Analysis of formation and floc size on the basis of optical transmittance

Abstract This work focuses on analysis of optical transmittance images, which are captured at the end of the wire section of a pilot paper machine. The first priority is to evaluate the capability to estimate formation and floc size on the basis of optical transmittance and secondly analyse how process conditions affect them. Basis weight is one of the most important quality parameters in paper manufacturing. Optical transmittance seems to provide information about basis weight. Reliable evaluation of basis weight on the basis of image data would probably mean a new level of CD and MD profile controls. Formation means small-scale basis weight variation. Good formation e.g. improves the tensile strength and printability of produced paper. Camera unit located above and light source under the paper web at the end of the wire section to capture transmittance images, which were used to calculate several image features. Process and laboratory data were combined with image features for data based analysis. An increase in the basis weight, ash content and the dryness of the paper web seem to reduce the value of optical transmittance. On-line measured image features of optical transmittance were rather congruent with off-line defined reference values, especially the illumination corrected standard deviation of optical transmittance, which is connected to paper formation. Increased flow of headbox and lower consistency of pulp seemed to cause better formation as fewer flocs are formed. However, on the basis of analysis it is difficult to determine process conditions which provide with good formation and small floc size, because of the numerous interactions of process variables, the basis weight varied during experiments and it was difficult to keep other variables except the studied one constant