Tobacco Documents Online

P A R R 5 0 0' I N T E R - O F F I C E C O R R E S P O N D E N C E Chester, Virginia phil a/ i ofdre~fi To: Dawn Saunders Date: June 1~5, 'l~SW,qeC From: ~ Sheida Shakeri/Denise Donaheri)vb Subject: Summary of WEL-2 Clean-up Meeting - June 11, 1992 Meeting Objectives 1) To review background and status of WEL-2 clean-up project 2) To discuss issues to be resolved and action plan for completion~ of the project Attendance W. H. Bailey D. R. Donaher O:UL~'~~`arfleld~( absent)- L. J. Fox K. G. Braun D. C. Saunders J. S. Brown S. Z. Shakeri T. J. Bullock J. J. Sharkey D. A. Clark (absent) Background * Original project justification was to reduce RBW overflow by replacing 12 gpm of fresh water (TME shower & HDC elutriation) with filtered WEL-2 for yield improvement. X Initial testing of Rotoshear on a HRS-2448 (small experimental unit) with a 0.005"1 screen in: 1986, was aimed~ at evaluation of fiber removal on various liquor streams throughout the process (WEL-2 was not tested). * Successful test results led to the installationi of another HRS-2448 unit with a 0.005" screen in 1989 over the #1 blend pulper in Line 3 Blending, for evaluation of fiber removal for WEL-2 clean-up to replace fresh water. (The WEL-2 maximum throughput flows were not tested during experimental unit evaluation in 1989.) * The unit performed satisfactorily in fiber removal and therefore the recommendation was made to install a permanent WEL-2 clean-up system for filtering all the WEL-2. flow (90-12& gpm).

(continued) ---- * Co Design criteria communicated from Park 500 to Phj~~p fident;al Eng. Eq. Co./Hycor in January 1990 included WEL-2 f1Tdi~ requirements of 90-120 gpm and 0.005" screen, which were '6eC written memos. Additional design criteria such as liquor consistency, temperature and flowrate were communicated orally. * Hycor made the proposal and recommend'ation for installation of a HRS-3672 (large scale unit) to meet given design criteria. (No specific performance guarantee was included.) Status * System start-up indicated insufficient WEL-2 flow through~the HRS-3672 unit in Line 3 Stock Prepy resulting in! the inability to maintain level in the HWEL tank. * Repeated testing of the HRS-3672 unit has revealed that the maximumthroughput is about 50 gpm, for WEL-2 (vs. design requirement of 90-120 gpm) with unacceptable frequency of shower usage to keep the screen clean. * Investig,ation into the causes for performance failure of the HRS-3672 unit, has determined usage of incorrect design criteria. The primary design criteria used by Hycor for sizing the unit was a maximum flowrate of 50 gpm for SEL on the HRS-2448 unit, based on 1986 SEL testing. May 1991 testing on WEL-2 showed that the actual maximum throughput for WEL-2 is 15 gpm on the HRS-244'8 unit. Hydraulic testing of our HRS-3672 unit, performed by Hycor, has verified'the accuracy of their hydraulic design. The design problem lies with usage of inappropriate process stream~ throughput data for designing the unit. * Original 650 committed $175,000 for the project with approximately $200,000 spent. Issues * Unacceptable frequency of shower usage to prevent Hycor screen from blinding * Frequency determination of pluggage for the TME shower and the TME/HDC rotameter * Rotoshear Headbox design * Justification for cleaning all the WEL-2 (vs. 12 gpm required for TME shower & HDC elutriation)i

r ('continued)i Cohrii ~e philRtiat Can, the expected yield'~ improvement be substan ~~egS KABC this time,i.e.,does the project as scoped in Jan,1991 have justification currently? Action Plan * Schedule a fact finding meeting with Eng. Eq,. Co/Hycor representatives to assess liability for the design criteria and the resulting failure of the HRS-3672 unit to perform as required. Specific questilons for the meeting will be prepared by 6/18/92 for review. * If a different unit is required or modifications are needed~ for our existing, unit to complete the WEL-2 project, a performance guarantee will be pursued. * Additional inputs oni the past performance of HRS-2448 unit ini Blending will be solicited to, determine frequency of pluggage for the TME shower, TME & HDC rotometers, and the Hycor screen. * Relocate HRS-2448'unit back to Line 3 Blending to repeat 1990 testing in a structured plan. A detailedevaluation plan will be prepared.