Abstract
Understanding the nip geometry and heat transfer phenomena of soft nip calenders, which has been used in the production of newsprint and coated papers for many years, is very important since improper setting of soft nip calendering conditions causes deterioration of paper quality and productivity. In this study theoretical analysis on nip pressure and heat transfer phenomena in the nip of soft nip calenders has been made. The variables examined were calendering pressure, surface temperature of the heating roll, nip residence time and ingoing sheet moisture, By measuring nip widths and maximum nip pressure with Prescale film at a normal temperature, accurate line load has been obtained. With this line load, nip pressures at different temperature and nip widths were calculated. Results showed that as temperature increased, nip widths increased and nip pressures decreased. Equations derived for the heat conduction phenomena in soft nip calender nip were derived based on the semi-infinite plate and finite difference method and were used for the analysis of heat transfer within the nip. Temperature profiles in z-direction of paper within the nip were obtained. Finite difference method allowed more accurate analysis of the heat transfer in the calender nip. In this study newsprint and coated paper were considered as a single plate and two-layer plate consisted of sheet and coating layers, respectively. Heat trans-fer to paper increased as heated roll surface temperature and nip residence time were increased.