Solutions for Pulp and
Paper Production
Mass flow, Density Measurement, Level and
Moisture Measurement
detec t and identify Applications in the Pulp and Paper Industry
Processing and Production.
Berthold Technologies‘ measurement
systems are used in pulp mills all over the
world to monitor critical processes and to
improve production efficiency.
As technology leader in radiometric and
microwave technology we bring benefits
to the pulp and paper industry by providing highly accurate, highly repeatable
online measurements – the base for major
cost savings, plant availability and reliable
process management.
We are renowned for our ability to provide both a wide range of standard products as well as tailor-made measurement
solutions, thus perfectly adapting to our
customers‘ needs in terms of geometry,
measurement performance and economic requirements. The huge number of
measuring systems in operation worldwide are the best proof for the high quality
of Berthold products and services.
Non-contact perfect!
All measurement solutions are noncontacting and non-intrusive. The
advantage:
No exposure to process media and therefore not affected by acidic, caustic,
abrasive or sticky conditions
Measuring the mass flow of wood chips or bark
Free of wear and maintenance
Measuring the moisture of wood chips
Measuring the filling level in the pulp digester
Measuring lime mud density
Easy to install on existing pipes, vessels
or conveyor systems
Lowest cost of ownership
2 | 3
Measuring liquor density
Measuringpulp stock level in the standpipe of the MC pump
Measuring mass flow of recycled paper
detec t and identify Typical measurement arrangement on
a screw conveyor.
Radiometric belt weigher measures the mass flow non
contacting. The results are stable over many years and
frequent re-calibrations are not needed.
4 | 5
Measuring the mass flow of wood chips or bark
In order to optimise boiler operation, the amount of fibres
does not need to be re-calibrated and provides reliable
that are fed into the tank needs to be controlled. By using
results during the whole time of operation. The system
a radiometric belt weigher the mass flow of wood chips
can be installed on belt conveyors, on drag chain conve-
or bark can be measured by means of a non contacting
yors, on screw conveyors and on any other conveyor types.
technology. The main advantage compared to conventio-
Subsequent installations on existing boiler feeding lines
nal weighing systems is that the radiometric belt weigher
are easily feasible.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Mass flow of wood chips or bark
Location
Boiler feeding line
Berthold Solution
Radiometric belt weigher, e.g. LB 442
Customer Benefit
Online, real-time process information
Optimised boiler operation
Ideal balancing of boiler fedstock
Characteristics
Non contacting measurement, irradiating the wood
chips or bark by means of gamma radiation
High repeatability, no need for frequent re-calibrations
Maintenance free
Virtually no operation costs
Accuracy < 3 %
Excellent measurement stability
Not affected by varying belt tension, vibrations or
bumps
detec t and identify Online moisture system installed on the
wood chips conveyor.
6 | 7
Measuring the wood chips moisture
The determination of dry fibrous material is important
content online. With an emitting antenna below and a
to keep the boiler efficiency constant. Especially in the
receiving antenna above the belt, the microwave pene-
summer time, when the wood chip stockpiles are moiste-
trates the whole material cross-section leading to high
ned the water concentration can vary drastically. The
representative, real-time information. An additional radi-
Micro-Polar system based on non contacting microwave
ometric system can be used to compensate for variations
transmission technology is used to measure the moisture
in bulk density and load.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Moisture content in wood chips
Location
Boiler feeding line
Berthold Solution
Microwave transmission system, e.g. Micro-Polar LB 568
Customer Benefit
Improved boiler efficiency
Optimised boiler operation through in-situ information
on water content
Easy retrofit of existing lines without modification
Reliable on-line control of cooking process
Characteristics
Non contacting measurement
Easy to install on existing conveyor belts
Highly representative through transmission technology
High measurement repeatability
State-of-the-art Microwave Transmission technology,
penetrating the whole material cross-section
detec t and identify 8 | 9
Measuring level in the pulp digester
The wood chips and chemicals are cooked in the digester
outside of the digester is not affected by the severe con-
in order to extract cellulose. The conditions in the digester
ditions prevailing inside and allows for reliable control of
are of high temperature and caustic nature. To control the
the digester filling. Thus the digester can be loaded with as
filling level in the digester a radiometric level measurement
much raw material as possible. A high level switch provides
is used. The non-contacting measurement installed on the
additional process safety if needed.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Level measurement of digester feedstock / High level alarm
Location
Pulp digester, cooking process
Berthold Solution
Radiometric level measurement and level switch
Customer Benefit
Optimised utilisation of digester capacity
Increased process efficiency
high reliability of control over the cooking process
Improved plant availability
Characteristics
Non contacting level measurement using radiometric
technology
Detectors and sources are mounted on the outside of
the tank
Highly accurate, repeatable measurement
Not affected by the high temperature and caustic conditions inside the digester
Maintenance free
SIL2 / SIL3 certification for continuous level measurement and level switch
Typical arrangement of a radiometric system for noncontacting, non-intrusive density measurements.
detec t and identify Measuring lime mud density
In the regeneration of pulping chemicals, lime mud is
application, because it doesn’t contact the suspension and
formed as a by-product. Several process steps follow to
doesn’t wear out. As a simple clamp-on solution it is easy
convert the suspension back into calcium oxide (“lime”).
to install without process downtime. The high accuracy
During these processes it is important to have real-time
and repeatability of the measurement helps to optimise
information on the solid content and the density of the
the recovery process, while the effort to maintain the sys-
lime mud. A radiometric system is ideal for this type of
tem is neglectable.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Lime mud – density and solids content measurement
Location
Re-causticisation process
Berthold Solution
Radiometric density and concentration measurement
Customer Benefit
Real-time information on density and solids content
Improved control over lime mud processing
Optimised use of recovery chemicals like flocculants
lead to cost savings
Lowest operation costs
Characteristics
Non contacting radiometric density measurement
Easy to install, clamp-on system
Long system life, no wear and tear
Highly repeatable measurement
No need for recalibrations
Maintenance free operation
Typical arrangement of a radiometric system for noncontacting, non-intrusive density measurements.
1 0 | 11
Measuring liquor density
Recovering and regenerating the pulping chemicals and
systems, which are clamped on to the pipe and provide
burning off organic material dissolved from wood are
highly repeatable readings. The measurement is carried
critical steps in the pulp mill. An accurate, repeatable
out non-contacting and is therefore not affected by the
on-line density measurement is absolutely necessary to
high temperature and the chemical properties of the
properly operate this phase of the process. Black liquor
liquor. Subsequent installation on existing lines is easily
and green liquor densities are measured by radiometric
feasible without process downtime.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Green liquor and black liquor density measurement
Location
Re-causticisation process
Berthold Solution
Radiometric density and concentration measurement
Customer Benefit
On-line, real-time information on liquor properties
Optimised liquor regeneration process
Increased plant availability
Virtually no operating and maintenance costs
Easy retrofit without process downtime
Characteristics
Non contacting radiometric density measurement
No flow disturbance, no wear and tear
Easy to install, clamp-on system
Highly repeatable measurement with the need for recalibration
Not affected by the hostile chemical properties or temperature of the liquor
Maintenance free operation
detec t and identify 12 | 13
Measuring level on the standpipe
of the MC pump
Maintaining the level of pulp stock in the standpipe of the
and causing high maintenance costs. Consequently a
MC pump is of high importance. If the pulp level in the
radiometric level measurement is used to control the pulp
standpipe falls below a certain value it can cause cavitati-
level in the standpipe – non contacting and non intrusive.
on of the pump. Overflow and back-ups into the pulp sys-
The measurement is highly accurate and even quick level
tem needs to be avoided. The traditional instrumentation,
changes can be monitored reliably. As a result, the avai-
using DP cells, and capacitance probes has proven to be
lability of the pump and the efficiency can be improved.
ineffective for this application, leading to false readings
Application Profile
Measurement task
Level measurement of pulp stock in the MC pump standpipe
Location
MC pump
Berthold Solution
Radiometric level measurement
Customer Benefit
Increased process safety
Prevents cavitation
Prevents from overfilling
Improved MC pump performance
Characteristics
Non contacting, non-intrusive level measurement
Maintenance-free
Detectors and sources are mounted on the outside of the standpipe
Highly repeatable
Quick measurement response
SIL2 / SIL3 certification for continuous level measurement and level switch
Radiometric system installed on a MC pump standpipe is a long-term solution to reliably measure the
pulp level.
detec t and identify Measuring mass flow of recycled paper
The processing of recycled paper involves cooking of the
Installations are possible on all conveyor types, e.g. belt
paper to recover lignin. In order to control the amount
conveyors, drag chain conveyors, bucket conveyors or
of paper that enters the cooking process, a radiometric
screw conveyors. The measurement is highly accurate
belt weigher is used. This measures the bulk flow non-
and repeatable, so that there is no need for re-calibrations.
contacting and non-intrusive, without any moving parts.
Application Profile
Measurement task
Mass flow of recycled paper
Location
Boiler feeding line
Berthold Solution
Radiometric belt weigher, e.g. LB 442
Customer Benefit
Online, real-time process information
Optimised boiler operation
Ideal balancing of boiler fedstock
Characteristics
Non contacting measurement, irradiating the wood chips
by means of gamma radiation
High repeatability, no need for frequent re-calibrations
Maintenance-free
Virtually no operating costs
Accuracy < 3%
1 4 | 15
detec t and identify Berthold Technologies offers the most sensitive detec-
remains unchanged. This is a major advantage especially
tors on the market, thus allowing for highly accurate and
when aged sources become less effective, the high-sensi-
repeatable measurements using source activities which are
tive detectors from Berthold Technologies can still do the
several factors smaller than conventional systems. Depen-
measurement. In this way the source life can be almost
ding on the application the source activity can be reduced
always increased by 10 or more years, saving costs and
by as much as 80% while the measurement performance
improving the utilisation of radioactive sources.
BERTHOLD TECHNOLOGIES GmbH & Co. KG
Calmbacher Straße 22 · 75323 Bad Wildbad · Germany
Phone +49 (0)7081 177-0 · Fax +49 (0)7081 177-100
E-mail: info@berthold.com · www.berthold.com
detec t and identify Industry Brochure Pulp & Paper 06-2016 - Id.-Nr. DC00433PR2 , Rev. 00
Retrofit Solutions