Apparatus and method for processing wood fibers

A pulp refiner comprising:

• a frame;
• at least a first pair of refining members comprising:
• a first refining member associated with the frame and comprising a first refining body including a first refining surface comprising:
• first refiner bars separated by first refiner grooves, each of the first refiner bars extending from a radially inward position on the first refining surface to a first radially outward position on the first refining surface, and first teeth extending to a further radially outward position on the first refining surface, wherein the further radially outward position is nearer to an outermost part of the first refining body than the first radially outward position;
• a second refining member associated with the frame and comprising a second refining body including a second refining surface;
• the first refining member being spaced from the second refining member to define a refining space therebetween;
• a rotor associated with the frame and coupled to one of the first refining member or the second refining member such that rotation of the rotor effects movement of the first and second refining members relative to one another;
• and
• wherein when a slurry of wood pulp comprising wood fibers is supplied to the frame, the wood pulp slurry passes through the refining space such that a significant number of the wood fibers in the wood pulp slurry are refined and a plurality of wood fiber bundles in the wood pulp slurry are separated.