Hydrodynamic Sorting
Pressurized slurry filtration separates contaminants and unpulped flakes from usable papermaking fibers using specialized industrial equipment. The pressure screening process forces the wet pulp suspension through a perforated or slotted screen plate using a rotor to keep the slots from clogging. This operation removes plastic debris, adhesive stickies, and large shives while allowing the flexible wood fibers to pass through.
It is an essential step in preparing high-quality recycled pulp for the papermaking machine.
Separation Dynamics
High-speed rotors create alternating pressure and vacuum pulses that keep the fiber suspension fluid and prevent the formation of a dense mat on the plate. Within the pressure screening system, the pulp slurry is fed into the chamber under continuous pressure, and the usable fibers are drawn through the screen slots. Contaminants that are larger than the slot width are swept away by the rotor pulses and are collected as the reject stream.
Adjusting the rotor speed and the pressure drop across the plate allows operators to optimize the cleaning efficiency for different types of recycled paper stock. This active cleaning process ensures a steady flow of clean fibers to the paper machine.
Quality Control
Efficient removal of stickies and flakes reduces the risk of sheet breaks and defects during high-speed printing and converting. In addition, this filtration protects downstream equipment from damage and wear.
