Method and apparatus for filling and cleaning a pulp tower
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling and cleaning a pulp tower. The invention is most suitable for filling and cleaning high-consistency pulp towers, bleaching towers, storage tanks and similar towers containing fiber suspensions, of the wood-processing industry. The apparatus and method according to the invention for filling and cleaning a pulp tower, in which method pulp is fed into the pulp tower either through its cover ( 10 ) or at least feed devices ( 24 ) arranged at its top, are characterized in that the space surrounding the feed device ( 24 ) is washable at the same time as the pulp is fed into the tower by means of washing devices ( 28, 30, 32 ) arranged in connection with the feed devices.
1. A method for filling and cleaning a pulp tower, comprising:
providing the pulp tower, the pulp tower comprising a rotatable feed device disposed at a top of the pulp tower, and a washing apparatus provided in connection with the feed device, the washing apparatus comprising washing nozzles configured to supply a washing liquid;
feeding pulp into the pulp tower through the top of the pulp tower, or through the feed device; and
washing a space surrounding the feed device, while the pulp is fed into the tower.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the feed device and the washing apparatus are configured such that the washing liquid and the pulp are fed into the tower substantially in different directions.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a range of one or more pulp jets discharging from the feed device is changeable in order to evenly fill the tower.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the range of the pulp jets is changeable by adjusting a rotational speed of the feed device.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a path inside the tower of one or more pulp jets discharging from the feed device is changeable in order to fill the tower evenly.
6. A method according to claim 1 , comprising feeding the pulp evenly into the tower on top of a pulp layer currently in the tower.
7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling operation of the feed device as a function of tower diameter and a pulp surface level.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the pulp tower further comprises a cover, wherein feeding the pulp comprises feeding the pulp through the cover or through the feed device.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the washing comprises discharging the washing liquid through the washing nozzles.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein any pulp jet fed by the feed device does not hit a wall of the tower.
11. A method for filling and cleaning a pulp tower, the pulp tower comprising a cover, a rotatable feed device, and a washing apparatus, the method comprising:
feeding pulp into the pulp tower through the cover, or through the feed device; and
supplying a washing liquid via the washing apparatus to thereby wash a space surrounding the feed device, during the feeding of the pulp.
12. A method according to claim 11 , comprising feeding the washing liquid and the pulp into the tower substantially in different directions.
13. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising changing a range of one or more pulp jets discharging from the feed device in order to evenly till the tower.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein changing the range of the pulp jets comprises adjusting a rotational speed of the feed device.
15. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising changing a path inside the tower of one or more pulp jets discharging from the feed device in order to fill the tower evenly.
16. A method according to claim 11 , comprising feeding the pulp evenly into the tower on top of a pulp layer currently in the tower.
17. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising controlling operation of the feed device as a function of tower diameter and a pulp surface level.