Apparatus for liquid-based fiber separation
View Patent ↗An apparatus for treating fibrous material is disclosed. The apparatus may include a fiber separator, a de-liquefier, a dry-to-wet blender and a flash dryer. The fiber separator may be a liquid-based fiber separator. The de-liquefier is for removing liquid from the fibrous material. The blender downstream, which may be a dry-to-wet blender, is for adding a dry material to the de-liquefied fibrous material. The de-liquefier and a dry-to-wet blender are downstream from the fiber separator and the dry-to-wet blender may be downstream from the de-liquefier. The flash dryer, which is even further downstream, is for drying the treated fibrous material.
1. An apparatus for treating fibrous material, said apparatus consisting of:
(a) a liquid-based fiber separator for substantially separating the fibrous material into individual fibers;
(b) a de-liquefier downstream from said liquid-based fiber separator for removing liquid from the fibrous material;
(c) a dry-to-wet blender downstream from said liquid-based fiber separator for adding a dry material to the de-liquefied fibrous material; and
(d) a dryer downstream from said dry-to-wet blender for receiving the fibrous material substantially separated into individual fibers and drying the treated fibrous material in its separated state.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a dust collector.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a baler.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a bagger.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-based fiber separator is a high solids, low shear pulper.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-based fiber separator is an aqueous based separator.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a fiber cleaning system for removing prohibitives.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said fiber cleaning system is a washer for removing prohibitives.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further including at least one conical cleaner for removing prohibitives.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further including a mesh screen for removing prohibitives.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further including a surge tank for accumulating the cleaned fiber.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said de-liquefier is a screw press.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said de-liquefier further includes a bow screen.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output of said de-liquefier is between greater than about 25 weight percent solids.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the output of said de-liquefier is greater about 40 weight percent solids.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said blender is a twin screw blender.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said dry material includes a flame retardant.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said flame retardant is boric acid.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the boric acid is about 10 weight percent of the de-liquefied fibrous material.
20. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said dry material includes a colorant.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said colorant is titanium dioxide.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said colorant is a heat trap.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein heat trap colorant is titanium oxide.
24. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said dry material includes tracer substances.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said tracer substances are selected from the group consisting of radioactive isotopes, colorimetric indicators, visual indicators and stable doping agents.