Ragger systems and methods for removing solid debris from pulping processes

A ragger system for removing solid debris from a pulper vessel of a pulping system, the ragger system comprising:

• a ragger operable to pull a tail of solid debris from the pulper vessel, the ragger comprising:
• a puller mechanism comprising a puller drive operatively coupled to the puller mechanism, the puller mechanism operable to engage the tail and pull the tail from the pulper vessel;
• a rider roll spaced apart from the puller mechanism;
• and
• a pressure device configured to adjust a pressure of the rider roll on the tail disposed between the puller mechanism and the rider roll;
• at least one measurement device operable to measure one or more input variables indicative of one or more attributes of the tail, one or more operating conditions of the ragger, one or more operating conditions of the pulping system, or combinations thereof, wherein:
• the at least one measurement device comprises one or more cameras positioned within the pulper vessel or positioned above the pulper vessel, the ragger, or both;
• and
• the one or more cameras are positioned to capture images that include at least 50% of the exposed length of the tail, wherein the exposed length of the tail is the length of the tail from the puller mechanism to a point where the tail enters the pulp slurry in the pulping vessel;
• and
• a control system comprising a processor, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable and executable instructions stored on the memory module, wherein:
• the control system is communicatively coupled to the at least one measurement device and to the puller drive, the pressure device, or combinations thereof;
• and
• the machine readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the ragger system to automatically:
• measure the one or more input variables with the at least one measurement device, wherein the one or more input variables is indicative of one or more attributes of the tail, one or more operating conditions of the ragger, one or more operating conditions of the pulping system, or combinations thereof;
• adjust a rate of withdrawal of the tail, a direction of the puller drive, a pressure of the pressure device, or combinations thereof based on the measured one or more input variables;
• capture one or more images of the tail with the one or more cameras, wherein the captured images show at least 50% of the exposed length of the tail;
• and
• process the captured images to produce a thickness profile as a function of position along the length of the tail, where the thickness profile comprises the thickness of the tail at each position along the length of the tail.

A ragger system for removing solid debris from a pulper vessel of a pulping system, the ragger system comprising:

• a ragger operable to pull a tail of solid debris from the pulper vessel, the ragger comprising:
• a puller mechanism comprising a puller drive operatively coupled to the puller mechanism, the puller mechanism operable to engage the tail and pull the tail from the pulper vessel;
• a rider roll comprising a rider roll drive operatively coupled to the rider roll, wherein the rider roll is spaced apart from the puller mechanism;
• and
• a pressure device configured to adjust a pressure of the rider roll on the tail disposed between the puller mechanism and the rider roll;
• at least one measurement device operable to measure one or more input variables indicative of one or more attributes of the tail, one or more operating conditions of the ragger, one or more operating conditions of the pulping system, or combinations thereof, wherein the at least one measurement device comprises a torque measurement device coupled to the puller mechanism, a rider roll torque measurement device coupled to the rider roll, or both;
• and
• a control system comprising a processor, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable and executable instructions stored on the memory module, wherein:
• the control system is communicatively coupled to the at least one measurement device and to the puller drive, the rider roll drive, the pressure device, or combinations thereof;
• the machine readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the ragger system to automatically:
• measure a torque on the puller mechanism, a torque on the rider roll, or both with the at least one measurement device;
• identify a slippage condition of the ragger based on the measured torque on the puller mechanism, the measured torque on the rider roll, or both;
• and
• in response to identifying the slippage condition of the ragger, generate a slippage alarm signal indicative of the slippage condition of the ragger, adjust the withdrawal rate of the tail, adjust the direction of the puller drive, adjust the pressure of the pressure device, adjust the torque of the rider roll, adjust the speed of the rider roll, or combinations thereof.