Wet End Audit - Determine if the Wet End Design meets the Standards

The function of the wet end is to:

When any of these functions are not met, problems may arise with the paper produced.

The components of a wet end are the basis weight control valve, stuff box, wire pit and silo design, fan pump, deaerator, screens and cleaners, and all the piping to these components and the headbox. Should any of these not follow the correct design principles, there can be problems. Good principles are essential to ensure that the machine operates in a stable manner.

If a paper analysis determines that the basis weight variations are in the 1 Hz frequency range or lower, rotating machinery in the mill are not likely the cause of the problem. The cause is much more likely a consistency variation in the stock approach system. This consistency variation can be measured with a wet end survey, but often the results are not conclusive in tracing the problem to its source. .

The wet end audit, however, assesses the wet end design of a paper machine and determines how well it meets normal design standards. The audit checks to ensure that the system is stable, provides good mixing, remains clean, and deaerates the stock. With new paper machine designs including hydraulic headboxes, these principals are more important than ever. A wet end audit is complimentary to a wet end survey. The audit focuses on the design of the wet end while the survey makes measurements on the wet end.