MECH 450 - Papermaking

Pressing
Pulp and Paper Centre,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of British Columbia
Introduction

 Objectives:
 Remove water

 Consolidate the web, improve fibre bonding

 Water removal is up to 10 times

cheaper by presses than in dryer

 Consistency 15-20% to 35-55%

 Paper ‘web’ is squeezed between a

solid roll and a felt supported by a
perforated roll
Introduction

 Water moves from the web

into the felt and then into the
holes

 Suction can be applied in

the roll

 Blind holes or grooves can

also be used
Theory

 Simple press

 Total pressure is
Force (pressure)
divided into hydraulic
pressure and paper
structure pressure Paper sample

Ptotal= Ph + Pp
Theory

 Flow controlled
 Occurs if there are large density gradients
 Time dependent
 Bottleneck to process … requires more time.

 Pressure controlled
 Consistency in web is constant
 Not dependent on time.
 Depends on change in volume with the applied pressure
Theory
 Phase 1:
 Air is expelled

 Pressure increases until paper is

saturated.

 Felt is unsaturated

 Very little dewatering and all forces

are taken up by the paper structure

 Phase 2
 Hydraulic pressure increases
squeezing water into felt and into roll

 Hydraulic pressure reaches a

maximum

 Felt becomes saturated

 Max nip pressure

 Theory
 Phase 3
 Total pressure decreases
 Paper structure pressure increases to a
maximum
 Max-nip pressure to max paper dryness
 Zero hydraulic pressure in the paper

 Phase 4
 Paper and felt expand
 Paper expands and becomes
unsaturated
 Felt is unsaturated through entire process
 Pressure in structure is lower than felt
 Water existing at the interface is split
between paper and felt (rewet)
Pressure impulse

 Pressing removes water.

 Water removal depends on drainage

rate multiplied by time

 Drainage rate is dependent on

pressure and resistance

 Pressure times time (Impulse) is a

useful parameter to characterize
pressing.
Press Impulse
Rewet

 As nip expands,
2
pressure in paper Paper
Mid
1nip
becomes slightly felt

negative (suction)
 Draws water from
felt to paper
 Higher moisture
content leaving is
called rewet
Sweet-Plot
R
k2= k1 +
 Can estimate the rewet W
form a sweet plot

 Slope is R

 Intercept is moisture
ratio without rewet
Factors affecting water removal

 Nip pressure
 Water removal increases exponentially with nip pressure
 Pressure increases with each nip.
 Want the last nip to have highest pressure without crushing the
web.

 Speed
 Reduces dwell time in nip … requires higher nip pressure to
maintain water removal

 Roll type
 Rubber hardness, holes, grooves, diameter
Factors affecting water removal

 Felts
 Permeable to allow water to enter

 Support the pressure imposed on the web

 Often contradictory (compromise)

 Polyamide fibres and yarnes with specification on

tensile strength and compressibility, calliper, basis
weight, permeability.

 Must be dried and cleaned after nip …

Press types

 Plain press
 Double felted press
 Water removal in two directions
 Good for heavy weight papers
 Most used in first nip

 Suction press
 Non-rotating suction box to enhance water removal.

 Hot press roll

 Increase temperature in the nip
 Decreases water viscosity, enhancing water removal.
Press types

 Extended Nip Presses

 Sationary loaded ‘shoe’

 Usually double felted

 Increased dwell time

Configuration

 Typical 3-nip press

Configuration

 4-nip press
Effect on paper properties
Effect on paper properties
Effect on paper properties