titania and ash membranes, whilst there was greater variation in the pressure drops in the ash membrane than in the titania at typical gas flows.