I

The products designed by

Sulzer Pumps Finland (see
box) for the requirements of the
pulp and paper industry (Fig. 1
I
)
can be divided into the following
groups:
Ahlstar pumps for stock and
6 S U L Z E R T E C H N I C A L R E V I E W 4 / 2 0 0 0 3971
Pumps for the Pulp
and Paper Industry
PEKKA HAAPANEN
SULZER PUMPS
The former Ahlstrom Pumps Corporation, which was
renamed Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy when it became a
part of the Sulzer Corporation in May 2000, launched its
first pump for the paper industry more than 100 years
ago. Many years experience and well-founded knowledge
of processes in the pulp and paper industry enable Sulzer
Pumps Finland to offer innovative, technically high-
quality and reliable pumps for all process stages.
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The ever-increasing computerization is one of the major reasons for
the rise in the consumption of paper. Sulzer Pumps Finland part of
Sulzer since May 2000 is one of the leading companies in process pumps
for the pulp and paper industry, with a high global market share.
other liquids associated with the
paper making process
Special pumps for applications
involving particular require-
ments
MCE pumping systems and
other MC

equipment
Salomix agitators for stock
chests and storage towers
STOCK PUMPS
The pumps of the Ahlstar series
are designed for the pumping of
stocks, liquors, filtrates, water,
rejects, chemicals, additives, slur-
ries, sludge and other liquids,
which are typically pumped in the
paper making process (Fig. 2
I
).
More than 69 000 of them have
been sold worldwide to date to all
leading companies in the pulp and
paper industry. This series also
includes pumps which are de-
signed especially for the pumping
and also degassing of process liq-
uids with a large content of air or
gas, i.e. applications where the tra-
ditional centrifugal pumps fail.
Every Ahlstar pump is tailor-made
to ensure process reliability, high
efficiency and low operating costs.
At the same time, the spare parts
inventory and costs are kept to a
minimum by means of standard-
ization.
The Ahlstar APP pumps were
developed in particular for the
pumping of stock with a consisten-
cy of up to 8%. These pumps are
capable of pumping stock just like
water, which means substantial
energy savings and a stable
process flow. Depending on the
characteristics of the medium
being pumped, the pumps are
equipped with open, closed or spe-
cial impellers.
MAINTENANCE- AND
LEAK-FREE SHAFT SEALS
Most of the Ahlstar pumps are
equipped with a so-called dynamic
seal. In contrast to the traditional
pumps, by which the sealing effect
is created by friction, the pump is
equipped with an additional small
impeller (expeller) located in the
casing cover (Fig. 3
I
). When the
liquid being pumped tries to escape
along the shaft, this small impeller
pumps it back again. In the stand-
still condition, the liquid presses a
flexible disk against the sleeve and
thus prevents any possibility of
leak.
The dynamic seals do not leak, and
they are practically maintenance-
free. Furthermore, they do not
require any external sealing liq-
uid, which simplifies the operation
of the pump. The use of these seals
eliminates the problems associat-
ed with mechanical seals (dry run-
ning, occasional or continuous
leakage) during the start-up of
a mill or department. Existing
Ahlstar pumps with core packings
or mechanical seals can also be
retrofitted with dynamic shaft
seals. Overall, dimensions are the
same, so the pump and the motor
remain in the installed position; it
is only a matter of replacing the
respective parts. More than 23000
Ahlstar pumps are operating with
dynamic seals.
PUMPED LIQUID
WITH UP TO 70% AIR
The Ahlstar degassing pumps can
pump stock at a consistency range
of up to 8% with a high air or gas
content, foaming liquids and
sludge from deinking plants, as
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The Ahlstar pumps from Sulzer pumps Finland are
used, for example, for the pumping of paper stock. They
pump stock with a consistency of up to 8% just like water
and thus facilitate a reliable and stable process flow.
Expeller
Flexible disk
Sleeve
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The majority of the Ahlstar pumps and also those
installed with core packings or mechanical seals can be
equipped with dynamic seals, which are leak-free and require
hardly any maintenance. They can be retrofitted in existing
pumps very simply; it is only a matter of replacing the respec-
tive parts of the pump (shown in red in the illustration).
SULZER PUMPS
FINLAND OY
The former Ahlstrom Pumps
Corporation renamed
Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy
has been a member of the
Sulzer Corporation since
May 2000. The firm, one of
the leading companies in
pumps for the pulp and
paper industry, launched its
first pump designed espe-
cially for the requirements
of the paper industry in
1891. Sulzer Pumps Finland
achieved net sales of about
135 million EUR in 1999, of
which about two thirds were
realized by the new compa-
ny, i.e. pumps for minor
process improvements, sin-
gle pumps and service re-
quirements. The company
has production units in Fin-
land, Singapore and the
USA.
The research and develop-
ment work is focussed on the
specific requirements of the
pulp and paper industry.
Pumps, agitators and other
products developed for the
pulp and paper industry
are tested under process
conditions at the modern,
fullscale R&D centre in
Karhula and Salo (FI).
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With the Ahlstar ARP degassing pumps, the air-liquid mixture is routed
to the rear of the impeller, where an auxiliary impeller separates the liquid
and the air. The liquid is led to the inlet side of the pump and the air, for
example, into a collection system.
well as other liquids mixed with
gas. Depending on how strongly
the gas or air is bound into the
pumped liquid, the gas content can
be up to 70%. The gas is removed
by creating a pressure difference
between the inlet side of the pump
and the degassing chamber locat-
ed to the rear of the impeller
(Fig. 4
I
). If necessary, the pressure
difference can be created by means
of a vacuum pump. The removal of
the gas also improves the perfor-
mance of the other process equip-
ment. In addition, these pumps
reduce the demand for expensive
defoaming agents.
The Ahlstar series also features
other pump types: for instance, the
Ahlstar NPP pumps. Due to the
open design of the casing and
impeller, they are very suitable for
liquids with impurities such as
rejects and sludge. The Ahlstar
WPP wear-resistant pumps are
especially suitable for liquids con-
taining abrasive particles such as
slurries, rejects, fillers, additives
or sludge. Thanks to their design,
the life time of these pumps can be
6 to 8 times longer than that of tra-
ditional pumps. And since they do
not clog, they are also very suitable
for liquids with impurities.
PUMPS FOR SPECIAL
APPLICATIONS
The HPP high-pressure, multi-
stage pumps are used, for example,
as shower water pumps for the
cleaning of felts and rollers on
paper machines. Thanks to their
robust design, they are particular-
ly reliable in operation and easy to
maintain. The HPP pump is also
unique in that, with the most diffi-
cult applications where the flow
requirement changes from mini-
mum to maximum and vice versa,
the outstanding reliability of the
pump remains uncompromised.
Pressure pulsations, initiated by
the headbox feed pump, might
create unacceptable variations of
paper basis weight in the machine
direction. This can have an effect
on paper quality.
The ZPP headbox feed pump
(Fig. 5
I
) as well as the Ahlstar APP
low-pulse, dilution water pump
operate with very low-pressure
pulsations and ensure high paper
quality. The ZPP pumps attain an
efficiency of up to more than 90%.
Since the entire mill production
passes through these pumps, they
have to operate in a really reliable
manner. To ensure that the pres-
sure pulsations are reduced to an
absolute minimum, Sulzer Pumps
Finland attaches great importance
to produce the precision castings of
the hydraulic parts in its own
foundry.
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Pressure pulsations, initiated by
the headbox feed pump in the paper
machine approach system, can cause
unacceptable variations in the gram-
mage of the paper. The ZPP headbox
feed pumps operate with the lowest
possible pressure pulsations.
Air
Liquid
MCE PUMPING SYSTEM OF
THE THIRD GENERATION
The first commercial centrifugal
MC pump with degassing was
started in a Finnish chemical pulp
bleaching application in 1980. In
the meantime, a third generation
of the MCE pumping system has
been introduced to the market. It
is designed for larger capacity
ranges, higher pumping heads,
higher pumping consistencies and
for lower energy consumption.
With delivery heads of up to 180m,
the pump capacity extends to 4000
ADMT/d (350l/s at a consistency of
12%). The MCE pumping systems
are usually used in pulp mills
(Fig. 6
I
), TMP lines and paper
mills for the pumping of stocks
with a consistency of 8 to 18% from
washers, thickeners, filters and
reaction towers.
Other process equipment incorpo-
rating MC technology includes the
MC Flow Discharger, MC Dis-
charge Scraper or Ahlmix chem-
ical mixers for the mixing of
gaseous and liquid bleaching
chemicals, as well as steam into
the stock. By using these equip-
ment, the MCE pumping systems
simplify the process, result in eco-
nomic pumping and mixing, im-
prove the reliability of the mill and
reduce the environmental impact.
NO DECAY OF
THE FIBROUS STOCK
In addition to pumps, Sulzer
Pumps Finland supplies agitators
for stock chests and storage tow-
ers. The Salomix is a side-
mounted propeller chest agitator
and designed for fibrous stocks. It
has a low power requirement, is
reliable in operation and, thanks to
its robust concept, easy to main-
tain. Other new developments
include the TES top entry spread-
er (Fig. 7
I
), which eliminates stag-
nant zones where the stock tends
to decay. Furthermore, the VULCA
a vertical, under level, charging
arrangement prevents air from
entering the stock and reduces the
total consumption of energy.
F O R M O R E D E T A I L S
Sulzer Pumps Finland Oy
Pekka Haapanen
P.O. Box 18
FI-48601 Karhula
Finland
Telephone +358 (0)5-224 30 74
Fax +358 (0)5-224 30 06
E-mail pekka.haapanen@sulzer.com
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In addition to the MCE pumping system (left), the MC technology
includes other equipment that can be used in bleaching plants (right).
The typical MC pumping system scope of supply comprises dropleg,
MCE pump, degassing system, valves and control system.
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The Salomix-TES top entry spreader
for supply towers eliminates stagnant
zones where the fibrous stock fre-
quently decays. There is
also the MC pumping
system that pumps the
stock to the TES top
entry spreader.
MCE pumping system
Ahlmix chemical mixer
MC Discharge Scraper and
MCE pumping system
To the paper
machine
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MC Flow Discharger
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