A Roll Press Arrangement, Press Roll Apparatus And A Method For Dewatering Fibrous Granular Feedstock

A roll press arrangement for dewatering fibrous granular feedstock in a roll press apparatus, comprising:

• a first cylindrical press roll having a first central axis, said first press roll being arranged to be rotatable about said first central axis, and
• a second cylindrical press roll having a second central axis parallel with the first central axis, said second press roll being arranged to be rotatable about said second central axis,
• wherein the first press roll and the second press roll are further arranged such that a nip is formed between the first press roll and the second press roll so as to apply a compression force on fibrous granular feedstock for dewatering thereof, when in use, and
• wherein a feed region is defined between the first press roll and the second press roll at an inlet side of the nip, the first press roll and the second press roll being rotatable towards the nip on the inlet side thereof for introducing fibrous granular feedstock from feed region into the nip,
• the roll press arrangement further comprises a side plate having a third central axis, said side plate being further arranged to be rotatable about said third central axis towards the nip on the inlet side thereof,
• wherein the side plate is arranged at an axial end of the first press roll and the second press roll such that a side surface of the side plate axially delimits at least the nip and the feed region,
• wherein the side plate is further supported against the axial end of the first press roll and the second press roll at least at a position corresponding to the nip so as to prevent the fibrous granular feedstock from escaping the nip in an axial direction, when in use,
• wherein a clearance of 0.1 mm-4 mm, when in use, is arranged between the side surface of the side plate and the axial end of the first press roll and the second press roll at least at the feed region so as to provide a drainage route for liquid dewatered from the fibrous granular feedstock,
• wherein the side plate has a diameter larger than that of the first press roll, and
• wherein the side plate is arranged to radially exceed an outer circumference of the first press roll so as to axially delimit a bed of fibrous granular feedstock in the feed region, when in use.