WO1998044339A1 - Procede et systeme pour mesurer et reguler une consistance - Google Patents

Procede et systeme pour mesurer et reguler une consistance Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998044339A1
WO1998044339A1 PCT/FI1998/000273 FI9800273W WO9844339A1 WO 1998044339 A1 WO1998044339 A1 WO 1998044339A1 FI 9800273 W FI9800273 W FI 9800273W WO 9844339 A1 WO9844339 A1 WO 9844339A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
consistency
measuring
measurement object
measurement
wire
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI1998/000273
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pekka Jakkula
Original Assignee
Valmet Automation Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Valmet Automation Inc. filed Critical Valmet Automation Inc.
Priority to AU67317/98A priority Critical patent/AU6731798A/en
Publication of WO1998044339A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998044339A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/34—Paper
    • G01N33/343—Paper pulp
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N22/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for measuring consistency in par- ticular, the method using a radiometer comprising an antenna in the vicinity of an object of measurement for receiving natural thermal microwave radiation, and the radiometer being used to measure microwave radiation transmitted by the object of measurement, the intensity of the microwave radiation being dependent on the consistency of the object of measurement.
  • the invention also relates to a method for controlling a former, the method being used in a paper machine comprising a headbox, a former, a press section, a wire, a paper web being the object of measurement formed on the wire, the method comprising measuring the consistency of the paper web passing from the headbox of the paper machine to the wire and travelling on the wire to the former and further to the press section, and the method using a radiometer comprising an antenna in the vicinity of the paper web constituting the measurement object, for receiving natural thermal microwave radiation, and the radiometer being used to measure the microwave radiation transmitted by the paper web which constitutes the object of measurement, the inten- sity of the microwave radiation being dependent on the consistency of the paper web.
  • the invention further relates to an arrangement for measuring consistency in particular, comprising a radiometer and an antenna in the vicinity of an object of measurement for receiving natural thermal microwave radiation, and the radiometer being arranged to measure the microwave radiation transmitted by the object of measurement, the intensity of the microwave radiation being dependent on the consistency of the object of measurement.
  • the invention further relates to an arrangement for former control to be used in a paper machine comprising a headbox, a former, a press section, a wire, a paper web on the wire, and a measuring arrangement arranged to measure the consistency of the paper web passing from the headbox of the paper machine to the wire and travelling on the wire to the former and further to the press section, and the measuring arrangement comprising a radiometer and an antenna in the vicinity of the paper web constituting the object of measurement for receiving natural thermal microwave radiation, and the radi- ometer being arranged to measure the microwave radiation transmitted by the object of measurement, the intensity of the microwave radiation being dependent on the consistency of the object of measurement.
  • the measurement can also be based on radioactive transmittance measurement, a drawback of this being that the measurement will include the wire under the web and the water bound thereto.
  • Moisture and consistency meters based on infrared techniques have also been tested in said application, the their problem is that they only measure surface moisture.
  • Microwave technique has also been applied to measuring the consistency of a paper web, the meters usually being installed after the press section before the drying of the paper. At these points there is no longer a wire under the paper web, whereby meters based on paper transmittance can also operate accurately. On the other hand, the former can no longer be controlled after the press section.
  • Mi- crowave methods are based either on a microwave resonator or on an active imaging technique.
  • microwave resonators are usually disposed at both sides of the web, the wire and the water bound thereto disturbing the measurement.
  • Imaging methods are also based on paper web transmittance, with the transmitter and receiver being disposed at different sides of the paper, or the measurement being carried out by letting the signal be reflected from a reflector installed behind the web. In these cases, too, the wire and the water therein disturb the measurement.
  • a measuring method of the type presented in the introduction characterized in that the consistency of the measurement object is measured as a function of the intensity of the microwave radiation by using such a measuring frequency or frequency range that the intensity of the interfering radiation through the measurement object is attenuated when penetrating the measurement object to a degree that it becomes unessential to the measurement, and the measurement object is thus used to filter down the interfering background radiation.
  • the method of controlling a former according to the invention is characterized by measuring the consistency of the paper web constituting the measurement object as a function of the intensity of the microwave radiation by using such a measuring frequency or frequency range that the intensity of the interfering radiation penetrating the paper web is attenuated in the paper web to a degree that it becomes unessential to the measurement, and the paper web constituting the measurement object is thus used to filter down the interfering background radiation, and the measured consistency result being used to control the former to correct the consistency in the paper web.
  • the measuring arrangement of the invention is characterized in that the measuring arrangement is arranged to measure the consistency of the measurement object as a function of the intensity of the microwave radiation by using such a measuring frequency or measuring frequency range that the intensity of the interfering radiation penetrating the measurement object is attenuated to a degree that it becomes unessential to the measurement, and the measurement object is thus arranged to filter down the interfering radiation originating from the background.
  • the control arrangement of the invention is characterized in that the measuring arrangement is arranged to measure the consistency of the measurement object as a function of the intensity of the microwave radiation by using such a measuring frequency or measuring frequency range that the intensity of the radiation penetrating the measurement object is attenuated to a degree that it becomes unessential to the measurement, and the measurement object is thus arranged to filter down the interfering radiation originating from the background, and the measuring arrangement is further arranged to control the former to correct the consistency of the paper web.
  • the method and arrangement of the invention provide significant advantages. They can be used to measure the consistency of a paper web or a corresponding measurement object by using microwave radiation which originates even from underneath the surface, however, simultaneously avoiding the interfering radiation originating from the wire or other background.
  • Figure 1 shows a measurement procedure and a measuring device
  • Figure 2 shows the principle of the behaviour of radiation intensity as a function of frequency and the thickness of an object of measurement
  • Figure 3 shows a radiometer provided with several antennae
  • Figure 4 shows the placement of measuring devices in a paper machine
  • Figure 5 shows measurement of coating slip from a roll
  • Figure 6 shows measurement of coating slip from a sheet of paper
  • Figure 7 shows the change in the brightness temperature of the microwave radiation emitted from the paper web as a function of time with the consistency of the paper web increasing.
  • the solution of the invention is suitable for use particularly in the manufacture and coating of paper, being, however, not limited thereto. Let us first study the theoretical background of the invention.
  • the term depicting the intensity of the radiation is the brightness temperature of the object and it can be presented by the formula (1 ).
  • T B is the brightness temperature
  • T P is the physical temperature of the object
  • I r E is the absolute value of variable r E , which according to the formula (3) is
  • ⁇ r2 is the relative permeability of lossy material (paper)
  • a microwave measuring technique in accordance with the invention When applying a microwave measuring technique in accordance with the invention to the measurement of paper, coating material or the like, the following factors caused by the circumstances have to be taken into account. It is preferable to select a measuring frequency at which the measurement object, such as paper, cannot "be seen through”. In practice this means that when passing through the measurement object, the microwave attenua- tion has to be so high that all radiation received by the antenna originates substantially from the measurement object, and not from behind it, such as the wire behind the paper web. However, this allows radiation to be originated from inside the measurement object, not merely from the surface.
  • a paper machine environment for example, or any measurement environment, has many warm, rough objects which radiate at a brightness temperature corresponding to their physical temperature.
  • the measurement antennae have to be so designed and located that the reflection of this radiation from the measurement object, such as paper, to the reception part of the antenna is prevented.
  • A microwave attenuation
  • ⁇ is the wavelength of a microwave in cen- timetres
  • l ⁇ r l js' 2 r +£" r 2
  • s is arctan ( ⁇ s I ⁇ r ).
  • the dielectric properties of the material to be measured have to be known to be able to use the formula (4).
  • the dielectric properties of water are known and the following values, for instance, can be used in the calculation.
  • the dielectric properties of paper are hardly at all dependent on the frequency because cellulose molecules are large hydrocarbon chains whose polarity is low particularly at high frequencies.
  • the dielectric constant obtained for a randomly distributed needle-like material (paper) with a 15% consistency is as follows.
  • T s 2 (Dicke radiometer)
  • B the bandwidth of the measuring frequency before indication
  • ⁇ integration time.
  • the system noise temperature can be calculated by the formula (6)
  • the measuring arrangement comprises a radiometer 101 , an antenna 102, a measurement object 103, in this example a paper web, and a wire 104.
  • the paper web 103 emits natural black body radiation 105 to the antenna 102.
  • the wire 104 also emits radiation 107.
  • Radiation 108 and 106 is also emitted from underneath the wire 104 and from other parts of the environment. The radiation 106 and 108 emitted by the wire 107 and the environment interferes with the measurement performed on the paper web 103.
  • the radiometer 101 comprises a filter with which the measuring frequency, frequencies or frequency band are selected such that the background radiation 108 emitted from the wire 107 and from underneath the wire is substantially attenuated off when passing through the paper web 103. Consequently the measuring frequency preferably exceeds 20 GHz. More precisely, the frequency or the frequencies are adjusted case-specifically using e.g. the formula (4).
  • Figure 1 also shows one of the advantageous characteristics of the inventive method.
  • the radiation coming obliquely from behind the radiometer 101 does not affect the measurement if the antenna 102 is installed in the vicinity of the surface of the web 103.
  • the structure of the antenna 102 is such that it prevents harmful background radiation 106 from penetrating the reception part of the antenna and further the radiometer 101.
  • the antenna 102 is e.g. a horn antenna.
  • the antenna 102 is preferably such that it receives best with its middle part with antenna gain decreasing towards the edges. Such a solution further decreases interference, since interference is likely to penetrate the antenna 102 from the edges at which the effect is at its lowest in this manner.
  • the radiometer 101 is calibrated every so often during e.g.
  • the reference sample is preferably a wire or a body with a cold brightness temperature, such as a metal surface or the like. Between the measurements the radiometer 101 can be preferably switched to measure a reference load being heated, e.g. a matched graphite terminal.
  • Figure 2 shows how the amplitude of a measurement signal acts as a function of the frequency and the thickness of the measurement object.
  • Figure 2 is schematic and consequently does not present an actual measurement result.
  • the amplitude shows oscillation 202 caused by the interference of radiation emitted from behind the measurement object (e.g. radiation emitted from the wire, since the measurement object can be seen through) and radiation emitted by the measurement object (e.g. a paper web).
  • the oscillation substantially stops, and at high frequencies 201 the amplitude remains stable since the measurement object no longer permeates radiation.
  • the inventive method explicitly utilizes the frequency, frequencies or frequency band 201 , with which the amplitude of the radiation remains stable.
  • the measuring frequency must also be selected according to the thickness d of the measurement object.
  • the inventive arrangement for measuring consistency preferably comprises at least one antenna 102.
  • the entire width of the web 103 can be measured by sweeping either by moving one pair of antennas or thermome- ters mechanically to and fro over the web or by electronic sweeping according to Figure 3.
  • the antenna preferably moves across the measurement object thus allowing measurement of the consistency over the entire width of the surface of the measurement object, or at least at several points.
  • arrows by the antenna 102, pointing to both sides show how the antenna 102 can move. This way the antenna 102 can move across the paper web 103 and measure the transverse consistency of the pa- per web 103.
  • Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of antennae 302.
  • the antennae preferably form a chain, the chain at least approximately being perpendicular to the travel direction of the paper web. Since the web can move e.g. 1.5 km/min, the measurement has to be carried out rapidly.
  • the antennae 302 are coupled to the radiometer 101 by cables and switches 301 , which are preferably electronic switches, such as PIN diode switches.
  • the switches 301 switch the antennae 302 preferably one by one to the radiometer 101 to measure the consistency of the measurement object 103.
  • the antennae 302 also preferably comprise a pre-amplifier and a mixer each having a local oscillator, for decreasing the measurement signal frequency.
  • a measurement signal with decreased frequency can be moved more easily to the radiometer 101.
  • the switches 301 are not necessary, since switching the antennae 302 to the radiometer can be controlled by the pre-amplifier and/or the mixer.
  • the achievable resolution in the lateral direction of the web depends on the size and number of the antennae 302. In practice the minimum diameter of one antenna is about 2 to 3 cm and the number of the antennae 302 between 100 and 500.
  • the number of the antennae 302 is also affected by the fact that sweeping becomes slower as the number of antennae increases, since each antenna has to be switched to the receiver until an adequate measuring accuracy is achieved.
  • the measuring arrangement is calibrated at times, e.g. during production breaks, by measuring a reference sample with each antenna.
  • the reference sample is preferably the wire or a body with a cold brightness temperature, such as a metal surface or the like. Between measurements the radiometer 101 can be preferably switched to measure a reference load being heated, e.g. a matched graphite terminal.
  • Figure 4 shows the installation site of the radiometer 101 at the paper machine.
  • this part of the paper machine typically comprises a radiometer 101 , a headbox 401 , an upper wire 402, a lower wire 403, a thermometer 404, a press section 405 and control means 406.
  • the radiometer 101 measures the moisture content, i.e. the consistency, of the paper web after the former before the press section 405 and/or after the press section 405.
  • the measurement can also be carried out after the drying.
  • the different measuring points have a different predetermined limit frequency, designated by reference 203 in Figure 2. After the former, when the moisture content of the paper web is 85%, i.e. the consistency is 15%, the lower limit frequency of the measurement is about 20 GHz.
  • the moisture content of the paper web being about 50%, i.e. the consistency 50%
  • the lower limit frequency of the measurement is about 30 to 40 GHz.
  • Pulp having a consistency of about 1 % is applied from the headbox 401 , which controls the uniform quality and consistency of the paper web, between the suction rolls of the former.
  • a former is the part of a paper machine where cylindrical former rolls supporting the wire are used.
  • the former rolls comprise vacuum-operated suction boxes for drying the paper web on the wire. In the former, water is sucked from the pulp so that the consistency of the paper web at the measurement point is about 15%.
  • the control means 406 adjust the suction power (SUCK) to a suitable level on the basis of the consistency measurement, such that the consistency in the paper web can be maintained at the desired level.
  • SUCK suction power
  • Implementing the measurement by sweeping the entire width of the web also allows the suction to be adjusted in the transverse direction of the machine. It is also possible, but not necessary, to control the operation of the headbox on the basis of the consistency measurement.
  • Information on the actual physical temperature of the paper is preferably needed in the measurement to serve as a support for the measurement of the microwave radiometer 101 in order to be able to remove the temperature dependence of the measurement.
  • the easiest way to measure the temperature of the measurement point is without touching the measurement point by the thermometer 404, which is preferably an electronic meter, such as an infrared thermometer.
  • FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the solution of the invention, in which the measurement point is a coating agent, such as coating slip for paper.
  • the slip is usually comprised of water, minerals, talk, kaolin, latex or corresponding materials in different combinations.
  • the measuring arrangement comprises a radiometer 101 , an antenna 102, a thermometer 404, a roll 501 , coating slip 502 on the surface of the roll 501 , coating slip 503 in its container, and a paper 504.
  • the measurement is carried out in the same way as the paper is measured.
  • the radiometer 101 measures by the antenna 102 the thermal radiation 105 transmitted by the slip 502 on the surface of the roll 501.
  • the result is preferably corrected by a temperature result measured by the thermometer 404 in the control means (not shown in the figure).
  • Figure 6 also shows a solution in which a coating agent is measured.
  • the measuring arrangement comprises a radiometer 101 , an antenna 102, a thermometer 404, a coating agent 602 and an object 601 to be coated.
  • the coating agent 602 is preferably a coating slip for paper, and the object being coated is the paper 601.
  • the radiometer 101 measures by the antenna 102 the thermal radiation 105 emitted from the coating slip 602.
  • the result is corrected by a temperature result measured by the thermometer 404 in the control means (not in the figure).
  • Figure 7 shows the measurement result for the paper web.
  • the horizontal axis is the time scale and the vertical axis is the temperature scale.
  • the black squares are measuring points.
  • la/s is the integration time in seconds
  • Mh/K is the measurement sensitivity in kelvin
  • Mt % is the measuring accuracy in percent
  • Pa/s is the sweeping time in seconds.
  • the measuring sensitivity can also be increased instead of increasing the integration time by widening the measuring bandwidth or by reducing the receiver noise.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un système de mesure permettant de mesurer en particulier une consistance au moyen d'un radiomètre qui mesure le rayonnement thermique hyperfréquence émis par un objet de mesure. Le radiomètre (101) mesure la consistance de l'objet de mesure en fonction de l'intensité du rayonnement hyperfréquence (105) en utilisant, comme fréquence de mesure du rayonnement, une fréquence permettant d'atténuer l'intensité du rayonnement parasite pour qu'il atteigne, lors de la pénétration de l'objet de mesure (103), un niveau tellement faible qu'il devient négligeable pour effectuer la mesure. L'objet de mesure (103) est par conséquent utilisé pour réduire par filtrage le rayonnement parasite de fond (108).
PCT/FI1998/000273 1997-03-27 1998-03-26 Procede et systeme pour mesurer et reguler une consistance WO1998044339A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU67317/98A AU6731798A (en) 1997-03-27 1998-03-26 Method and arrangement for measuring and controlling consistency

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI971324A FI101751B (fi) 1997-03-27 1997-03-27 Sakeuden mittaus- ja säätömenetelmä ja -järjestely
FI971324 1997-03-27

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WO1998044339A1 true WO1998044339A1 (fr) 1998-10-08

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WO (1) WO1998044339A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001002841A1 (fr) * 1999-07-06 2001-01-11 Metso Paper Automation Oy Procede de mesure de la consistance d'une bande et dispositif de mesure
CN102782484A (zh) * 2010-01-28 2012-11-14 王子制纸株式会社 纸张重量及水分量的测定方法和装置

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5128621A (en) * 1987-04-21 1992-07-07 Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Device for measuring, at a plurality of points, the microwave field diffracted by an object
US5315258A (en) * 1989-01-13 1994-05-24 Kajaani Elektroniikka Oy Method and apparatus for determining the moisture content of a material
EP0599052A2 (fr) * 1992-10-23 1994-06-01 RWE Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft Procédé d'identification de matériaux de forme aléatoire et/ou plane en déterminant la structure des matériaux par application d'ondes électromagnétiques et/ou acoustiques

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5128621A (en) * 1987-04-21 1992-07-07 Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Device for measuring, at a plurality of points, the microwave field diffracted by an object
US5315258A (en) * 1989-01-13 1994-05-24 Kajaani Elektroniikka Oy Method and apparatus for determining the moisture content of a material
EP0599052A2 (fr) * 1992-10-23 1994-06-01 RWE Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft Procédé d'identification de matériaux de forme aléatoire et/ou plane en déterminant la structure des matériaux par application d'ondes électromagnétiques et/ou acoustiques

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001002841A1 (fr) * 1999-07-06 2001-01-11 Metso Paper Automation Oy Procede de mesure de la consistance d'une bande et dispositif de mesure
CN102782484A (zh) * 2010-01-28 2012-11-14 王子制纸株式会社 纸张重量及水分量的测定方法和装置
EP2530458A1 (fr) * 2010-01-28 2012-12-05 Oji Paper Co., Ltd. Procédé et dispositif pour la mesure du poids de base et de la quantité de teneur en eau
EP2530458A4 (fr) * 2010-01-28 2013-06-12 Oji Paper Co Procédé et dispositif pour la mesure du poids de base et de la quantité de teneur en eau
US8991240B2 (en) 2010-01-28 2015-03-31 Oji Holdings Corporation Method and device for measuring basis weight and moisture content amount

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Publication number Publication date
FI101751B1 (fi) 1998-08-14
FI101751B (fi) 1998-08-14
AU6731798A (en) 1998-10-22
FI971324A0 (fi) 1997-03-27

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