Method and apparatus for removing water from a capillary cylinder in a papermaking process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10895040-B2
Application number	US-201816207280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2018
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for removing water from a wet fibrous web. During the process of making a fibrous structure, a capillary dewatering apparatus remove water from a wet porous web. In some configurations, a capillary dewatering apparatus may include a capillary porous media. A molding member, such as a papermaking belt comprising an air permeable fabric, may advance the wet fibrous web onto the capillary porous media, wherein the fibrous web is positioned between the capillary porous media and the air-permeable fabric. An energy transfer surface may be positioned in contact with the air-permeable fabric or the outer circumferential surface, wherein the energy transfer surface operates to vibrate the capillary porous media. In turn, the vibration helps to drive water through the capillary porous media, allowing additional water to flow from the fibrous web and through pores in the capillary porous media.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing water from a wet porous web, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a capillary porous media;
positioning the web on the capillary porous media, wherein the web is positioned between the capillary porous media and an air-permeable fabric;
providing an energy transfer surface;
contacting the air-permeable fabric or the capillary porous media with the energy transfer surface; and
vibrating the capillary porous media with the energy transfer surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy transfer surface comprises an ultrasonic horn.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a linear ultrasonic horn.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a rotary ultrasonic horn.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of vibrating further comprises moving the energy transfer surface with a peak to peak displacement up to about 20 μm.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of vibrating further comprises vibrating the energy transfer surface at a frequency of about 20 kHz.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capillary porous media comprises a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface, wherein water flows from the web through the first surface and toward the second surface.

8. The method of claim 7 , applying vacuum to a first portion of the second surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of advancing the web from a roll and applying a positive air pressure to a second portion of the second surface.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capillary porous media comprises pores comprising effective diameters in a range of about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein energy applied to remove water from the web is from about 1 BTU/lb of water to about 20 BTU/lb of water.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable fabric comprises resin deflection members supporting the web.

13. A method for removing water from a wet porous web, the method comprising the steps of:
rotating a roll about an axis of rotation, the roll comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a capillary porous media, wherein the capillary porous media comprises a first surface and a second surface positioned radially inward of the first surface;
advancing the web with an air-permeable fabric onto the roll, wherein the web is positioned between the capillary porous media and the air-permeable fabric;
providing an ultrasonic horn;
contacting the air-permeable fabric or the outer circumferential surface with the ultrasonic horn; and
vibrating the capillary porous media with the ultrasonic horn to transfer water from the web through the first surface and radially inward toward the second surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a linear ultrasonic horn.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a rotary ultrasonic horn.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasonic horn vibrates with a peak to peak displacement of about 20 μm.

17. The method of claim 13 , applying vacuum pressure to a portion of the second surface.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the capillary porous media comprises pores comprising effective diameters in a range of about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm.

19. An apparatus for removing water from a wet porous web, the apparatus comprising:
a roll adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation, the roll comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a capillary porous media, wherein the capillary porous media comprises a first surface and a second surface positioned radially inward of the first surface;
an air-permeable fabric adapted to advance the web onto the roll, wherein the web is positioned between the capillary porous media and the air-permeable fabric; and
an ultrasonic horn in contact with the air-permeable fabric.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the ultrasonic horn vibrates with a peak to peak displacement of up to about 20 μm.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the capillary porous media comprises pores comprising effective diameters in a range of about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a linear ultrasonic horn.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the air-permeable fabric comprises resin deflection members supporting the web.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Watkins Eric James
• Price Jonathan Lee

Classifications

• F26B13/14 Primary

  Rollers, {drums, cylinders}(sorbent surfaces F26B13/26); {Arrangement of drives, supports, bearings, cleaning} · CPC title

• F26B5/02

  by using ultrasonic vibrations {(using sonic energy generated by pulse jet combustion F26B23/026)} · CPC title

• F26B13/28

  for applying pressure; for brushing; for wiping · CPC title

• D21F5/021

  Construction of the cylinders · CPC title

• D21F5/143

  through perforated cylinders · CPC title