Effect of long fibre concentration on low consistency refining of mechanical pulp

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of long fibre concentration on loadability and pulp properties during LC refining of mechanical pulp. Long fibre concentration was adjusted to three different levels by screen fractionation of the pulp. The three pulps were refined in a single disc pilot scale LC refiner at similar process conditions. Increased long fibre concentration supported a larger refiner gap and resulted in less fibre cutting at a given specific energy consumption. The higher long fibre concentration probably contributed to a stronger fibre network that maintained a larger refining gap at certain specific energy consumption. Increased long fibre concentration also enabled a higher tensile index increase in the LC refiner at certain fibre length reduction. The study supports a process combining LC refining with screen fractionation, where the long fibre fraction is recycled to the refiner feed. This enables a higher loadability and a more effective utilisation of the LC refiner. By using this technology, overall specific energy consumption can be reduced if a larger share of the refining is performed in LC rather than HC refining.