Abstract The focus of this study is the development of a methodology to mechanically separate or fractionate micro-fibrillated fibre suspensions (MFC) into different size classes. We extend the principle outlined by Madani et al. (2010) and create a continuous separation in an annular gap undergoing spiral Poiseuille flow (solid body rotation superimposed on pressure driven flow). Achieving hydrodynamic stability of this flow was the main scientific challenge for scale-up. This work is presented in two different studies. In the first study, we perform a series of batch-wise centrifugation tests to develop the criteria for motion of the individual classes of particles which compose a Eucalyptus MFC suspension. Here, we suspend the MFC in a weak gel and demonstrate a linear reduction in average particle size with increasing centrifugal force; motion is initiated in heavier particles before the lighter ones. In the second study, we use this batch-wise data to design a continuous prototype and we successfully demonstrate a continuous separation with performance similar to that achieved in the batch-wise tests.

中文翻译：

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开发分离微原纤维化纤维素的连续方法

摘要 本研究的重点是开发一种将微原纤化纤维悬浮液 (MFC) 机械分离或分馏成不同尺寸等级的方法。我们扩展了 Madani 等人概述的原则。(2010) 并在经历螺旋泊肃叶流（固体旋转叠加在压力驱动流上）的环形间隙中创建连续分离。实现这种流动的流体动力学稳定性是放大的主要科学挑战。这项工作在两项不同的研究中提出。在第一项研究中，我们进行了一系列分批离心测试，以制定组成 Eucalyptus MFC 悬浮液的各类颗粒的运动标准。在这里，我们将 MFC 悬浮在弱凝胶中，并证明随着离心力的增加，平均粒径呈线性减小；在较轻的粒子之前，较重的粒子开始运动。在第二项研究中，我们使用此分批数据设计了一个连续原型，我们成功地证明了连续分离的性能与分批测试中实现的性能相似。