Tobacco Documents Online

CHARGE NUMBER : 1801 PROGRAM TITLE : Tobacco Processing PERIOD COVERED: July 1-31, 1981 PROJECT LEADER: F:. V. Utsch I. REORDERING OF EXPANDED PRODUCTS A. Reordering Cylinder Optimization (D. R. Fox) A reordering cylinder test grid is currently in progress on the MC DIET process. This is a three-variable, three-level test to study the effects of varying cylinder throughput, cylinder slope, and cylinder RPM on reordered product CV and shred size. Changes in these three process variables result in changes of tobacco residence time, loading, and number of product cascades in the cylinder. The test will run fot three weeks. A memo summarizing the initial test results of "incomplete reordering" (reordering to 10% 0V rather than the normal 11% target) was issued. Further MC testing is planned for August. F L B. Improved Reordering Methods (C. M. Wicks) Two separate approaches are being investigated for "trimming" the final moisture content of "incomplete reordering" DIET. The tests involve moisture spraying of'tower exit DIET to 6, 7, or 9% OV with the balance of the moisture to reach 11% 0V being added more slowly by bulking with a measured quantity of blend at 17% OV or with humid air. Initial results are promising, but further testing is needed to reduce scatter in the data. Equipment necessary to initiate high pressure hydraulic spray reordering studies will be available in early August. I II. DIET CLUMP SEPARATION AND RELATED TOPICS L. A. MC Clumpbreaker Amp Load Measurements (D. R. Fox) Data from the two-week process monitoring program indicate that batch size is the most significant factor influencing clump hardness. Clump- breaker amperage (per pound of impregnated filler) during tobacco discharge was significantly greater for the larger batch sizes. This is in agreement with previous visual evaluations by Project 1804. Silo bulk time for the cut filler prior to impregnation showed a lesser, but statistically significant, effect on clump hardness for batch sizes of 750 pounds and greater. The data was inconclusive for smaller batch sizes, however. None of the other process variables measured showed

2 any significant effects on clumpbreaker amps. While "A" shift average clumpbreaker amps were greater than the "B" and "C" shift averages, this difference could not be attributed to any process variables; nor could any cause for the batch-to-batch amperage variations by identified.. A memo summarizing these results is being prepared. B. Equipment for Gentle Clump Separation (R. Z. Burde and P. E. Aument) A final series of tests comparing the effectiveness of the•various approaches for clump separation was completed. A meeting is scheduled for early August to review the test results and establish the program direction for continuing efforts. III. C02 IMPREGNATION STUDIES (B. Donenfeld) The effects of snowing dry ice at a 50% addition level onto 20% OV DBC bright prior to gaseous impregnation were evaluated. The expansion results were disappointing as the cylinder volumes following 400, 500 and 600 psig impreg- nations were only in the sixties. The best expansion (86.5 CV at 10.9% OV) was obtained after a five minute 800 psig impregnation. It is being theorized that "frozen" presnowed tobacco may not be able to absorb C02. IV. EXPANSION TOWER DESIGN STUDIES (B. Donenfeld) The elbows and fittings for the IR transparent circular discs were completed. The circular flats were tested for Z transmittance at ambient conditions and are currently undergoing transmission tests at elevated temperatures. The 8" tower test of the Hughes Aircraft Probeye system has been rescheduled for early September. V. FREEZE DRYING OF TOBACCO (B. Donenfeld) The special report, "Turgor Conditioning and Freeze Drying of Tobacco-Laboratory Scale Studies of Nonthermal Tobacco Setting Mechanisms" was issued. The new VIRTIS FM-24 console freeze dryer has been rescheduled for delivery 08/31/81. VI. DIELECTRIC DRYING OF RCB AND RL (R. Z. Burde and P. E. Aument) The two 15 KW dielectric drying rental units have been obtained by the BL Plant, and a test program has begun substituting these units for "C" dryer on the pilot line. VII. CARBAMATE ET PROCESS (D. R. Fox) Subjective evaluation of test 15% carbamate ET cigarettes from the 8" tower product by the Flavor Group indicated significantly hotter and harsher taste than the control DIET and Westab ET cigarettes. As a result, scheduled POL testing with these cigarettes has been cancelled. Additional carbamate ET from other tower lots will be provided to the Flavor Group for their evaluation before proceeding further with subjective testing.

- 3 - 'III. OTHER EFFORTS (C. M. Wicks) Technical assistance was provided to Westab to investigate the shift fluctuations in CCV's. Monitoring of process variables and QA conditions is continuing. In the program for removing stem from DIET/ET, the large Triple S Dynamics air table was tested for maximum feedrate and separation efficiency. Throughput capacity was judged to be 800 lbs/hr for ET. There were plugging and back up problems in the feed zone. Sieve analysis did not show any breakage (loss of longs), but a loss of fines was noted (entrained in air). The picking and'analysis is not completed. I F /deb