System for collecting and diluting pulp for analysis

Abstract

A system and process for continuously extracting and diluting a pulp sample from a pulp production line for the purpose of conducting near real time analysis of pulp fibers while mitigating the loss of production due to outdated sample data and the amount of pulp extracted for analysis but not utilized. The system comprises several inline mixers and pulp and dilution lines configured to successively dilute an initial pulp sample for analysis while collecting waste for re-concentration and re-introduction into the production pulp line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A continuous serial pulp sample dilution system comprising:
 a pulp source;   a first sample conduit configured to transfer an initial pulp sample from the pulp source to a first inline mixer;   a dilution fluid source;   a first dilution conduit configured to transfer a dilution fluid to the first inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the initial pulp sample mix in the first inline mixer to create a first dilute pulp solution;   a second pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion the first dilute pulp solution from the first inline mixer to a second inline mixer;   a first withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the first dilute pulp solution from the first inline mixer;   a second dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the second inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the first dilute pulp solution mix in the second inline mixer to create a second dilute pulp solution being more dilute than the first dilute pulp solution;   a third pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion of the second dilute pulp solution from the second inline mixer to a third inline mixer;   a second withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the second dilute pulp solution from the second inline mixer; and   a third dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the third inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the portion of the second dilute pulp solution in the third inline mixer mix to create a third dilute pulp solution being at least  100  times more dilute than the initial pulp sample.   
     
     
         2 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a fourth pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion of the third dilute pulp solution from the third inline mixer to a fourth inline mixer; a third withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the third dilute pulp solution from the third inline mixer; a fourth dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the fourth inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the portion of the third dilute pulp solution mix in the fourth inline mixer to create a fourth dilute pulp solution. 
     
     
         3 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third inline mixers are static inline mixers. 
     
     
         4 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a measurement device configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution from the continuous serial pulp sample dilution system. 
     
     
         5 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 4  further comprising a sample tank configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution, wherein the measurement device is configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution from the sample tank. 
     
     
         6 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 4 , wherein the measurement device comprises a light microscope and a video camera linked to a video display or similar fiber analyzing equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a recirculation conduit fluidly communicating with the first sample conduit and the pulp source, wherein the recirculation conduit is configured to convey a portion of the initial pulp sample from the first sample conduit back to the pulp source or some other use. 
     
     
         8 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a pulp fluidly communicating with the pulp sample dilution system and configured to convey the initial pulp sample from the pulp source to the first inline mixer. 
     
     
         9 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a dilution pump fluidly communicating with the pulp sample dilution system and configured to convey the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the first inline mixer. 
     
     
         10 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising dilution valves configured to selectively restrict an amount of dilution fluid injected into the inline mixers. 
     
     
         11 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 1  further comprising a pulp valve configured to restrict an amount of the initial pulp conveyed into the first inline mixer. 
     
     
         12 . A continuous serial pulp sample dilution system comprising:
 a pulp source;   a first sample conduit configured to transfer an initial pulp sample from the pulp source to a first inline mixer;   a dilution fluid source;   a first dilution conduit configured to transfer a dilution fluid to the first inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the initial pulp sample mix in the first inline mixer to create a first dilute pulp solution;   a second pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion the first dilute pulp solution from the first inline mixer to a second inline mixer;   a first withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the first dilute pulp solution from the first inline mixer;   a second dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the second inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the first dilute pulp solution mix in the second inline mixer to create a second dilute pulp solution being more dilute than the first dilute pulp solution;   a third pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion of the second dilute pulp solution from the second inline mixer to a third inline mixer;   a second withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the second dilute pulp solution from the second inline mixer;   a third dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the third inline mixer;   a fourth pulp sample conduit configured to transfer a portion of the third dilute pulp solution from the third inline mixer to a fourth inline mixer;   a third withdraw conduit configured to withdraw a remaining portion of the third dilute pulp solution from the third inline mixer; and   a fourth dilution conduit configured to transfer the dilution fluid from the dilution source to the fourth inline mixer, wherein the dilution fluid and the portion of the third dilute pulp solution mix in the fourth inline mixer to create a fourth dilute pulp solution being at least  450  times more dilute than the initial pulp sample.   
     
     
         13 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 12  further comprising a measurement device configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution from the continuous serial pulp sample dilution system. 
     
     
         14 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 13  further comprising a sample tank configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution, wherein the measurement device is configured to receive the third dilute pulp solution from the sample tank. 
     
     
         15 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement device comprises a light microscope and a video camera linked to a video display or similar fiber analyzing equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The continuous serial pulp sample dilution system of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth inline mixers are static inline mixers.