FAIR-CT95-0286 Blowline Blending and Fibre Drying in the Wood Fibre Processing Industries

Contacts
Further Information



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Biocomposites/Boards : Drying/Pretreatment : FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Fibre : Textiles/Fabrics/Geomembranes : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-0286
	Total Cost	1 201 051 ECU
	EC Contribution	799 996 ECU
	Start Date	01/12/1995
	Duration	36 months

Objectives

The blowline resin blending process used in the manufacture of dry formed fibreboard products has the advantage over mechanical blending methods of minimising resin spotting in products. However, resin consumption is typically increased, and formaldehyde is emitted into the environment from the drier gas outlet. The increased resin requirements have been linked to losses in resin efficiency and resin distribution effects. It is clear that the blowline blending process is not well understood; this is supported by the fact that blowline designs differ widely between manufacturing plants, and it is therefore unlikely that all are optimised to minimise resin consumption.

Technical Approach

The objective of the Blowdry project is to provide a better understanding of the process, and thus enable the European industry to improve its efficiency and competitiveness.

Expected Results

Results from the project will include:

• knowledge and understanding of how dry-formed fibreboard process variables influence board properties and drier outlet emissions, and how these are related to changes in resin chemistry and resin distribution on fibres
• a computer model that, coupled with the above, could be used to optimise blowline design to optimise resin usage in production plants
• a potential alternative resin blending system with reduced resin requirements and drier outlet emissions

Results to Date

To date the following have been developed in the project:

• theoretical models to describe flow in the blowline
• methods to characterise resin distribution on fibres, changes in resin chemistry, and emissions from the drier outlet

Key findings in the project include:

• resin distribution on fibres is influenced by blowline design, injection position and solids content of the resin
• moisture content is probably the most important process variable in determining product properties
• most VOC emissions (including formaldehyde) from the drier outlet can be attributed to the wood raw material and the contribution of the resin to emissions is relatively minor
• refiner blending does not appear to be a viable alternative to blowline resin blending because the incidence of resin spotting is unacceptably high

The project is now focused on validation of findings at pilot scale by conducting full-scale industrial trials.

Close up of wood fibres

Contacts

Coordinator

• Rob ELIAS / BioComposites Centre University of Wales Bangor / UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

• Alexandros ARABATZIS / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant

• W. LASHOFER / Andritz Refiner Systeme AUSTRIA
• Per HANETHO / Dyno Industrier AS Adhesives and Paper Overlays Division / NORWAY
• Werner WENINGER / Funder Industrie GmbH AUSTRIA
• David ROBSON / TNO Centre for Timber Research NETHERLANDS