Acosense is committed to keep improving, continuously helping the process industry to cut
costs, improve product quality and lower environmental impact.
To remain on the cutting edge of technology our research never ends. And it’s always done
in full-scale industrial settings where the instrument is exposed to real circumstances. That
way we know that we can deliver on our promises.
2011 – R&D on measurements of concentration in HC Pulp
In January of 2011 the new R&D project starts, financed by Swedens Innovation Agency,
VINNOVA and by Acosence AB. The project will focus on concentrations of HC pulp and black
liquor. The goal is to test even higher concentrations and tune the instrument further.
Concentrations of over 30% will be measured at Billerud Paper Mill in Gruvön and the first results
will be presented on the SPCI fair in May 2011.
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Previous research
In order to test the instruments in full-scale industrial settings we placed pilot installations
in two very different industries, EKA Chemicals (AkzoNobel) in Bohus and Billerud Paper mill
in Gruvön. At EKA they produce the chemical Colloidal Silica and at Billerud measurements
were made on Black Liquor. Both these fluids are considered very difficult to measure and
that is why they were chosen for the real life tests.
Eka Chemicals in Bohus
Eka Chemicals, a part of AkzoNobel, is a leading company in bleaching and performance
chemicals for the pulp and paper industry. Moreover, Eka Chemicals is a market leader in
several specialized fields such as Colloidal Silica, chemically pure alkali and chromatographic
separation products.
In Bohus, Sweden, Eka Chemicals has implemented Acospector to monitor and control
production process of Colloidal Silica measureing Density and Viscosity .
Colloidal Silica is a viscous fluid that has proved very difficult to get accurate
measurements from with conventional methods. Acospector not only works in the difficult
environment but shows a spectacular measuring accuracy of less than ± 1 cP, enabling
better process control and creating opportunities to test new products under controlled
forms.
Billerud Paper Mill on Gruvön
Billerud is a world-leading supplier of pulp, packaging materials and packaging solutions,
with comprehensive knowledge of the whole refinement chain from conversion of
packaging all the way out to the market. At Billerud Acospector has measured Dry
Substance in Black Liquor, in connection with the recovery boiler. During pulp production
half of the wood material becomes pulp used for paper production. The rest is dissolved in
the black liquor and can be used as bio-fuel. The black liquor is dried and burnt in a
recovery boiler. This generates energy for producing green electricity, while the chemicals
form a solution that can be reused in the pulp production.
The tough environment and the difficult fluid proved to be no challenge for the instrument.
Measuring accuracy is now ± 1% and measuring is continuous. By measuring in connection
with the recovery boiler efficiency can rise drastically, creating more green energy.
Conclusions and measuring accuracy
Because of the complexity of the fluids and the industrial environments we have been able
to develop and tune our instrument so that it works even in the worst conditions. Noise,
vibrations, cold, heat, leakage and other disturbances doesn’t affect ACOspector. It will
work continuously, giving you necessary and accurate information about the process.
Measuring accuracy has proved to be around ± 1% though it is always subject to customer
requirements and calibration data.