DIgitalization of softwood chip quality variations
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 895 274 |
| Project duration | September 2021 - March 2024 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | Strategic innovation programme for process industrial IT and automation – PiiA |
| Call | PiiA: Data analysis in industrial value chains, spring 2021 |
Purpose and goal
The project target is to develop a method for continuous online characterization of softwood chip quality variations for process control and prediction of product properties.
Expected results and effects
As a result of the project, the expectation is to develop an industrial prototype for continuous characterization of softwood chip quality variations, as wood species (pine/spruce), moisture content, density, and bark content. Once it is possible to characterize the softwood chip quality variations online, it is expected to further improve the understanding of the wood chips impact on the end products quality variations and being able to further optimize the cooking conditions in order to achieve the max possible utilization of the raw material.
Planned approach and implementation
In the project, ScanChip® that measures chip size distribution online will be upgraded with a hyperspectral imaging NIR camera. The online, real time data on additional wood properties are to be managed through existing data management system (DCS, Winmops). The measured chip quality variations will be estimated based on imaging NIR spectroscopy. The aim is to develop robust NIR-models for characterization of the wood chip variations. The project is intended to be run during 12 months to be able to include all seasonal variation in wood deliverance as well as climatic condition.