Ink Controller

Ink Controller

INK CONTROLLER for recycle optimisation
Recycled pulp is increasinglu used to produce fine paper. The fianl brightness of the deinked pulp depends essentially on the amount of retained ink particles. If these particles are detached from the fibers, they can be eliminated by flotation. But if these particles are still attached on the fibers, pulping or disperging is not efficient ; and in that case the flotation will not remove the particles. The pulp processor can optimise his process if he knows exactly if the in particles are free or attached. also a lot of energy, chemicals, and fibers can be saved.
The INK CONTROLLER developed by CENTRE TECHNIQUE DU PAPIER (C.T.P.)is an on-line instrument able to evaluate the amount of free ink particles in the filtrate, as well as the amount of attached ink on the pulp.

Principle
The INK CONTROLLER uses a combination of automatic separation and video image analysis to measure :
-A small flow of pulp, taken on-line, is introduced in a tilted rotating drum, covered with a metallic screen. this drum is divided into 4 communicating chambers.

-In the first chamber the pulp is drained. The filtrate flaows, acrosss the drum filter, into a pipe that goes to a micro-SIMPATIC cell. This cell is equipped with a camera and a light source. The camera takes images of the filtrate at a resolution 3 µm. These images are analysed in a SIMPATIC computer. The computer counts free ink particle number and area.
-The drained pulp still rotating in the drum falls into the second and in the third chambers. In each chamber a clean water spray flushes the pulp.
-Finally the clean pulp falls in the fourth chamber, where it is diluted with clear water. The sample flows into a second micro-SIMPATIC cell similar to the first one. A second camera takes images and analyses for ink particles still attached to the fibers.
-The system calculates the amount of the ink particles and presents trend lines for number and area of the attached and free ink particles.

The INK CONTROLLER is a compact stainless steel unit including, drum, measurement cells with camera and stroboscopes, computer, water distribution, electric distribution and automatic daily flush system. Screen, keyboard and mouse can be installed at any convenient location using a link cable.

Results

USER BENEFITS

The INK-CONTROLLER is a new on-line analyser that provides critical information about the deinking process. It allows the user to :
Optimise pulping time
Detect water based inks
Improve brightness
Save chemicals in flotation, washing and bleaching
Reduce flotation rejects
Save energy by better dispersion control
Rapidly diagnose problems in the deinking process.

The INK CONTROLLER is an essential tool to optimise recycled paper production. It is also a great tool to develop new chemicals and deinking equipment.

The INK CONTROLLER will record :
Information about ink particle size in maximum 11 classes

Differentiation of free and attached ink particles.

Technical Desciption

Ink controller unit Lenght x width x height Wheight Material Wheels diameter	140 x 60 x 150 cm 160 kg Stainless steel 150 mm
Connections Electric supply Instrumentation air for cooling Clear water consumption Pulp inlet diameter Pulp flow Maximum consistency Drain Daily flush system	230 volts - 50 Hz / 115 volts - 60 Hz Power maximum 750 watts 2 bars maximum 25 l / mn 20 mm about 2 l / mn 2 %
Integrated Computer Pentium PC Software Cameras Images Screen	WINDOWS NT Workstation Double SIMPATIC software Resolution 3 µm 2 x 2 mm 17 ", link up to 100 m
Information Ink and fiber images Trend curves Histogrammes All data are memorised	Number and area maximum 11 classes