Efficiency of chip presteaming – result of heating and air escape processes

Efficient removal of air from the wood chips prior to impregnation with cooking liquor is important for achieving pulping uniformity and improving the overall digester performance. Because of its effectiveness, relative simplicity and other advantages, steaming of wood chips became a primary process in pulp industry to fulfil this task. In the present article the process of chip presteaming is examined from viewpoints of chip heating and air escape.