Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer Evaluation of Pocket Drying Section in the Multi-Cylinder Dryers of Paper Machine

In this study a developed model has been used to evaluate the paper drying process and examine the pocket dryer conditions of a multi-cylinder fluting paper machine. The model has been developed based on the mass and energy balance relationships in which the heat of sorption and its variations with paper temperature and humidity changes have been taken into account. The applied model can be used to compute the drying parameters and analyze the pocket drying conditions. Furthermore, the effects of web tension on the heat transfer have been investigated. In the available operating range of the web tension, the overall mean heat transfer coefficient will be within 300-550 W/m2.K. The pocket air temperature was between 50 and 90oC. The dew point temperature was not close to the pocket air temperature and dew drop never happened during the dryer section. Based on the modeling result and using a novel technique, the maximum level for the exhaust air in the studied machine can be estimated to be 0.2 kg H2O/kg dry air. Result shows that increasing the exhaust humidity to the optimal level will lead to 4% reduction in the required energy and 20% rise in the heat recovery potential. Accordingly the specific heat consumption per evaporated water for the studied drying section can be reduced from 3.96 to 3.81 GJ per ton water.