Capillary dewatering method and apparatus
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsStrong C. Chuang, Kenneth Kaufman, Robert H. Schiesser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for reducing the moisture content of a paper web in a papermaking process from in the range of 10% to 32% dry to the range of 33% to 50% dry wherein the embryonic web is supported on a knuckled through drier fabric and lightly pressed between the knuckled through drier fabric and a capillary membrane of a capillary dewatering roll. The capillary membrane has capillary pores therethrough which have a substantially straight through, non-tortuous path with a pore aspect ratio of from about 2 to about 20. A vacuum is drawn within the capillary dewatering roll which is not greater than the negative capillary suction pressure of the capillary pores.
Claims8
A system for removing water from a wet paper web during a paper web manufacturing process, comprising:
- a rotating capillary dewatering roll that has a capillary membrane with capillary pores therethrough which have a substantially straight through, non-tortuous path, the capillary pores having a pore aspect ratio of from about 2 to about 20;
- and
- means for lightly pressing a web to the capillary membrane to ensure hydraulic contact between the water contained in the web and the water in the pores of the capillary membrane without overall compaction of the web.
A system for reducing the moisture content of a paper web in a papermaking process, comprising:
- a rotating capillary dewatering roll that has a capillary membrane with capillary pores therethrough which have a substantially straight through, non-tortuous path, the capillary pores having a pore aspect ratio of from about 2 to about 20;
- means for pressing a web to the capillary membrane to ensure hydraulic contact between the water contained in the web and the water in the pores of the capillary membrane;
- and
- means for spraying the capillary membrane with a cleansing fluid to wash the surface of the capillary membrane and to flush any particulates trapped within the capillary pores through the substantially straight through, non-tortuous capillary pores to the inside of the rotating capillary dewatering roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.