Reduction of Short-term Process Variations Using Data Fusion Between Process and Thermal data

Purpose and goal:

The aim is towards mitigation of short-term product and process variations in the Pulp and Paper industry. Current equipment can’t capture variation with periods less than 5 min. The goal was to investigate the feasibility of using thermal imaging to capture substantially faster variation toward the aim.

Most findings point clearly toward the feasibility of the intended system. But specifically, the feasibility of the intended fusion between the intended process and thermal data could not be concluded and requires more work. Expected results and effects:

As one topic long-term recording for thermal imaging was investigated and successfully tested in that environment for the specific purpose. For some cases, thermal artifacts have been directly correlated with their root-cause. This was identified as huge opportunity to reduce variations and needs further investigation.

That also led to an investment in a permanently installed thermal imaging system at the mill which will allow to manually investigate thermal artifacts and thus contributes to the mill’s sustainability and increased digitalization. Approach and implementation: WP3 focused on development and testing of the long-term recording and delivered data to WP2.

WP2 focused on the development of the intended data fusion. WP1 focused on coordination, system analysis of the plant, requirements. The cooperation worked well.

Because of the restrictions caused by COVID-19 physical meetings, especially plant visits, and thus participation in experiments were not possible. Additional engagement from project participants has to a great extent compensated for that. But 2nd hand information gives not the same insight as direct interactive experience.