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Title:
ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING PULPSTONE SURFACE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2003/089715
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for controlling the water jet sharpening sequence of a pulp grinder (1), in which method a high-pressure water sharpening jet (18) is directed to the surface of a pulpstone (3) with a water sharpening apparatus. The quality (13) of fibre pulp (7) is determined with at least one variable (10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 74, 75). Target values (15) are defined for the selected variables. The determined quality values and their target values are transmitted to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus that has an adjustment strategy set in it for controlling water sharpening. According to the adjustment strategy, the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) is controlled relative to an error value of the quality target value and quality value of the fibre pulp (7). Further, the invention relates to an apparatus implementing the method of the invention.

Inventors:
TUOVINEN OLLI (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2003/000313
Publication Date:
October 30, 2003
Filing Date:
April 17, 2003
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
METSO PAPER INC (FI)
TUOVINEN OLLI (FI)
International Classes:
D21B1/20; D21B1/28; D21D1/00; (IPC1-7): D21B1/18; D21B1/28
Domestic Patent References:
WO2000073571A12000-12-07
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KOLSTER OY AB (P.O. Box 148, Helsinki, FI)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A method for controlling the water jet sharpening sequence of a pulpstone (3) in a pistonloaded pulp grinder (1), in which method at least one sharpening water jet (18) of the pulpstone (3) is directed to the surface of the pulpstone (3) by means of a water sharpening apparatus arranged to the pulp grinder (1), the sharpening water jet having so high a feed pressure that the sharpening water jet (18) detaches material from the surface of the pulpstone (3) a section of the surface of the pulpstone (3) at a time, whereby the entire pulpstone (3) surface is treated over its entire width with such a sharpening water jet (18) by rotating the pulpstone (3) at the same time, and which method comprises the following steps: determining the quality (13) of the ground fibre pulp (7) using at least one variable (10,11, 12,21, 22), defining target values (15) for the selected variables, and transmitting the determined quality values and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus, in which an adjust ment strategy is set for controlling water sharpening, characterized by controlling the treatment pressure of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7) and controlling the treatment interval to keep the treatment pressure within the control range in accordance with said ad justment strategy.
2. A method for controlling the water jet sharpening sequence of a pulpstone (3) in a pistonloaded pulp grinder (1), in which method at least one sharpening water jet (18) of the pulpstone (3) is directed to the surface of the pulpstone (3) by means of a water sharpening apparatus arranged to the pulp grinder (1), the sharpening water jet having so high a feed pressure that the sharpening water jet (18) detaches material from the surface of the pulpstone (3) a section of the surface of the pulpstone (3) at a time, whereby the entire pulpstone (3) surface is treated over its entire width with such a sharpening water jet (18) by rotating the pulpstone (3) at the same time, and which method comprises the following steps: determining the quality (13) of the ground fibre pulp (7) using at least one variable (10,11, 12,21, 22), defining target values (15) for the selected variables, and transmitting the determined quality values and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus, in which an adjust ment strategy is set for controlling water sharpening, characterized by controlling the treatment interval relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7) and controlling the sharpening water jet (18) treatment pressure to keep the treatment interval within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by controlling the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) in accordance with the use of the pulp grinder (1) resources so that the power (12) of the pulp grinder (1) motor and the pressure (11) of the hydraulic fluids are not loaded over the optimum limit.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the error value of the CSF target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the measured CSF value (13) of the fibre pulp (7).
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the speed lack of pressure shoe.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding power.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding pressure.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding speed control.
9. A method for controlling the water jet sharpening sequence of a pulpstone (3) in a chain pulp grinder (1), in which method at least one sharpen ing water jet (18) of the pulpstone (3) is directed to the surface of the pulpstone (3) by means of a water sharpening apparatus arranged to the pulp grinder (1), the sharpening water jet having so high a feed pressure that the sharpening water jet (18) detaches material from the surface of the pulpstone (3) a section of the surface of the pulpstone (3) at a time, whereby the entire pulpstone (3) surface is treated over its entire width with such a sharpening water jet (18) by rotating the pulpstone (3) at the same time, and which method comprises the following steps: determining the quality (13) of the ground fibre pulp (7) using at least one variable (10,12, 74,75), defining target values (15) for the selected variables, and transmitting the determined quality values and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus, in which an adjust ment strategy is set for controlling water sharpening, characterized by controlling the treatment pressure of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7) and controlling the treatment interval to keep the treatment pressure within the control range in accordance with said ad justment strategy.
10. A method for controlling the water jet sharpening sequence of a pulpstone (3) in a chain pulp grinder (1), in which method at least one sharpen ing water jet (18) of the pulpstone (3) is directed to the surface of the pulpstone (3) by means of a water sharpening apparatus arranged to the pulp grinder (1), the sharpening water jet having so high a feed pressure that the sharpening water jet (18) detaches material from the surface of the pulpstone (3) a section of the surface of the pulpstone (3) at a time, whereby the entire pulpstone (3) surface is treated over its entire width with such a sharpening water jet (18) by rotating the pulpstone (3) at the same time, and which method comprises the following steps: determining the quality (13) of the ground fibre pulp (7) using at least one variable (10,12, 74,75), defining target values (15) for the selected variables, and transmitting the determined quality values and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus, in which an adjust ment strategy is set for controlling water sharpening, characterized by controlling the treatment interval relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7) and controlling the sharpening water jet (18) treatment pressure to keep the treatment interval within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized by controlling the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) in accordance with the use of the pulp grinder (1) resources so that the power (12) of the pulp grinder (1) motor and the power (74) of the chain drive are not loaded over the optimum limit.
12. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the error value of the CSF target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the measured CSF value (13) of the fibre pulp (7).
13. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the speed lack of chain (75).
14. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding power.
15. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized by changing the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the power (74) of the chain drive of the pulp grinder (1).
16. An apparatus for controlling the water sharpening sequence of the surface of a pulpstone (3) in a pistonloaded pulp grinder (1), which appa ratus comprises at least one nozzle (20) connected to move by means of mov ing means in the axial direction of the pulpstone (3) during its sharpening in such a manner that the entire width of the pulpstone (3) is treated by a sharp ening water jet (18) sprayed from the nozzle (20), and a pressure pump (19) connected to pump a highpressure water jet (18) through the nozzle (20) against the surface of the pulpstone (3) while the pulpstone (3) is rotated dur ing grinding, the apparatus comprising: means for determining at least one quality (13) variable (10,11, 12,21, 22) of the fibre pulp (7), means for defining a target value (15) for the selected variable, and means for transmitting said variables and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus arranged to control water sharpening and having an adjustment strategy set for controlling said water sharpening, characterized inthat the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment pressure of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7), and the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment interval to keep the treat ment pressure within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
17. An apparatus for controlling the water sharpening sequence of the surface of a pulpstone (3) in a pistonloaded pulp grinder (1), which appa ratus comprises at least one nozzle (20) connected to move by means of mov ing means in the axial direction of the pulpstone (3) during its sharpening in such a manner that the entire width of the pulpstone (3) is treated by a sharp ening water jet (18) sprayed from the nozzle (20), and a pressure pump (19) connected to pump a highpressure water jet (18) through the nozzle (20) against the surface of the pulpstone (3) while the pulpstone (3) is rotated dur ing grinding, the apparatus comprising: means for determining at least one quality (13) variable (10,11, 12,21, 22) of the fibre pulp (7), means for defining a target value (15) for the selected variable, and means for transmitting said variables and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus arranged to control water sharpening and having an adjustment strategy set for controlling said water sharpening, characterized inthat the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment interval rela tive to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7), and the control unit (16) is arranged to con trol the sharpening water jet (18) treatment pressure to keep the treatment in terval within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) in accordance with the use of the pulp grinder (1) resources so that the power (12) of the pulp grinder (1) motor and the pressure (11) of the hydraulic fluids are not loaded over the optimum limit.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the error value of the CSF target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the measured CSF value (13) of the fibre pulp (7).
20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the speed lack of pressure shoe.
21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding power.
22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding pressure.
23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the grinding speed control.
24. An apparatus for controlling the water sharpening sequence of the surface of a pulpstone (3) in a chain pulp grinder (1), which apparatus comprises at least one nozzle (20) connected to move by means of moving means in the axial direction of the pulpstone (3) during its sharpening in such a manner that the entire width of the pulpstone (3) is treated by a sharpening water jet (18) sprayed from the nozzle (20), and a pressure pump (19) con nected to pump a highpressure water jet (18) through the nozzle (20) against the surface of the pulpstone (3) while the pulpstone (3) is rotated during grind ing, the apparatus comprising: means for determining at least one quality (13) variable (10,11, 12,74, 75) of the fibre pulp (7), means for defining a target value (15) for the selected variable, and means for transmitting said variables and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus arranged to control water sharpening and having an adjustment strategy set for controlling said water sharpening, characterized inthat the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment pressure of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7), and the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment interval to keep the treat ment pressure within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
25. An apparatus for controlling the water sharpening sequence of the surface of a pulpstone (3) in a chain pulp grinder (1), which apparatus comprises at least one nozzle (20) connected to move by means of moving means in the axial direction of the pulpstone (3) during its sharpening in such a manner that the entire width of the pulpstone (3) is treated by a sharpening water jet (18) sprayed from the nozzle (20), and a pressure pump (19) con nected to pump a highpressure water jet (18) through the nozzle (20) against the surface of the pulpstone (3) while the pulpstone (3) is rotated during grind ing, the apparatus comprising: means for determining at least one quality (13) variable (10,11, 12,74, 75) of the fibre pulp (7), means for defining a target value (15) for the selected variable, and means for transmitting said variables and their target values to a control unit (16) of the water sharpening apparatus arranged to control water sharpening and having an adjustment strategy set for controlling said water sharpening, characterized inthat the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment interval rela tive to an error value of the quality target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the quality value of the fibre pulp (7), and the control unit (16) is arranged to con trol the sharpening water jet (18) treatment pressure to keep the treatment in terval within the control range in accordance with said adjustment strategy.
26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to control the treatment pressure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) in accordance with the use of the pulp grinder (1) resources in such a manner that the power (12) of the pulp grinder (1) motor and the power (74) of the chain drive are not loaded over the optimum limit.
27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the error value of the CSF target value of the fibre pulp (7) and the measured CSF value (13) of the fibre pulp (7).
28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25, character i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the speed lack of chain (75).
29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25, character i z e d by changing the sharpening water jet (18) treatment pressure and/or treatment interval relative to the saturation value of the grinding power.
30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the control unit (16) is arranged to change the treatment pres sure and/or treatment interval of the sharpening water jet (18) relative to the saturation value of the chain drive power (74) of the pulp grinder (1).
Description:
ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING PULPSTONE SURFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating the surface of the pulpstone of a pulp grinder, as described in the preambles of the independent claims.

[0002] In general, mechanical pulp is made in piston-loaded pulp grinders, in which the wood material, such as blocks of wood, chips or the like, in their pockets are pressed by means of a loading cylinder and pressure shoe against a pulpstone that rotates longitudinally. In pulp grinders of this kind, the grinding space can be either pressurized or non-pressurized. Another com- monly used grinder type is a chain pulp grinder that is characterized by a wood pocket arranged directly above the pulpstone and having two endless chains for feeding the wood against the pulpstone. The chain grinder is a continuous grinder, i. e. wood can be added to the grinder continuously without disturbing the grinding process. To provide the cooling and lubrication required in the grinders and to transport pulp out of them, the pulpstone is sprayed with water.

As a result of the grinding effect of the pulpstone and the softening effect of water, the wood fibres detach from the wood material and form together with water a fibre pulp suspension.

[0003] It is generally known that making mechanical pulp is unstable due to many randomly varying factors. These factors include variations in the quality, size and moisture-content of wood, cleanness of the stone surface, quality of the stone, its surface or cutting pattern, the wear of the grinding sur- face, the force pressing the wood against the stone. Non-stability becomes evident in the variation of pulp consistency, quality and fineness. A CSF value is conventionally used as the measure of fineness and correlates quite well with the many quality properties of pulp. The higher the CSF value of pulp, the rougher the pulp is.

[0004] Even though the pulpstone is significantly harder than the wood fibres, the surface of the pulpstone does wear to some extent during grinding. The surface pattern and roughness of the pulpstone then change and, consequently, the abrasiveness and grinding properties of the stone change correspondingly. As a result of this, the properties of the formed fibres and thus also the properties of the fibre pulp suspension change on the long run, and the usability of the fibre pulp in paper-making, for instance, varies as

do the properties of the produced paper. So as to avoid these drawbacks, the pulpstone is reconditioned by"sharpening"it, i. e. by removing material from the surface of the pulpstone to make its properties as desired.

[0005] In the prior art, this is done by moving a bush roll along the surface of the pulpstone and pressing it to the surface of the pulpstone while rotating the pulpstone. As a result of this, material detaches from the surface of the pulpstone over part of the surface, i. e. over the contact area of the bush roll and pulpstone, and this way, by moving the bush roll in the axial direction of the pulpstone, material can be removed from the area of its entire surface, while the pulpstone rotates. With a suitably shaped bush roll, a pulpstone that has become blunt can be reconditioned. This type of solution is known from Fi patent 26854, for instance.

[0006] A drawback with these known solutions is that during the sharpening stage, the rolls, when turning, not only remove stone material but also break the grinding grains and the edges of the cracked grinding grains become extremely sharp and act almost like a knife. As a result of this, fibre pulp obtained with the pulpstone after its sharpening is sliver-like and contains a great deal of cut short fibres, which reduces the usability of the pulp formed immediately after sharpening. This is why the use of a bush roll is avoided and sharpening is done at relatively long intervals. This, in turn, results in that the CSF value that typically describes the variation of pulp properties varies greatly between two sharpening operations.

[0007] In existing commercial systems, the quality and production control of pulp grinders is based on what is know as target range control. Ac- cording to it, quite a large operating range is allowed for an individual pulp grinder both in ground pulp quality and in pulpstone sharpness. The reason for this procedure is in the pulpstone surface treatment technique using steel rolls.

Roll sharpening causes quite a big change in quality after the treatment that needs to be compensated for by altering the production speed or grinding power. Many earlier control systems are based on models, in which the change of the pulpstone surface on the long run is predicted using a computa- tional sharpness of the pulpstone. The quality of pulp with a specific pulpstone sharpness is, in turn, predicted with a CSF model, in which the descriptor is not only the sharpness of the pulpstone, but also the grinding power or production speed. Articles"Tavio, P. , Korhonen, J. : AGMO-Automated Groundwood Mill Operator, Pulp Paper Mag. Can. 75 (1974), pages T 268 to T 272"; Kallioniemi,

J.: Kokemuksia tietokonepohjaisesta hiomon ohjauksesta (Experience in com- puter-based groundwood mill control), Automaatiopaivat 1984, publication 10, volume/1, publisher Suomen Säätötekninen Seura, pages 123 to 136"; and <BR> <BR> <BR> "Karna, A., Liimatainen, H. : Control of pressurized grinding : Initial experiences at Anjala, Pulp Paper Can. 86 (1985) 12, pages T 377 to T383"describe the above-mentioned control systems.

[0008] US patent 5,727, 992 describes a method for sharpening a pulpstone with a high-pressure water jet. The sharpening is done with equip- ment comprising at least one nozzle that is connected to move by means of moving means in the axial direction of the pulpstone during sharpening in such a manner that the entire width of the pulpstone is treated by the sharpening water jet sprayed from the nozzle, and a pressure pump that is connected to pump a high-pressure water jet through the nozzle against the surface of the pulpstone while the pulpstone is rotated during sharpening.

[0009] This so-called water sharpening technique allows for a more controlled treatment of the pulpstone surface than the roll sharpening, and the compensation of the quality change in pulp by altering the production speed or grinding power of the pulp grinder is almost unnecessary. In addition, the tech- nique makes it possible to have the same quality target for all pulp grinders and the target range principle can be dropped. Further, the publication states that the CSF value of pulp is monitored essentially continuously and water sharpening is started when the CSF value reaches a predefined low limit, and water sharpening is stopped when the CSF value reaches a predefined high limit.

[0010] WO publication 00/73571 describes a similar method for sharpening a pulpstone as in the US publication 5,727, 992, in which an optimi- zation algorithm is added to the method. This publication also emphasizes that in water sharpening, the treatment pressure of the pulpstone can be raised during the treatment.

[0011] A problem with the arrangements described above is, how- ever, that they assume that the quality of pulp is monitored during water sharpening and water sharpening is stopped when the quality of pulp differs from the target to a certain extent. A further problem with the arrangements is that the quality of pulp cannot be measured very quickly in practice, especially if tearing strength is used as a control criterion. Thus, the speed of determining the quality of pulp affects the degree of sharpness provided for the pulpstone

during this time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] It is thus an object of the invention to develop a method and an apparatus so as to solve the above-mentioned problems. The object of the invention is achieved by a method and apparatus that are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the inven- tion are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0013] The essential idea of the invention is that the treatment pres- sure and/or treatment interval of the pulpstone surface of a piston-loaded pulp grinder is controlled with a fuzzy logic device having as input the error value of the CSF setting provided by the operator and the computational or measured CSF value or the computational CSF value corrected with the measured CSF value. Correspondingly, the input of a fuzzy logic device in a chain grinder is the error value of the current value of the CSF setting provided by the operator and the computational or measured CSF value or the computational CSF value corrected with the measured CSF value.

[0014] The essential idea of a preferred embodiment of the inven- tion is that the water sharpening pressure is adjusted by means of the CSF value of the produced pulp or the CSF value calculated from the process vari- ables and the variables describing the use of the pulp grinder resources, and the interval between the water sharpening operations is controlled to keep the water sharpening pressure within the control range.

[0015] The essential idea of another preferred embodiment of the invention is that the water sharpening interval is adjusted by means of the CSF value of the produced pulp or the CSF value calculated from the process vari- ables and the variables describing the use of the pulp grinder resources, and the water sharpening pressure is controlled to keep the water sharpening in- terval within the control range.

[0016] The arrangement of the invention uses a principle, in which the pulp quality and production resources of each pulp grinder in one pulp grinding production line are controlled separately. According to the arrange- ment, each pulp grinder in one production line achieve the same target pulp quality by maximizing the use of the production resources of the pulp grinders.

[0017] One advantage of the invention is that removing one single pulp grinder from the pulp grinding product line or adding one to it does not change the total quality of pulp or the consistency of combined pulp.

[0018] A second advantage of the invention is that the energy con- sumption of combined pulp is minimized when the quality differences between the pulp grinders in one pulp grinding production line are at their minimum.

[0019] A third advantage of the invention is that the production ca- pacity of a single pulp grinder is optimized independent of the other pulp grind- ers.

[0020] A yet fourth advantage of the invention is that the control of the grinding process becomes simpler and the variation in the consistency in the grinder pit is minimized when the production speed is not primarily used to control the pulp quality of the pulp grinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0021] The invention will now be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a two-pocket, piston-loaded pulp grinder suitable for the application of the method of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic view of a chain pulp grinder suitable for the application of the method of the invention, Figure 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the inven- tion.

[0022] In the figures, the invention is shown simplified for the sake of clarity. Similar parts are marked with the same reference numerals in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0023] Figure 1 shows a two-pocket, piston-loaded pulp grinder 1 comprising a body 2 and a pulpstone 3 mounted rotatably with bearings to the body 2 and having two grinding pockets 4, A and B, on opposing sides thereof.

On the pulpstone 3, there is typically an actual grinding surface, which is cur- rently formed of grinding segments made of ceramics or a ceramics mixture or the like, that grinds the wood into fibres. In the pulp grinder 1, wood 5 is pressed against the pulpstone 3 in a manner known per se by means of com-

pression pistons 6 and pressure shoes 6'connected to them, producing fibre pulp 7 as water is at the same time sprayed to the grinding zone in a conven- tional manner. Though not shown in the figures, above or at the side of each pocket 4, a feed pocket is arranged for the wood batch to be fed into the pocket. Below the pulpstone 3, there is a tray 8 for the ground fibre pulp 7, and a discharge pipe 9 leads from the tray 8 to a further site of use. Different vari- ables, such as production speed 10, the pressure 11 pressing the compression pistons 6, the power/current 12 of the motor (not shown) running the pulpstone 3, the CSF value 13 of the fibre pulp 7, the grinding speeds 21 of the pressure shoes 6', and the positions 22 of the pressure shoes 6', are measured from the fibre pulp 7 and pulp grinder 1. The target values 15 of variables defined for the operation of the water sharpening apparatus are combined with the above- mentioned by means of a control unit 16 of the water sharpening apparatus to obtain a control signal 17 for sharpening the pulpstone 3 with a water jet 18 of the water sharpening apparatus. On the basis of this, a pump unit 19 of the water sharpening apparatus is started and the sharpening is done with the wa- ter jet 18 by moving a nozzle 20 of the water sharpening apparatus. Said con- trol unit 16 is a device that is capable of processing inputted data. The data inputted to the control unit 16 is both data collected from the pulp grinder 1 and data entered by the person monitoring the pulp grinding process to the control unit 16. The control unit 16 is typically a computer, and a computer program in it s processor generates a water sharpening sequence and takes care of up- dates to the water sharpening sequence. The program code can be loaded from an internal memory of the control unit or it can be downloaded from a separate external memory media, such as CD-ROM disc. The program code can also be transferred through a telecommunications network, for instance by connecting the device to the Internet. It is also possible to use a hardware im- plementation or a combination of hardware and software solutions.

[0024] The arrangement intended for water-jet sharpening the pulp- stone 3 of the pulp grinder 1 of the invention comprises two control circuits ar- ranged to the control unit 16, namely a control circuit for adjusting the pressure of the pulpstone 3 treatment jet 18 and a control circuit for adjusting the treat- ment interval of the pulpstone 3. The pressure of the treatment jet 18 of the pulpstone 3 is preferably adjusted within the range of 800 and 2,500 bars de- pending on the quality of the fibre pulp 7 and the resources of the pulp grinder 1. The treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is, in turn, adjusted so as to keep

the pressure of the treatment jet 18 within said range. When the pressure of the treatment jet 18 approaches a predefined high limit of the pressure, the treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is shortened, and correspondingly, when the pressure of the treatment jet 18 approaches a predefined low limit of the pressure, the treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is lengthened.

[0025] Figure 2 shows a chain pulp grinder 1 that comprises a body 2 and a pulpstone 3 mounted rotatably with bearings to the body 2 and above the pulpstone 3, there is a wood pocket 70 comprising two endless chains 71 for feeding wood 5 against the pulpstone 3. The chains are arranged to rotate around turning wheels 72. The turning wheels 72 are connected to drives (not shown) that turn them. The direction of travel of the chains 71 outside the wood pocket 70 is shown by arrow 73. Below the pulpstone 3, there is a tray 8 for ground fibre pulp 7, from which tray 8 the fibre pulp 7 is led to a further site of use. Different variables, such as production speed 10, the power 74 of the drives running the chains 71, the power/current 12 of the motor (not shown) running the pulpstone 3, the CSF value 13 of the fibre pulp 7, the speed 75 of the chains, are measured from the fibre pulp 7 and pulp grinder 1. The target values 15 of variables defined for the operation of the water sharpening appa- ratus are combined with the above-mentioned by means of the control unit 16 of the water sharpening apparatus to obtain a control signal 17 for sharpening the pulpstone 3 with the water jet 18 of the water sharpening apparatus. On the basis of this, the pump unit 19 of the water sharpening apparatus is started and the sharpening is done with the water jet 18 by moving the nozzle 20 of the water sharpening apparatus.

[0026] The arrangement intended for water-jet sharpening the pulp- stone 3 of the pulp grinder 1 of the invention comprises two control circuits ar- ranged to the control unit 16, namely a control circuit for adjusting the pressure of the pulpstone 3 treatment jet 18 and a control circuit for adjusting the treat- ment interval of the pulpstone 3. The pressure of the treatment jet 18 of the pulpstone 3 is preferably adjusted within the range of 800 and 2,500 bars de- pending on the quality of the fibre pulp 7 and the resources of the pulp grinder 1. The treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is, in turn, adjusted so as to keep the pressure of the treatment jet 18 within said range. When the pressure of the treatment jet 18 approaches a predefined high limit of the pressure, the treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is shortened, and correspondingly, when

the pressure of the treatment jet 18 approaches a predefined low limit of the pressure, the treatment interval of the pulpstone 3 is lengthened.

[0027] The calculation principles, on which the arrangement of the invention for controlling the water-jet sharpening sequence of the pulpstone 3 of the pulp grinder is based, will now be described in greater detail.

Power saturation degree [0028] The power saturation degree describes the power used in the pulp grinder 1. The power saturation degree is the portion of normal grind- ing time that the pulp grinder 1 grinds at its top power. The top power refers herein to a high limit set for the grinding power, which, if exceeded for a long time, would cause the motor of the pulp grinder 1 to overload. Normal grinding refers herein to a situation where both pockets 4 of a piston-loaded pulp grinder 1 are set for grinding at the same time. Because a chain pulp grinder is a continuous grinder, its power saturation is calculated for the entire grinding time with an examination period.

[0029] The power saturation degree is calculated using the following formula : (1) PS =100 x TZp, Til wherein Ps power saturation degree, Tmp = cumulative time during normal grinding, when the grinding power 12 of the pulp grinder 1 is above the top power during the calculation period T, [s] T"= cumulative normal grinding time during the calculation period T, [s].

Grinding pressure saturation degree [0030] The grinding pressure saturation degree of a compression piston-fed pulp grinder describes the sufficiency of the grinding pressure during grinding. The grinding pressure saturation degree is the portion of normal grinding time that the pocket 4 in question grinds at its top pressure. The top pressure is for instance 2 bars lower than the maximum pressure generated by the high-pressure pump required in grinding. Said high-pressure pump gener- ates pressure 11 to the compression pistons 6 and the pressure shoes 6'con-

nected to the pistons press the wood blocks 5 against the pulpstone 3. In a chain pulp grinder, the grinding pressure saturation can be compared to the saturation degree of the chain drive 74, this being the time that the drive power 74 has exceeded the set high limit during the examined period.

[0031] The grinding pressure saturation degree is calculated using the following formula: Tmgp (2) GPs = 100 # , 7Z wherein GPs = grinding pressure saturation degree, Tmgp = cumulative time during normal grinding, when the pocket 4 in question grinds at a pressure higher than the top pressure during the calculation period T, [s] Tn = cumulative normal grinding time during the calculation period T, [s].

[0032] In a chain grinder, the saturation degree of the chain drive is calculated from formula 2, but the term Tmgp is the time that the power 74 of the chain drive is over the set high limit during the calculation period T.

Saturation degree of pressure shoe 6'speed control [0033] The saturation degree of the pressure shoe 6'speed control describes the operation of the slave controls of the pulp grinder 1. Slave con- trols refer herein to pulp grinder-specific load controls, with which, depending on the loading method, the grinding power 12, pressure shoe 6'speeds 21 or pressure shoe 6'grinding pressures 11 are kept constant. The saturation de- gree of the pressure shoe 6'speed control is the portion of normal grinding time that the pocket 4 in question grinds with the output of the pressure shoe 6' speed control circuit higher than 95%, for instance.

[0034] The saturation degree of the pressure shoe 6'speed control is calculated using the following formula: Tsss (3) Ss = 100 # , Tn wherein Ss = saturation degree of the pressure shoe 6'speed con- trol, [%]

Tss = cumulative time during normal grinding, when the out- put of the pressure shoe 6'speed control circuit of the pocket 4 is higher than 95%, for instance, during the calculation period T, [s] Tn = cumulative normal grinding time during the calculation period T, [s].

Average speed lack of pressure shoe 6' [0035] The average speed lack indicates lack of resources in the pulp grinder 1.

[0036] When Sset (n) > Sm (n), the average speed lack is calculated using the formula : wherein MEneg = average speed lack, [mm/s] Sset (n) = setting of grinding speed 21 at sampling time n, [mm/s] Sm (n) = measuring value of grinding speed 21 at sampling time n, [mm/s] Nn = number of samples during normal grinding during the calculation period T, [number].

[0037] The corresponding term for the negative pressure shoe speed deviation in a chain pulp grinder is the speed lack of chain and it is cal- culated as the difference between the measured chain speed 75 and the rate of travel of wood. The rate of travel of wood can also be calculated from the measured jet stream and the measured pulp consistency.

Quality of fibre pulp 7 [0038] The quality of the fibre pulp 7 is described using a logarith- mic CSF model. The model is presented as follows :

wherein CSF = calculated CSF value 26, [ml] A and B = wood type-specific parameters SEC = average specific energy consumption during normal grinding during the calculation period T, [MWh/t] Specific energy consumption [0039] Specific energy consumption in grinding is calculated using the following formula: <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> (6) SEC=<BR> <BR> mu<BR> <BR> <BR> mgl bzder wherein SEC = specificenergyconsumption, [MWh/t] P = average grinding power during normal grinding during the calculation period T, [MW] mgrinder = average production speed of pulp grinder 1 during nor- mal grinding during the calculation period T, [t/h] Production speed of pulp grinder 1 [0040] The production speed of a compression piston-loaded pulp grinder 1 is calculated during normal grinding as a total of the pocket-specific production speeds: (7) mgrinder = mpocket(a) + mpocket(b) , wherein grinder production speed of pulp grinder 1, [t/h] mpocket (a) = A-pocket 4 production speed, [t/h] mpocket (b) = B-pocket 4 production speed, [t/h] [0041] The production of a chain pulp grinder 1 can be calculated from the measured speed of wood. In both pulp grinder types, the grinder- specific production speed 10 can also be calculated as a product of the jet streams and measured consistency.

Pocket-specific production speed of compression piston-loaded grinder 1 [0042] The pocket-specific production speed 10 is calculated using the advance of the pressure shoe 6', a model describing the compression of the wood batch 5 during grinding and the pressure shoe 6'speed: T b x L a (x) x S (rua) (8) pocket wherein Mpooket Mpocket (a) or mpocket (b), wherein a (x) = function describing the batch compression as a func- tion of the relative advance of the pressure shoe 6' scaled to an average of 1.

(9) a (x) = A + Bx + Cx2, wherein x = relative advance of the pressure shoe 6'at high- pressure grinding 0... 1 b = conversion factor from the speed of the pressure shoe 6'to the production speed, [mm/s-> t/h] A, B, C = empirical constants S (n) = speed of pressure shoe 6'during normal grinding dur- ing sampling time, [mm/s] Nn = number of samples during normal grinding during the calculation period T, [number].

Calculation period [0043] Calculations are done during normal grinding as period aver- age values during the calculation period T. The calculation period T is prefera- bly 15 minutes. The time can also be longer or shorter.

[0044] In the arrangement of the invention, the treatment pressure of the pulpstone 3 surface of a compression piston-loaded pulp grinder 1 is controlled with a so-called fuzzy logic device having as inputs filtered values of the error value of the CSF setting provided by the operator and the computa- tional current CSF value (formula 5) and the average value of the speed lack of

the A and B pockets 4 (formula 4) or the average value of the saturation de- gree of the speed control of the A and B pockets 4 (formula 3) or the average value of the grinding pressure saturation degree of the A and B pockets (for- mula 2) or the power saturation degree (formula 1). Correspondingly, in a chain grinder, the inputs of the fuzzy logic device are the error value of the CSF setting provided by the operator and the computational CSF value 26 (formula 5) and the speed lack of chain or the saturation degree of the power/current of the chain drive or the power saturation degree (formula 1).

The computational CSF value 26 can also be a measured CSF value 13 or a computational CSF value 25 corrected with the measured CSF value 13.

[0045] Instead of a fuzzy logic device, it is also possible to use a model, in which values of formulas 1 to 5 are combined in different ways and using different weighting coefficients.

[0046] The input signals can, if necessary, be filtered with a low- pass filter, for instance.

[0047] The pressure setting is preferably calculated at 15-minute in- tervals with the fuzzy logic. The minimum value of the setting is preferably 800 bars and the maximum value is preferably 2 500 bars.

[0048] The adjustment of the treatment interval ensures that the treatment pressure remains within said control range and does not drift to- wards either side. Because the wear of the pulpstone 3 is proportional to the amount of energy used in grinding with it, it is advantageous to base the treat- ment interval on the cumulative grinding energy during the grinding time of the pulp grinder 1. The sharpening interval is adjusted by controlling the energy consumption during the sharpening interval. The adjustment can then also be based on the grinding time. When grinding at low power, the sharpening is done at long intervals, and when grinding at high power, the sharpening is cor- respondingly done at short intervals.

[0049] The adjustment of the treatment interval makes the currently used treatment interval longer, when the pressure setting of the water sharpen- ing pressure calculated by the control circuit is lower than the low limit of the pressure range, which is preferably 900 bars. Correspondingly, the adjustment of the treatment interval makes the currently used treatment interval shorter, when the pressure setting of the water sharpening pressure calculated by the control circuit is higher than the high limit of the pressure range, which is pref- erably 2,300 bars.

[0050] The decision to start the treatment is based on the cumula- tive grinding energy from the previous treatment. When the cumulative grinding energy value exceeds the energy value calculated during the previous treat- ment in the control unit 16, water sharpening is started. The energy counter is then reset and a new cumulative energy value is calculated for the next water sharpening operation.

[0051] Figure 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the inven- tion, in which the water sharpening pressure is adjusted as the primary control variable and the water sharpening interval as the secondary control variable.

The arrows show the data flows and the blocks show the calculation taking place in the control unit 16. The circles are summing elements. For the sake of clarity, the calculation is shown for one grinding pocket only.

[0052] The production speed of the pocket of the pulp grinder 1 dur- ing high-pressure grinding 23 is calculated in block 43 using the position sig- nals 22 of the pressure shoe 6', speed signals 21 and high-pressure grinding data 23 and by using formulas 7,8 and 9. The calculation is done as follows.

First, the pocket-specific compression function is calculated with formula 9.

The value of the compression function is 0, when the pocket 4 in question does low-pressure grinding. When the pocket 4 starts high-pressure grinding, the relative advance of the pressure shoe is scaled in such a manner that at the beginning of high-pressure grinding in said pocket 4, it is 0 and at the end of high-pressure grinding, it is 1. The presented function is a quadratic equation with some preferred factors provided for it. The essential for this compression function is the dimensionless number whose average value in the entire range of the relative position is 1. The scaling of the relative position is done sepa- rately for each pocket-full.

[0053] The average pocket-specific production speed for the calcu- lation period is calculated using formula 8 from the compression function 9, scaling coefficient, pressure shoe speed 21 and number Nn of samples. A con- dition for this calculation is that the pocket 4 is doing high-pressure grinding 23.

For the sake of clarity, the diagram only shows the calculation of the produc- tion speed of one pocket. The average production speed of the pulp grinder 1 is calculated at the end of the calculation period with formula 7 as a sum of the pocket-specific production speeds. In the diagram, the production speed of the second pocket is marked with arrow 59.

[0054] The average energy consumption of the pulp grinder 1 dur- ing the calculation period is calculated in block 44 with formula 6 from the av- erage power 12 of normal grinding measured during the calculation period, when both pockets 4 grind at high-pressure 23, by dividing it by the production speed 10 of the pulp grinder 1 calculated with formula 7.

[0055] The CSF value 26 of the pulp produced by the pulp grinder 1 is calculated using the energy consumption with formula 5. The coefficients A and B shown in the formula are wood-type-and pulpstone-specific constants that are determined case by case. Coefficients A and B are marked with arrow 58 in the figure.

[0056] Instead of the calculated CSF value 26, it is possible to use as feedback in a subtraction node 41 the measured CSF value 13 or a combi- nation of the measured CSF value 13 and the calculated CSF value 26, in which case the calculated CSF value 26 is corrected with the measured CSF value 13. The correction is made in such a manner that the CSF value 13 is measured from a sample collected from the grinder pit pulp 7. The calculated CSF value 26 is subtracted from the measured CSF value 13 in step 45. This produces a correction term 25 of the calculated CSF value 26. The correction term 25 is added to the calculated CSF value 26 so as to make the calculated CSF value 28 correspond to the measured CSF value 13.

[0057] The error value 49 of the water jet sharpening pressure is calculated in block 48 on the basis of the CSF value error value 31, which is calculated with the summing node 41 from the CSF value setting 29 and the calculated CSF value 28, and the average speed lack of the pressure shoe 6'.

The compression piston-specific speed lack 32 is calculated in block 42 during normal grinding 23 with formula 4 by subtracting the corresponding setpoint 30 from the pressure shoe speed measurement calculated during high-pressure grinding. The average value of the pocket-specific speed lacks is formed by dividing the sum of pocket-specific speed lacks by two. For the sake of clarity, the figure shows the calculation for one pocket 4 only, so the signal 32 is the average value of the pocket-specific speed lacks.

[0058] The water sharpening pressure 55 used during the previous adjustment cycle is added in the summing element 50 to the error value of the water jet sharpening pressure, which produces the new pressure setting 51.

Various implementations can be used in calculating the error value 49 of the water jet sharpening pressure. The calculation in block 48 may be based on a

multivariable algorithm, fuzzy logic, PID controller or a combination thereof.

The pressure setting 51 is directed to the generation system of water sharpen- ing pressure. The water sharpening pressure setting can also be calculated in block 48 without the feedback 55 of the previous calculation cycle, in which case the new water sharpening pressure setting 51 is the same as the output 49 of the water sharpening pressure adjustment. The pressure setting is pref- erably adjusted within the range of 800 to 2,500 bars.

[0059] The water sharpening power depends not only on the water sharpening pressure, but also on how often water sharpening is repeated. Be- cause the dulling of the pulpstone 3 depends essentially on the amount of en- ergy used in grinding with it, the water sharpening interval is naturally defined using the used amount of energy. The water sharpening interval setting is preferably adjusted within the range of 20 to 160 MWh. Water sharpening is done intermittently, because the change in sharpness as the stone dulls is quite slow and in a grinding mill, there is usually only one pump unit 19 gener- ating water sharpening pressure that is used for as many as 12 different pulp grinders.

[0060] The principle in adjusting the water sharpening interval is to keep the water sharpening pressure within the control range 53. The water sharpening interval is adjusted in block 52. The treatment interval adjustment makes the used treatment interval longer when the water sharpening pressure setting calculated by the control circuit is lower than the low limit of the pres- sure range, which is preferably 900 bars. Correspondingly, the treatment inter- val adjustment makes the used treatment interval shorter when the water sharpening pressure setting calculated by the control circuit is higher than the high limit of the pressure range, which is preferably 2,300 bars.

[0061] When water sharpening is done, the next grinding energy value is calculated, with which water sharpening is done the next time. The starting command of water sharpening is shown by arrow 56 and switch 54 in the diagram.

[0062] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention, in which the water sharpening interval is adjusted as the primary control variable and the water sharpening pressure as the secondary control variable. The arrows show the data flows and the blocks show the calculation performed in the control unit 16. The circles are summing elements. For the sake of clarity, the calculation is shown for one grinding pocket only.

[0063] The calculation of the production speed of the pulp grinder 1, the calculation of the CSF value and the calculation of the pressure shoe speed as well as the compensation of the calculated CSF value on the basis of laboratory values are consistent with what is stated in the description of dia- gram 3.

[0064] The water jet sharpening interval is calculated in step 38 on the basis of the CSF value error value 31 and the average speed lack 32 of the pressure shoe. The pressure shoe-specific speed lack is calculated during normal grinding with formula 4. The average of the pocket-specific speed lacks is formed by dividing the sum of pocket-specific speed lacks by two. For the sake of clarity, the figure shows the speed lack calculation for one pressure shoe 6'only.

[0065] Various implementations can be used in calculating the error value 33 of the water jet sharpening interval in step 38. The calculation may be based on a multivariable algorithm, fuzzy logic, PID controller or a combination thereof. The new setting 35 for the water sharpening interval is formed by sum- ming the previous water sharpening interval 34 and the error value 33 in the summing element 47. In block 38, it is also possible to calculate the new set- ting of the water sharpening interval directly without the feedback 34 of the previous calculation cycle, in which case the new water sharpening interval setting 35 is the same as the output 33 of the water sharpening interval ad- justment.

[0066] Because the dulling of the pulpstone 3 depends essentially on the amount of energy used in grinding with it, water sharpening interval re- fers herein to the amount of energy used in grinding. Preferably, the water sharpening setting is adjusted within the range of 20 to 160 MWh. Water sharpening is done intermittently, because the change in sharpness as the stone dulls is quite slow and in a grinding mill, there is usually only one pump unit 19 generating water sharpening pressure that is used for as many as 12 different pulp grinders.

[0067] The water sharpening pressure 17 is adjusted to keep the water sharpening interval 35 within the control range 36. The treatment pres- sure adjustment makes the currently used treatment pressure higher when the treatment interval setting calculated by the sharpening interval control circuit is lower than the low limit of the treatment interval, which is preferably 30 MWh.

Correspondingly, the treatment pressure adjustment makes the currently used

treatment pressure lower when the treatment interval setting calculated by the sharpening interval control circuit is higher than the high limit of the treatment interval, which is preferably 150 MWh. When water sharpening is done, a new pressure setting is calculated. Preferably, the pressure setting is adjusted within the range of 800 to 2,500 bars. The starting command of water sharpen- ing is shown by arrow 61 and switch 39 in the diagram.

[0068] It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that while the technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The examples described in the drawing are in no way intended to limit the idea of the invention, but to only illustrate the basic idea of the invention. Thus, the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the above examples, but may vary within the scope of the claims. The structure of the control unit is also in no way limited. The control unit can be implemented using the conventional analogue technology, for instance, but most preferably by using a microprocessor or computer. Further, instead of the piston-or chain-operated wood feeding equipment described in the invention, the pulp grinder may be equipped with any known wood feeding mechanism, such as various screw-feed solutions.