DOCSLIB.ORG

Model-Based Optimization of a Compactcooking G2 Digesting Process Stage

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Model-Based Optimization of a Compactcooking G2 Digesting Process Stage School of Chemical Technology Degree Programme of Chemical Technology Igor Saavedra MODEL-BASED OPTIMIZATION OF A COMPACTCOOKING G2 DIGESTING PROCESS STAGE Master’s thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Technology submitted for inspection, Espoo, 31 December 2015. Supervisor Prof. Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela Instructors Dr. Ing. Aldo Cipriano D.Sc. Olli Joutsimo ABSTRACT OF MASTER’S THESIS Author Igor Saavedra Thesis title Model-based Optimization of a CompactCooking G2 Digesting Process Stage Department Biotechnology and Chemical Technology Abstract A CompactCooking™ G2 (Valmet) digesting system represents a challenging process stage to be optimized in the context of a kraft pulp mill. Its highly non-linear behavior due to liquor recycling and heat integration poses a barrier to traditional trial-and-error optimization conducted by physical lab-scale simulation. Hence, this thesis aims to design a solution based on numerical simulation and mathematical optimization, whose results can be directly applied on industrial-scale as computed optimal set-points for the supervisory control. Based on published, first-principles, pulp digester models, a customized dynamic model was developed in Matlab/Simulink to simulate a complete CompactCooking™ G2 stage. The process model is founded on Purdue wood reaction kinetics and Härkönen chips bed compaction models, and it seamlessly takes into account process characteristics mentioned above. The non-linear model was validated by comparison against historical data of an industrial unit (200 h), and then employed in the design of a steady-state optimizer for this process stage by means of linear programming. Simulation results showed very good agreement in terms of liquors residual alkali, weak black liquor solids, and blowline kappa, despite high uncertainty on disturbances data and model simplifications. However, simulated kappa showed higher sensitivity to temperature fluctuations than the plant signal, likely indicating the need for more detail when modelling heat transfer phenomena. As to the optimization goal, a base case scenario (plant steady-state) was identified from industrial data to attempt process economics optimization. The results showed a potential for increasing profit or reducing variable costs in at least 2 USD/ADt, which for a modern pulp mill represents annual benefits between 1 – 2 million USD depending on production rate and mill availability. Further, the simulation model showed remarkable results when used in a novel process analysis technique, called here simulated contribution, letting to explain the variability of blowline kappa in terms of multiple-time-scale process dynamics. In conclusion, a model-based optimization method has been successfully designed for the CompactCooking™ G2 system, and potential economic benefits should encourage industrial testing and further work to develop a real-time optimizer software technology. Professorship Professorship code Process Control KE-90 Thesis supervisor Pages Prof. Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela 157+18 Thesis advisors Language Dr. Ing. Aldo Cipriano English D.Sc. Olli Joutsimo Keywords Date pulp digester, CompactCooking G2, dynamic simulation, 31.12.2015 model-based optimization, model-based process analysis Preface I have been studying kraft pulping processes since I entered the South American pulp industry as a trainee research engineer four years ago. A modern kraft pulp mill represents a challenging and interesting process system to learn about for a young chemical engineer. Unfortunately, although pulp production is an important economic activity for South America, I was not able to find the specialized knowledge I needed at home. I came to know about Finland as a forerunner in the pulp and paper industry through my job, from where I was given the support to study there, along with other colleagues, in order to learn as much as I could about related fields to the kraft pulp mill process. Thus, I began studies in Åbo Akademi compulsively consuming knowledge about wood and fiber chemistry, biomass combustion and ash chemistry, and the new trends of transforming kraft pulp mill into future biorefineries. After that, I moved to Aalto-yliopisto attracted by the idea of acquiring knowledge on process automation, including subjects such as modelling, simulation, control, optimization, and monitoring of chemical processes; topics that may be the fundamentals to the process systems engineering discipline. This thesis hence crystallizes a bunch of ideas related to the above matters, and although it is certainly not the most advanced work on its field, it aims to be useful for anyone interested in modelling, simulation and optimization of pulp digesters. The code itself is indebted to the original spirit of Castro and Doyle’s Pulp Mill Benchmark Model from which I learned a lot. Open innovation is certainly the best way to innovate and probably the most natural one, as sharing words and ideas should be in our genetic code. I am greatly indebted to the Finnish higher education system. Thus I am thankful to all lecturers and professors from whom I learned during my time in Finland. Special acknowledgments to Prof. Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela and Alexey Zakharov from Aalto-yliopisto, who taught me most of the mathematical techniques found here; and to Jan Gustafsson, Anna Sundberg, and Pedro Fardim from Åbo Akademi for their teaching in wood and paper chemistry subjects. Also, I wish to acknowledge Aldo Cipriano for his feedback and comments, and Olli Joutsimo for his patience and support. Future, experts say, is all about knowledge-, bio- and digital-economy. South American pulp industry is blessed regarding its forest resources but is (light) years behind forerunners in terms of advancing process technologies, likely, due to shortsighted decision-making, poor collaboration between industry and local universities, and low investment in R&D. Hopefully, the effort to bring new knowledge to this industry will not be a vain attempt. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my beloved ones, to Loreto and Alex that even travelled to share some time along, and to my colleagues with whom we kill freezing cold times. My special gratitude also to Onu, Evi, Leila, Sanna, Anni, Aleksi, Vahid, Moses, José, Vincent, Anatoly and all the Axelbandet members. I know I am the worst at keeping in touch, but I keep the best memories of all of you… after all, life may not be more than a bunch of memories. Igor Saavedra Confidential thanks to Nueva Aldea Pulp Mill and Biocel Pulping Research Center. Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Problem statement 1 1.2 Goals and scope 2 1.3 Methodology and contribution 3 1.4 Structure of the thesis 3 LITERATURE PART 4 2 The Kraft Pulp Mill 4 2.1 Industry facts and terms 4 2.2 Mill-wide process description 7 2.2.1 Wood line 8 2.2.2 Fiber line 9 2.2.3 Recovery line 11 3 Pulp Digesting Stage 13 3.1 Woodchips as raw material 13 3.2 Chemistry of kraft cooking 17 3.3 Equipment and instrumentation 22 3.4 Control and optimization 24 4 Mathematical Models on Pulp Digesters 27 4.1 Wood reaction kinetics 31 4.1.1 Purdue model 32 4.1.2 Gustafson model 33 4.2 Chips bed compaction 34 4.2.1 Härkönen correlations 35 4.2.2 Compacting pressure models 36 4.3 Chip size phenomena (mass transfer) 36 4.3.1 Diffusion and chip size 36 4.3.2 Liquor penetration 37 4.4 Pulp quality variables 38 4.4.1 Yield, kappa and screen reject 38 4.4.2 DP and intrinsic viscosity 39 4.4.3 Z-span, tensile and tear indices 41 4.5 Applications on control and optimization 42 EXPERIMENTAL PART 44 5 Methods 44 6 Process Description 46 7 Simulator Design 53 7.1 Simulation model architecture 55 7.1.1 Vessel submodel architecture 61 7.2 Mathematical modelling 64 7.2.1 Main assumptions 64 7.2.2 Vessels 66 7.2.2.1 Bed compaction 67 7.2.2.2 Woodchips degradation 74 7.2.2.3 Quality variables (depolymerization) 82 7.2.2.4 Top feeding 94 7.2.2.5 Digester wash zone 99 7.2.2.6 Levels 101 7.2.3 Heat-exchangers 103 7.2.4 Mill controlled variables 103 8 Simulation Results 106 8.1 Parameters and data acquisition 107 8.2 Testing and validation 115 8.3 Steady-state identification 123 9 Optimizer Design 126 9.1 Economic and operating models 128 9.1.1 Objective functions 129 9.1.2 Steady-state model and constraints 130 9.2 Linear programming approach 132 10 Optimization Results 137 10.1 Heuristic optima 137 10.2 Economic assessment 141 11 Conclusions 145 References 147 Appendices 158 A Model-based Process Analysis 158 Algebraic Notation Simulation Part J 푅 8.314 푔 Universal gas constant mol∙K m 9.81 푔 Gravity acceleration s2 퐴 Cross-sectional area m2 cm2 퐷 Diffusivity coefficient min 푇 Temperature K 푃 Pressure Pa m3 퐹 Volumetric flow rate min kg 퐹̃ Mass flow rate min kg 휌 Density m3 푠 Rotational speed rpm 푧 Axial space dimension m 푡 Time dimension min 휏 Retention time min g 푤 Molar mass mol kg of 푖 휌푖 Basic concentration of wood components m3sub kg of 푗 퐶푗 Mass concentration of liquor components m3e/f kmol of 푗 퐶̂푗 Molar concentration of liquor components m3e/f 퐶 Mass-specific heat capacity J 푃 kg∙K 퐶̅ Volume-specific heat capacity J 푃 m3K ℎ Mass-specific enthalpy J kg 퐻 Mass-specific heat of reaction J 푅 kg 퐸 Activation energy J 푎 mol ad hoc 푘 Pre-exponential factor 0 min 푘 Reaction rate constant ad hoc min 푈 Overall heat transfer coefficient J min∙m2K 푅 Volume-specific reaction rate of wood components kg of 푖 푖 m3sub∙min 푅 Volume-specific reaction rate of liquor components kg of 푗 푗 m3e/f∙min m 푢 Superficial velocity min 푣 Interstitial velocity idem ̂
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2009, Umaine News Press Releases
    The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine General University of Maine Publications University of Maine Publications 2009 2009, UMaine News Press Releases University of Maine George Manlove University of Maine Joe Carr University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the History Commons Repository Citation University of Maine; Manlove, George; and Carr, Joe, "2009, UMaine News Press Releases" (2009). General University of Maine Publications. 1091. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications/1091 This Monograph is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in General University of Maine Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UMaine News Press Releases from Word Press XML export 2009 UMaine Climate Change Institute Community Lecture in Bangor Jan. 14 02 Jan 2009 Contact: Gregory Zaro, 581-1857 or [email protected] ORONO -- Gregory Zaro, assistant professor in the University of Maine's Anthropology Department and Climate Change Institute, will present "Ancient Civilizations, Archaeology and Environmental Change in South America" from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.14, at the Bangor Public Library. Zaro's talk is the third installment in the Climate Change Institute's monthly lecture series, which is free and open to the public. According to Zaro, humans are active components of the environment and have been manipulating the physical world for thousands of years. While modern industrial nations are often viewed to have the greatest impact on ecological change, ancient civilizations have also left long-lasting imprints on the landscape that continue to shape our contemporary world.
    [Show full text]
  • Continuous Pulping Processes
    Continuous Pulping Processes Disclaimer: In some cases, the Million Book Project has been unable to trace the copyright owner. Items have been reproduced in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owners. Queensland University of Technology. Brisbane, Australia TAPPI STAP SERIES 1 The Training of Supervisors in Corrugated Box Plants: Ten Lesson Plans; Lesson 11: Time Study 2 Petroleum Waxes: Characterization, Performance, and Addi­ tives 3 *Preparation, Circulation, and Storage of Corrugating Adhesives 4 *Operations Research and the Design of Management Informa­ tion Systems 5 Management Science in Planning and Control 6 Technical Evaluation of Petroleum Waxes * Out of print. Photocopy may be obtained from University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. Johan Richter Pioneer in Continuous Pulping Technology Born in Lier, Norway, in 1901 Continuous Pulping Processes 12 Lectures By Sven Rydholm Director of Research Billeruds AB SPECIAL TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION • STAP NO. 7 Gardens Point A22810250B Continuous pulping processes : 12 lectures A22810250B ©Copyright 1970 by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry 360 Lexington Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10017 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74-140131 Printed in the United States of America By Mack Printing Company, Easton, Pa. Preface This book is a compilation of lectures given at the TAPPI Pacific Section Meeting in Seattle, Wash., in September 1968. They dealt with experiences in continuous pulping obtained over more than one decade at Billeruds AB in collaboration with AB Kamyr. One reason for my choice of topic was that Kamyr digesters have dom­ inated the most vital operation in our industry for more than ten years and still do, although some signs of healthy competition have appeared.
    [Show full text]
  • Download 2014 Annual Report
    THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE PULP & PAPER FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2014 65 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP STUDENTS • UNIVERSITY • INDUSTRY • DONORS 62 63 Cover Photograph - Foundation Chair of the Board, John Wolanski (cen- ter) welcomes first year scholarship recipients Corey Nadeau (left) and Mikayla Turner (right) to UMaine by presenting them with First Year Student Welcome Bags at the Foundation’s fall scholarship banquet. 64 TABLE OF CONTENTS Report of the Chair of the Board and Chair of the Executive Committee ............................2 Committee Reports Nominating................................................................................................................4 Investment Management ..........................................................................................8 Treasurer ................................................................................................................10 Auditor’s Report for 2014 .............................................................................11 Proposed 2015 Budget ................................................................................41 Audit .....................................................................................................................42 Membership ............................................................................................................43 Fundraising .............................................................................................................44 University & Industrial Support ...............................................................................45
    [Show full text]
  • JAPAN TAPPI JOURNAL January 2016 CONTENTS Vol.７０, No.１
    JAPAN TAPPI JOURNAL January１ 2016 CONTENTS Vol.７０, No.１ １ New Year’s Speech……Akihiro Aoki The Special Issue of the５８th―２０１５JAPAN TAPPI Annual Meeting in Niigata ４ General Review of the５８th―２０１５JAPAN TAPPI Annual Meeting in Niigata……Planning Subcommittee, JAPAN TAPPI １４ Keynote Speech ５８th―２０１５JAPAN TAPPI Annual Meeting in Niigata “Evolution to create a winning strategy―Technological innovation is a key” ……Akihiro Aoki ２１ Lecture by Winner of２０１４JAPAN TAPPI Prize ２３ A Visit to Niigata Mill―Hokuetsu Kishu Paper Co., Ltd.― ２５ List of Exhibitors & Exhibits２０１５ Technical Report ２８ Power Market Potential of the Paper Industry and Its Evaluation ―The Business Opportunities in the Power System Reform―……Masayoshi Watanabe ３３ Innovation of Inspection Technology with the Color Camera……Masahiro Nakata ３７ Development of SE Rotor Vane……Yujiro Deguchi ４０ Operating Experiences of SE Rotor……Yasuyuki Yamada ４６ Expansion of the Biomass Generation Business with the Paper Production Decrease……Takashi Fukuzako ５０ Operating Experience of Wash Press in D０―stage in the E―line Bleaching Process……Ken Nozaki ５４ Iwaki／PM３Operating Experience of Product Change by Machine Relocation and Remodeling……Yutaka Wada ５７ Operation Experience of New Liner Machine……Yoshikatu Monma ６１ Analysis of the Bleedable Compounds at Pulp’sTop―Surface by ESCA and TOF― SIMS……Hiroto Higashi, Tohko Nakamura and Keijiro Soma ６６ Functional Analysis of Japanese Green Tea Cultivar“Sunrouge” ……Masafumi Wasai, Akiyoshi Kawaoka and Hirofumi Tachibana Topics & Information ７１ Report on２０１５TAPPI International
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    TABLE OF CONTENTS Report of the Chairman and President ................................................................................2 Committee Reports Nominating ...............................................................................................................4 Investment Management ..........................................................................................8 Treasurer .................................................................................................................10 Auditor’s Report for 2011 ...........................................................................11 Proposed 2012 Budget ................................................................................33 Audit .....................................................................................................................34 Membership............................................................................................................35 Gifts and Bequests..................................................................................................36 University Support .................................................................................................37 Scholarship/Educational Relations ........................................................................39 Public Information .................................................................................................41 Open House ............................................................................................................42
    [Show full text]
  • Noordegraaf DEF.Indd 1 08-01-13 14:33 FRAMING FILM
    FRAMING ET AL. (EDS.) NOORDEGRAAF JULIA NOORDEGRAAF, COSETTA G. SABA, FILM BARBARA LE MAÎTRE, VINZENZ HEDIGER (EDS.) PRESERVING AND EXHIBITING MEDIA ART PRESERVING AND EXHIBITING MEDIA ART Challenges and Perspectives This important and fi rst-of-its-kind collection addresses the Julia Noordegraaf is AND EXHIBITING MEDIA ART PRESERVING emerging challenges in the fi eld of media art preservation and Professor of Heritage and exhibition, providing an outline for the training of professionals in Digital Culture at the Univer- this fi eld. Since the emergence of time-based media such as fi lm, sity of Amsterdam. video and digital technology, artists have used them to experiment Cosetta G. Saba is Associate with their potential. The resulting artworks, with their basis in Professor of Film Analysis rapidly developing technologies that cross over into other domains and Audiovisual Practices in such as broadcasting and social media, have challenged the tradi- Media Art at the University tional infrastructures for the collection, preservation and exhibition of Udine. of art. Addressing these challenges, the authors provide a historical Barbara Le Maître is and theoretical survey of the fi eld, and introduce students to the Associate Professor of challenges and di culties of preserving and exhibiting media art Theory and Aesthetics of through a series of fi rst-hand case studies. Situated at the threshold Static and Time-based Images at the Université Sorbonne between archival practices and fi lm and media theory, it also makes nouvelle – Paris 3. a strong contribution to the growing literature on archive theory Vinzenz Hediger is and archival practices. Professor of Film Studies at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main.
    [Show full text]
  • Counterclock Award – for Significant Contributions to European SF Fandom” ------TABLE F CONTENT INTRODUCTIN
    COUNTERCLCK SF # 35 Artwork: Wolf von Witting. ”The CounterClock Award – For Significant contributions to European SF Fandom” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TABLE F CONTENT INTRODUCTIN...................................page 02 Fannish Handcraft..................................page 04 Sf-Fandom in Switzerland......................page 09 Tom Ölander, the Father of Finnish Fandom by Wolf von Witting................................page 14 SCI FI SHORT PIECES.........................page 20 History of Polish sf-fandom Part 1 (of 3) Aleksandra Wierzchowska................page 35 by Hello there, and Stieg Larsson -Science fiction reader (and sometimes writer) Welcome to an issue of CounterClock, where I by John Henri Holmberg........................page 38 hope to become creative at my own full Capacity. I have therefore spent slightly more time with my LoCol......................................................page 57 writing than I usually do for an issue. THE FINAL WRD................................page 62 I began early in February and hope to stay with it - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - until early April, when I wrap it up. (F)illustrations in this issue by Lars “Lon” Olsson, whose work has been appreciated in Swedish This is because there was another chapter in the fanzines since they first appeared in the mid'70's. book about Stieg Larsson, which was cut beyond - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2010
    ANNUAL REPORT 2010 61 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP STUDENTS • UNIVERSITY • INDUSTRY 1 Cover Photograph - Dr. Joseph M. Genco, University of Maine Professor of Chemical Engineering; Louis G. Calder Professor in Pulp and Paper Technology and first recipient of the Foun- dation’s Joseph M. Genco award for pulp and paper industry support. (Photo by Mike Healy) 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Report of the Chairman and President ................................................................................4 Committee Reports Nominating ...............................................................................................................6 Investment Management ........................................................................................10 Treasurer .................................................................................................................12 Auditor’s Report for 2010 ...........................................................................13 Proposed 2011 Budget .................................................................................34 Audit .....................................................................................................................35 Membership............................................................................................................36 Gifts and Bequests..................................................................................................37 University Support .................................................................................................38
    [Show full text]
  • Antikvariat ANTIQUA Kommendörsgatan 22 S-114 48 Stockholm Sweden
    Antikvariat ANTIQUA Kommendörsgatan 22 S-114 48 Stockholm Sweden Telefon Telephone 08 – 10 09 96 46 - 8 - 10 09 96 Öppettider Open Hours Måndag – fredag Monday – Friday 13.00 – 18.00 13.00 – 18.00 email: [email protected] www. antiqua.se VAT reg. no. SE 451124051901 Postgiro: 4 65 44 – 3 Bankgiro: 420 – 8500 SWIFT: HANDSESS IBAN: SE06 6000 0000 0002 4550 8112 Medlem i Svenska Antikvariatföreningen Member of ILAB The measures of books are given in cm Prices are net in Swedish Kronor Shipping charges are extra Antiqua 20 Monographs on Architects Summer 2015 Catalogued by Johan Dahlberg I. Monographs on Architects 3 II. Partnerships, Firms and other Joint Monographs 120 4 2 I. Monographs on Architects AALTO (1898-1976) 1 Aalto, Alvar / ed. by Göran Schildt. ALVAR AALTO IN HIS OWN WORDS. Helsinki 1997. 26x21. 288 pp. Ca 100 drawings, sketches and plans including 50 full-page. Publisher's boards, dust jacket. Lectures, speeches, articles and other writings by Aalto with annotations by his close friend and biographer. 350 2 Aalto, Alvar / ed. by Göran Schildt. SKISSER. Helsingfors 1973. 21x21. 104 pp. + 40 leaves with 82 reproductions. Publisher's printed cloth. 32 essays, articles and lectures from 1922‐1968 with drawings and sketches mainly from the 1950s. 200 3 Aalto, Alvar / ed. by Göran Schildt. SKETCHES. Cambridge, Mass. & London 1985. 21x21. X+174 pp. 80 full-page reproductions. Pictorial wrappers. SKISSER (previous item) translated by Stuart Wrede. 200 4 AALTO. ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE. New York, The Museum of Modern Art, 1938. 26x19. II+50 pp. 25 photos and plans of buildings and interiors and 10 photos (6 full page) of furniture.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE LP AND PAPERFOUNDATION ~ TABLE OF CONTENTS Report of the Chair of the Board and Chair of the Executive Committee ............................2 Committee Reports Nominating................................................................................................................3 Investment Management ..........................................................................................7 Treasurer ..................................................................................................................9 Auditor’s Report for 2013 .............................................................................10 Proposed 2014 Budget ................................................................................39 Audit .....................................................................................................................40 Membership ............................................................................................................41 Fundraising .............................................................................................................42 University Support ..................................................................................................43 Scholarship/Educational Relations ........................................................................44 Public Information ...................................................................................................46 Open House............................................................................................................47
    [Show full text]
  • The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation Annual Report 2012
    The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine General University of Maine Publications University of Maine Publications 2012 The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation Annual Report 2012 The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the History Commons Repository Citation The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation, "The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation Annual Report 2012" (2012). General University of Maine Publications. 806. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications/806 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in General University of Maine Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TABLE OF CONTENTS Report of the Chairman and President ................................................................................2 Committee Reports Nominating ...............................................................................................................4 Investment Management ..........................................................................................8 Treasurer .................................................................................................................10 Auditor’s Report for 2012 ...........................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • “From Chips to Pulp in Minutes”: Innovations and Continuous Pulp Cooking in the Soviet Union in the 1940S- 1950S
    Elena Kochetkova “FROM CHIPS TO PULP IN MINUTES”: INNOVATIONS AND CONTINUOUS PULP COOKING IN THE SOVIET UNION IN THE 1940S- 1950S BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM WORKING PAPERS SERIES: HUMANITIES WP BRP 76/HUM/2014 This Working Paper is an output of a research project implemented within NRU HSE’s Annual Thematic Plan for Basic and Applied Research. Any opinions or claims contained in this Working Paper do not necessarily reflect the views of HSE Elena Kochetkova1 “FROM CHIPS TO PULP IN MINUTES”: INNOVATIONS AND CONTINUOUS PULP COOKING IN THE SOVIET UNION IN THE 1940S-1950S2 The 1940s – mid-1960s saw rapid developments in the chemical and cellulose industries internationally. In this period, a number of attempts to introduce new technologies were taken by industrial scientists and engineers, some of which happened in different countries simultaneously. In the late 1930s, Swedish engineer Johan Richter proposed the Kamyr digester project to industrialists, and after roughly ten years it succeeded in implementing the technology at an industrial scale. Several years earlier, Soviet engineer Leonid Zherebov proposed a project different from the Swedish one in some technical parameters, but with the same purpose – increasing the production of pulp. This initiative, however, was not introduced as planned. Instead, after more than 20 years, Soviet industry mostly produced pulp using Kamyr digesters purchased from abroad. Following the question raised by historian Loren Graham as to why Russian innovations often remained isolated ideas, this article seeks to investigate the nature of Soviet innovation by examining Soviet modernization through a case study of continuous pulp cooking. It will focus not only on the technological specifics of the innovation, but on social and political conditions.
    [Show full text]