Paper Industry
The paper industry involves complex processes from pulp preparation through forming, drying, and finishing. Precise level and pressure measurement handles foaming, buildup, and varying densities while optimizing fiber recovery and energy efficiency.
Overview
The paper industry involves complex processes from pulp preparation through paper forming, pressing, drying, and finishing. Each stage presents distinct instrumentation challenges, from measuring wood chip levels in digesters to monitoring chemical concentrations in bleaching processes. Level measurement in stock chests, chemical storage tanks, and coating vessels must handle foaming, buildup, and varying material densities. Pressure monitoring across refiners, presses, and steam systems is essential for maintaining product quality and energy efficiency. Modern paper mills increasingly rely on precise process control to optimize fiber recovery, reduce water consumption, and minimize energy use while meeting demanding product specifications.
Industry Challenges
Key challenges we help address
Monitoring aggressive chemicals in pulp bleaching processes
Preventing fiber buildup and clogging in paper machines
Managing wood chip inventory to avoid production gaps
Controlling moisture content in drying cylinders precisely
Optimizing chemical dosing in coating and sizing systems
Reducing water and energy consumption in liquor recovery
Solutions for This Industry
Tracking Solutions
Industrial IoT
Use Cases
Explore specific scenarios and challenges in this industry
Ash silo
Paper Industry
Large quantities of fibre waste are produced during paper production. These are dried and burned and the energy released during combustion is used as process heat or to generate electricity. The ash is stored in high silos to be later used as an additive in the building materials industry. When the ash silo is filled, a great amount of noise and dust is generated and the material forms large angles of repose and overhangs. Filling, emptying and transportation logistics are controlled through the level measurement system.
Batching tank for coatings
Paper Industry
The press rolls are cleaned during product changes or shutdowns of the paper machine and then treated with a special coating agent. This protects them from adhesions and deposits that could cause the paper web to tear or split in the machine. The coating agent is mixed with hot water in a batching tank at a temperature of 50 °C, and pumped to various points in the machine. To maintain automatic operation, the level in the batching tank must be measured and the filter status monitored continuously.
Bleaching tower
Paper Industry
In order to achieve the desired degree of whiteness, the pulp must be bleached. For this it is filled into the 25 meter high bleaching tower. The bleaching process runs continuously at temperatures up to 95 °C, with using chemicals such as oxygen, ozone or peroxide. The bleached pulp is discharged via screw conveyors. Due to its size, the bleaching tower is never emptied. Continuous level measurement enables a smooth process flow.
Cleaner
Paper Industry
Cleaners remove contaminating materials that are specifically heavier than fibres. In waste paper processing, these contaminants are, for example, sand, glass, stones or staples. The feed through the inlet is tangential in order to set the flow of material in rotation. The heavier particles migrate outwards due to the centrifugal forces and are precipitated downwards, while the lighter fibres in the middle of the vortex rise upwards and are passed on as accepted material. Pressure measurements in the inlet, outlet and overflow are required to regulate the process and ensure that it stays at the optimal operating point.
Deaerator
Paper Industry
The approach flow system connects the stock preparation facility with the paper machine. Here, the pulp for the paper machine is diluted to the required consistency. Additionally, the approach flow system ensures a smooth flow of stock. A particularly important element is the stock deaerator upstream of the headbox. It removes any entrained air under vacuum to ensure a constant, smoothly running process. For effective performance, the stock deaerator always has to be filled to a predefined, millimetre-exact level.
Digester
Paper Industry
In the digester, the action of chemical dissolution removes the lignin binder, thereby exposing and freeing the cellulose fibres. During the cooking process according to the alkaline sulphate method, the fibres are fed into the digester by means of steam pressure. To enable fully automatic operation of the digester, a point level detection of the filling is required. The vessel pressure also needs to be carefully monitored throughout this process.
Ready to Transform Your Paper Industry Operations?
Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can help optimize your operations with our industry-specific solutions.
Contact Us