Problem Solved: Engineers take on challenge of failing equipment at paper mill - Paper Technology International 2023 - Paper Technology International 2023 - Flipbook - Page 72

Problem Solved: Engineers take on challenge of failing equipment at paper mill - Paper Technology International 2023

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL Problem Solved: Engineers take on challenge of failing equipment at paper mill - Paper Technology International 2023
Deublin engineers also took a “proof of concept” approach
to ensure their solution would be effective before deploying it
throughout the whole system. By starting with a small section of the
machine, Deublin engineers were able to demonstrate a measurable
result at minimal cost.
They were able to reuse bell and housing components
from existing joints to save on metal costs, effectively upgrading
the plant’s equipment without major expense. See Figure 4 for
competitor comparison of the effectiveness of Deublin joints at
temperature insulation.
Figure 4: Deublin joints are effective at keeping temperatures at lower levels than those of a competitor (shown in green).
Source: Deublin Co.
End results
Once the custom-designed solution was in place, the effectiveness of the Deublin approach could immediately be seen.
Testing showed an immediate reduction in water contamination. The mill was able to discontinue dehydrator rental shortly
after installation, which took place during an annual outage. Here’s a look at the progress in one of the machine’s tanks:
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Pre-installation measurements:
0.05% water at 493.5 ppm, 2/21/2019
0.26% water at 2559.6 ppm, 2/28/2019
Installation during annual outage, 5/9/2019 to 5/10/2019
11 kits installed, five for condensate removal systems and six for steam inlet systems, each including seal conversion,
journal flanges, insulating sleeves and siphon conversion
Post-installation measurements:
0.15% water at 484.3 ppm, 5/22/2019 (1st dryer section)
0.18% water at 484.3 ppm, 5/22/2019 (2nd dryer section)
No water detected, 5/22/2019 (3rd and 4th dryer sections)
0.03% water at 281.1 ppm, 5/29/2019
Rental dehydrator removed, 5/31/2019
No water detected
In terms of expenses saved by Deublin solution, the overall cost metrics indicate that the project paid for itself within the first
year of operation.
Engineering answers
The case of the paper mill is just one illustration of how engineering
know-how can be used to arrive at solutions that go beyond “quick
fixes” that often create more problems than they solve.
Although dehydrator rental offered an intermediary fix, it
was both a costly and ultimately unsustainable solution. Deublin
engineers looked deeper into the problem, incorporating their
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knowledge of material properties and their perspective on the
whole system. This allowed them to devise an answer that not only
solved existing problems in the short term, but also built long-term
sustainability into the equation.
To learn more about Deublin’s approach, visit their website
www.deublin.com.

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