Paper 360
- Optimum filtrate quality minimizes consumption of fresh water
- Significant cost savings due to greater machine availability and lower maintenance requirement
- Voith’s new development FloWing offers even higher capacities and a longer service life
Appleton, Wis. / HEIDENHEIM, Germany (Nov. 14, 2018) – Twenty years ago, Voith launched its first disc filter sectors, which operate entirely without filter bags and substantially improve machine availability. Low maintenance requirements, long service lives and a consistently excellent filtrate quality have made the products of the BaglessPlus family a market leader. To mark this anniversary, Voith is once again setting the benchmark for filter segments with its new development FloWing. Existing machines can be adapted to the BaglessPlus family, including the new generation product FloWing.
When it tested the first prototypes of the BaglessPlus disc filter sectors in 1998, Voith revolutionized the dewatering process in stock preparation. Since then, the Heidenheim technology group has installed more than 6,500 filter discs, consisting of more than 130,000 BaglessPlus sectors, and Voith is the undisputed market leader in this area. Worldwide, disc filters with BaglessPlus sectors have paved the way for efficient and resource-conserving dewatering.
Prior to the launch of BaglessPlus, filter discs were regarded as wear parts that paper manufacturers had to replace after two to four years of operation. For filter discs from the BaglessPlus family, service lives were vastly improved – more than 15 years are typical. Overall, about 93.5 percent of all first-generation BaglessPlus filter discs installed are still in operation today. In the first ten years after their introduction, there was not a single failure due to wear. At Leipa, where BaglessPlus filter discs have been used since 2004, Voith only had to replace a few of the 67 discs installed so far. The first BaglessPlus sectors, which Voith installed in 1998, are also still in use today. These long service lives allow manufacturers to significantly reduce the operating costs of their machines.
Superclear filtrate reduces fresh water consumption
The filter bags commonly used in conventional disc filters are responsible for regular shutdowns in the stock preparation unit. They often tear during operation, which results in corresponding fiber losses. The filtrate, which is usually used at various spray nozzles on the paper machine, is also contaminated by fibers and fines, which clog up the nozzles. This clogging requires a system shutdown for cleaning.
BaglessPlus technology from Voith introduced filter discs without high-maintenance filter bags. This resulted in a reduction of downtimes, because the BaglessPlus discs reliably maintain the high quality of the filtrate over their entire service life. At the same time, paper producers can save fibers and fillers. The cost efficiency of the system is also improved because spray water with low solids content has a positive impact on felt service life. Thanks to the high filtrate quality, the fresh water requirement for the entire plant is also reduced. Ideally, a closed loop system is achieved.
FloWing: the latest addition to the product range
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the BaglessPlus system, Voith has announced FloWing, the logical development of the proven technology. Practical experience with BaglessPlus over the last two decades enabled Voith engineers to gain crucial insights to develop the next-generation FloWing. Among other things, they investigated the effects of different disc surfaces and topographies on the capacity. At the same time, the FloWing needed to retain the excellent knock-off properties and high filtrate quality of the BaglessPlus sectors. This resulted in a geometry that allows the formation of a thick fiber mat but also ensures ideal fiber separation.
Same dimensions, more surface
Thanks to a unique wing design, the FloWing filter sectors have a 56 percent larger surface than conventional systems, and when compared to Voith’s BaglessPlus discs, the surface has increased by around 30 percent. Depending on raw material quality, the increase in throughput is from 20 to 30 percent. FloWing disc filter sectors are even stronger at critical positions and allow for longer service lives than the previous BaglessPlus sectors.
In July 2018, the first FloWing filter discs were installed in a European testliner facility. The initial reaction from the facility’s Managing Director for Production and Technology has been positive: “Since start-up, we have had no more capacity problems, even in the event of high tonnage at the PM. This was not the case in the past.”
Thanks to optional adjustments, FloWing filter discs, like all Voith products from the BaglessPlus family, can be used in existing disc filters, including those from other manufacturers.
Photos Attached
Since its introduction 20 years ago, more than 6,500 filter discs, consisting of 130,000 BaglessPlus sectors from Voith, have been installed worldwide.
The unique wing design of the new FloWing filter sectors offers 56 percent more surface area than conventional systems.
About the company
Voith is a global technology group. With its wide range of plants, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets for energy, oil and gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 19,000 employees and earns $4.7 billion in sales. It has locations in over 60 countries and is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.
The Division Paper is the leading partner and pioneer in the paper industry. Through constant innovations Voith is optimizing the paper manufacturing process and facilitating resource-conserving production. The company’s Papermaking 4.0 concept ensures that equipment is optimally networked, while the effective and secure use of the generated data enables paper manufacturers to improve their competitiveness. With its Servolution concept, Voith offers its customers tailored service solutions for all sections of the production process.