Where is Your Pulp Mill’s Black Liquor Bottleneck?

Black liquor solids is a key measurement operation influencing the economics of the pulping process, as well as the environmental load of the mill. Typical analyses of black liquor solids are conducted on a periodic bases throughout the mill, from the washers through the evaporator to the ring header. These analyses consist of many samples being taken at key location and analyzed in the lab. This process can take many hours or even days to collect and determine the solids. Electron Machine has worked for years to develop and improve the speed and the accuracy of both inline and offline equipment. This continual improvement for black liquor solids measurements allows Electron Machine the ability to offer equipment that can greatly increase the speed in which these studies are conducted.

How confident are you in your black liquor solids? Do you know the solids at every critical phase of the process? Would you like to decrease the time that solids analyses take?

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMPLIMENTARY ON-SITE BLACK LIQOR SOLIDS SERVICE

Electronmachine.com/BlackLiquorTesting

With the recent demand for continue uptime and reduced labor forces, Electron machine is offering a complimentary black liquor study service for all pulp mill customers to analyze the potential for efficiency improvement and to assist in the implementation of refractometers in this costly part of the pulping process. We can assist process control engineers with their black liquor sampling and with the use of our equipment can decrease the time required to complete sampling. The service includes a 1 day on-site evaluation of the mill’s current black liquor solids, as well as any equipment and control practices used, and the identification of potential areas for improvement.

You can learn more at the Electron Machine website here.  Take this opportunity now to schedule a complementary service to identify your Black Liquor bottleneck.

A Successful 2019 Chem Show for Electron Machine Corporation!

Electron Machine Corporation completed a very successful 2019 Chem Show exhibition today. Visitor traffic was strong and interest in our industrial refractometer products was high. We want to thank all those who stopped by and said hi, and also a wholehearted thanks to all of our employees who worked so hard preparing for the show.

Black Liquor Solids Measurement Demo with Electron Machine DSA E-Scan Bench-top Refractometer

This video demonstrates how the DSA E-Scan automatic, bench-top critical angle refractometer is used to measure dissolved solids in black liquor.

The DSA E-Scan is an automatic, bench-top critical angle refractometer with a digital readout and temperature-controlled sample chamber. The instrument is equipped with a menu-driven user interface and is factory calibrated and temperature compensated. 

For more information contact Electron Machine by visiting https://electronmachine.com or call 352-669-3101.

Measuring Solids in Pulp & Paper Black Liquor

Pulp and paper plant.

Industrial paper manufacture involves a procedure known as the Kraft process, where wood is converted into wood pulp and then into paper. The process, however, produces a toxic byproduct referred to as black liquor. This primarily liquid mixture of pulping residues (such as lignin and hemicellulose) and inorganic chemicals from the Kraft process (such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide) is toxic.

Until the invention of recovery boilers in the early 20th century, black liquor was often simply released into waterways. Black liquor recovery boilers allowed paper manufacturers to recover and reuse the inorganic chemicals and extract energy from the pulping residues.

Reliable, continuous measurement of black liquor solids content is a subject of considerable importance to the pulp industry. The solids content of liquor introduced into a recovery furnace can have a pronounced influence on firing behavior. Current trends toward better control of the recovery furnace for reasons of safety and reduced air emissions require a greater degree of control over incoming solids content and appropriate adjustment of operating conditions to handle variations in solids content. This, in turn, requires a reliable method for continuously monitoring solids content.

Instruments such as inline process refractometers successfully measuring black liquor solids concentration continuously. These instruments have the dependability, accuracy, and reliability to augment safe operation of recovery boilers. Refractive index-type instruments are more widely accepted and far more successful with less maintenance requirements than other types of instruments used for black liquor solids measurement, and have proven reliable and accurate for automatic monitoring of black liquor solids concentration.

Industrial Refractometers in Action: Pulp & Paper Mill

This video below highlights various applications for inline refractometers in a pulp and paper mill.

The Electron Machine Corporation pioneered the use of refractometers to accurately measure black liquor dissolved solids nearly 50 years ago. Our long history with this application has resulted in numerous design features that specifically address problems associated with this harsh process measurement. Electron Machine refractometers have been accurately measuring green liquor solids in the paper industry for more than 30 years.

For more information visit http://www.electronmachine.com or call 352-669-3101.

Benchtop Refractometer Rugged Enough For Field Use

DSA E-Scan
Dissolved Solids Analyzer

Refractometry is a widely employed analytical technique used to indirectly measure dissolved solids content of subject liquids. The process employs a refractometer, a device or instrument, to determine the refractive index for a test sample. The measurement is employed throughout science and industry to assess a material's composition or purity.

The refractive index of a substance is dependent, in part, upon temperature and the wavelength of light used in the measurement. Common applications include Brix testing for sucrose level, along with others in the beverage, pulp and paper, chemical, flavor, and fragrance industries. Refractometry is used as a quality control measurement, to assure uniformity among product batches.

Manual refractometers have been available for many years and require human observation and interpretation of a scale reading to obtain a refractive index. Automatic, as well as in-line units are available today that provide uniform accuracy and faster sample processing.

The DSA E-Scan, manufactured by Electron Machine, is an automatic, bench-top critical angle refractometer with a digital readout and temperature-controlled sample chamber. Its compact size and rugged design permit operation in the field and in areas with limited space. The unit provides fast and accurate refractive index measurements of sample liquids.

Dissolved Solids Analyzer Benchtop Refractometer from Electron Machine Corporation