Expert Optimizer Wash automatically maintains stable brown stock washing conditions and filtrate tank levels to help improve washing process efficiency, increase production and decrease environmental impact. The Advanced Process Control solution stabilizes the process and performance of brown stock washers, optimizing water, chemical and steam consumption.
Since washing is a sequential, countercurrent operation, it takes only a few minutes to destabilize the process and then recovery can take several hours. Poor performance of the brown stock washers can significantly affect the broader stability of the pulp mill operations and result in increased operating costs due to both higher energy demand in the evaporators and higher bleaching chemical consumption.
Expert Optimizer Wash helps solve all these issues by computing the optimal dilution factor values and defoamer charge using pulp conductivity measurements, while also considering the limits on the filtrate tank levels. Optimal dilution factors lead to important reductions in alkali/soda losses, black liquor solids (BLS) and freshwater consumption.