Process and System for Controlling Temperature of a Circulating Foamed Fluid

A system for controlling a temperature of a foamed suspension of fibers for forming a web, the system comprising:

• a mixing tank for holding a foamed suspension of fibers, the foamed suspension of fibers comprising a mixture of a fiber furnish, a surfactant, and water;
• a recirculation loop that circulates at least a portion of the foamed suspension of fibers from the mixing tank and back to the mixing tank, the recirculation loop maintaining the fibers in a foamed suspension;
• and
• a heat exchanger positioned along the recirculation loop, the heat exchanger being configured to adjust a temperature of the at least a portion of the foamed suspension of fibers.

A process for controlling a temperature of a foamed suspension of fibers for forming a web comprising:

• holding a foamed suspension of fibers in a mixing tank, the foamed suspension of fibers comprising a mixture of a fiber furnish, a surfactant, and water;
• flowing at least a portion of the foamed suspension of fibers through a recirculation loop that circulates the foamed suspension of fibers from the mixing tank and back to the mixing tank, the recirculation loop maintaining the fibers in a foamed suspension;
• and
• actively cooling the at least the portion of foamed suspension of fibers flowing through the recirculation loop to maintain a temperature of the foamed suspension of fibers being below a preset temperature.