Cellulose Particle Size Control With Polarized Optical Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high energy consumption in the production of microfibrillar cellulose due to high frictional forces and viscosity, leading to increased production costs and limited economically feasible applications.
Innovation Solution
Controlled processing of cellulose through adjusting parameters such as gap and RPM in refiners, chemical and enzymatic treatments, and pressure in micro fluidizers and homogenizers, along with advanced measurement techniques to optimize particle size and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-degree refining is performed to produce microfibrillar cellulose, then the particle size is reduced and specific surface area is increased, but energy consumption increases excessively due to high frictional forces and viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition and pH of the refining medium to reduce frictional forces during mechanical refining. By adjusting chemical parameters (adding specific chemicals to the water phase), the viscosity and friction characteristics of the medium are changed, enabling effective refining at lower energy consumption while achieving the desired particle size reduction and microfibrillar structure development.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical refining is intensified to reduce particle size, then manufacturing precision improves, but production costs increase due to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces production costs by changing the chemical parameters of the refining system. Specific chemicals are added to modify the rheological properties of the refining medium, reducing frictional forces and enabling effective particle size reduction at lower mechanical energy input, thereby lowering overall production costs while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemicals as an intermediary substance in the refining process. These chemicals act as a mediator between the mechanical refining action and the cellulose fibers, reducing direct friction and mechanical stress requirements. The chemical intermediary facilitates particle size reduction with lower energy input, making the process more economically viable.
3Use of energy by moving object
If chemical processing is used to assist mechanical refining, then energy consumption is reduced, but chemical usage and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages process complexity by focusing on simple parameter changes - specifically adjusting the chemical composition and pH of the refining medium. Rather than introducing complex chemical processing systems, the invention uses straightforward chemical additions to modify the physical properties of the water phase, achieving energy reduction while keeping the process relatively simple and易于 to implement in existing refining equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A solution for controlling cellulose processing comprises performing (200) optically first measurements of the cellulose during the processing, performing (202) second measurements of the cellulose by directing (204) optical radiation to the cellulose, the radiation comprising at least one beam that is polarized and at least one separate beam is non-polarized, measuring (206) attenuations and parameters of polarization of the radiation interacted with the cellulose and determining size of particles in the cellulose based on at least one comparison of the parameters of polarization and the attenuations. The processing is controlled (208) based on the first measurements until a given threshold of the first measurements has been reached and thereafter controlling the processing based on the second measurements.