Introducing InstaBoost

Papermakers have long known that increasing felt temperatures has many production benefits, ultimately resulting in a better quality product. They also need to keep costs under control. With low cost felt heaters like the popular Lazy Steamer becoming less available, Transphase would like to remind customers that our Instaboost Felt Steam Vac provides the same budget friendly service with a number of improvements. Please review the full product details.

Technical Bulletin: Sheet Distance

Setting the optimum distance between the sheet and the steambox is very critical for performance and efficiency. If the steam box is too far away from the sheet, most of the steam will evaporate into the environment and will not condense on the sheet…

Download the Sheet Distance Bulletin

Transphase Supplies SSV for IBS Table Rebuild at New Indy, Hartford City

When New Indy Hartford City was looking for ways to improve formation and increase machine speeds for their light weight medium machine, they decided to purchase an IBS Wet End Engineering Study in order to find ways to meet this goal. After the IBS study and with mill collaboration, it was determined that the existing equipment created excessive stock activity, the sheet temperature was cold going into the press section, and the machine did not have enough drainage capacity to support faster speeds.

From the observed baseline data, IBS engineering was able to design a tailored machine rebuild in order to obtain the goals of increased machine speeds and improved sheet quality. A simulation on the cross-direction (CD) moisture was performed to predict the future CD moisture improvement of the machine. The vacuum system was analyzed and modifications were proposed to alleviate airflow bottlenecks.

In 2018, IBS installed new table equipment and steambox system to significantly increase drainage capacity and improve sheet quality. Poly foil trials were conducted to find the correct angles for optimized stock activity, and ceramic foils with the optimized angles were later installed. Vacuum control was implemented for sheet structure and drainage control. Additional drainage elements were installed to lower headbox consistencies and improve formation. The Super Steam Vac system, Transphase’s patented low-velocity steam box technology operating in conjunction with IBS’ Super HighVac unit, was installed to control CD moisture profiles and significantly increase the sheet temperature into the press section.

After the rebuild, it was observed that steady state reel speeds increased by over 10%. The drainage capacity significantly increased before the couch which allowed for the couch vacuum and the lumpbreaker to be removed. All of the vacuum dedicated to the couch was repurposed to the trivac to increase vacuum levels and improve steam penetration. Wire life improved as a result of improved drainage profiles and newly installed ceramic.

The combination of removing the couch vacuum and implementing a Super Steam Vac system allowed for significantly hotter temperatures into the press section. The temperature of the sheet increased by 40°F after the couch. In combination with high vacuum and low velocity steam, the installation of the Super Steam Vac improved the CD moisture 2-sigma by 60% allowing for the reel moisture setpoint to increase. A higher moisture setpoint also helped increase machine speeds on the machine.

The performance guarantee of the rebuild was surpassed, and the business relationship that the mill and IBS formed led to the continuous improvement of their machine.