Terminology, equipment, concepts, utilization, viability
Viability
Hardware, software
"Buzz words"
6 useful forestry titles from FAO
Computers in the pulp and paper industry
ROGER L. GRANT. Introduction to the terminology, equipment and concepts of computers, as illustrated by practice in the pulp and paper industry. New York, Lockwood Publishing Co., Inc., 1971. 152 pages.
Converting wood to paper for the consumer is a long and many-staged process. To begin with, to succeed financially, the paper maker needs a wealth of up-to-date information about procurement of wood, pulping, bleaching, refining, running the paper machine, the trade, etc. Next, the data must be codified and condensed in a form allowing for guick decisions and their immediate implementation. This generates a huge task of data collection, data processing and process control. At first, the industry tried to solve these problems through human resources alone, later by means of various kinds of analog controls and, from the beginning of the sixties, by using digital computers.
Thanks to its versatility, the computer has won a permanent position in the pulp and paper industry. Now, in the mid-seventies, a wood processing industry is considered old-fashioned if its essential operations are not handled by a computer, and this imposes certain requirements on the training of people working in these industries. A papermaker today has to acquaint himself with automatic data processing and methods, and with the equipment used for that purpose, as well as its possibilities.
Several textbooks have been written on the subject of data processing, but most are only marginally interesting. Roger Grant's book, Introduction to the terminology, equipment and concepts of computers, is the first of its kind dealing with computers, computer terminology and their possibilities of use, prepared for people working in the pulp and paper industry: Dr. Grant is quite at home here, and this is clearly apparent in his book. A pulp and paper engineer is definitely going to read it with greater interest than other works.
This is how the author defined what he set out to do:
· "A comprehensive, but elementary, introduction to the equipment, practice and concepts of the principal forms of computer."· "A means of obtaining a working vocabulary consisting of 380 of the specialized terms ("buzz words") most commonly used in connection with computers."
· "The first book for the pulp and paper industry on computers, and the theory and practice of their applications."
The question is, then, how well has he done it?
The first two chapters, "Fundamentals of digital-process computers" and "Digital and analog computer hardware" form one complex.
To begin with, the computers are divided into four types: digital and analog process computers, business computers and scientific computers. The first chapter deals mainly with digital process computers, as they are the most complicated ones and also form the basis for presentation of the three other types of computers.
Only the main features of digital process computer hardware are dealt with in the first chapter, but the second chapter gives a more detailed presentation of this. There is a review of the presentation of data and numbers in the computer as well as of the principles of computer control-although the reader is not taught to run or programme computers. The presentation is a logical listing of facts accompanied by explanatory charts, pictures and examples.
Chapter Three, "Fundamentals of control theory," is a much needed review of the mathematical methods required for process control which forms an introduction to examples of their application. Grant poses the reader's question: "Given all the wonderful hardware and software described in the first two chapters, how does one unravel the complex interrelationships that exist in the manufacturing process, and then present them in forms such as the computer can, not only control, but also optimize the process?" His answer is: "Control theory attempts to provide the answer. It is an area rich in mathematical jargon, but fortunately it is possible to cover the main aspects conceptually without going into the mathematics." This answer illustrates how the control theory is presented in the book.
The chapter "Types of computers" reviews the role of the various types, such as minicomputers, business computers and scientific computers. In addition, there is a well illustrated presentation of the four main types of process control systems: conventional, open loop, supervisory and direct digital control.
Chapters One, Two, Three and Four do not require the reader's previous knowledge of pulping and papermaking. However, a prerequisite for understanding the following chapters (Five to Eight) is a basic insight into the pulping and papermaking processes. In Chapter Five, "Woodland through bleach plant," the economic viability of computerization and the measurement of economic viability are discussed, and some common misunderstandings of viability estimates are straightened out.
The book presents some computer applications for wood procurement. The most famous of these is, perhaps, the system developed by the Canadian International Paper Co., called "Continuous Forest Control". More detailed examples are given for pulp mills using batch and Kamyr digesters and for bleach plants. The successful use of a minicomputer by the Finnish firm of Oy Wildh. Schauman Ab is given as a model of a system based on a batch digester installation.
Another example, a Kamyr digester installation, is taken from the Demoplis mill of the Gulf States Paper Corp. The control of bleach plants is dealt with at length, together with some information about the installation at the Naheda mill of the American Can Co.
The chapter "Computer applications: stock preparation through shipping," centres on stock preparation and computer control of the paper ma chine, which is dealt with in detail, with special emphasis on control of grammage and quality changes. In this context management information systems and production planning, including trimming problems, are reviewed and a number of mills with successful installations are cited.
Chapter Seven; "Computer applications: supporting mill departments", deals briefly with application of computers in the recovery department, power plant and groundwood mill as well as with water and air pollution abatement. The last chapter, "Computer applications: business and EDP," lists interesting applications in the field of management operations and clarified basic concepts.
From the pulp and paper maker's point of view there is no doubt that the last four chapters are the most interesting. The lengthy papermaking process is dealt with stage by stage, presenting at each stage the application of computers with reference to articles published in trade magazines and to papers submitted at conferences.
The list of references provides a means for acquiring deeper knowledge of computer applications. A great number of articles have been published on the use of computers in the pulp and paper industry and the selection of the best ones for reference purposes is a difficult task, but the author seems to have succeded in this. At least the references include those which were of major interest before 1971. The examples given of more detailed presentations of computer installations from the late sixties are all very good. Of course, six years have passed since this book was published and now more material is available. There has been a lot of development recently, especially in the control of the ground-wood process.
A two-part appendix gives a summary of an industry carried out in 1970 by Paper Trade Journal in the United States and Canada into the use of computers in the pulp and paper industry. The first part "traces the growth of the different classes of computer, records the general characteristics of some profitable installations, and describes hardware and software practice." The second par "convers the nature of installations by mill departments." This summary constitutes a good illustration of the situation in North America in 1970.
Another appendix, "Glossary of basic computer terms," is for people who come into contact with computers and process control. It contains 380 "buzz words" in alphabetical order. After each term, there is a short definition. The author aims at giving capsule explanations rather than rigidly correct definitions. In addition, there are also references to the main text which explains the meaning of some of the terms in more detail. For instance, the term "best operator" is defined as follows: "control approach whereby the mode of operation of the best shift crew (or smaller unit of operators) is used as a control model." A very clear definition. On the other hand, the term "z-transform" is defined as a "technique for changing the discontinuous equivalent of differential equations into normal algebraic form. Cf.: Laplace transform." The z-transform is used for this purpose, but if one wants to find out what a z-transform is, no answer is given, either in the text or in connection with the Laplace transform, which also lacks an explanation. Moreover, no reference books relating to such transforms are mentioned.
To conclude, the author succeeded in most of his objectives. The book gives the basic general information on computers and the concepts immediately related to them, with the process computer at the centre. The systematic presentation, deliberately restricted to those concepts which were essential to the book's aims, makes it easy to read. The glossary helps the reader find what he is looking for. However, the value of the explanations of mathematical concepts, in his work on specialized words, is somewhat in doubt.
PERTTI LAININEN
Helsinki University of Technology
THOMAS M. MALONEY. Modern particleboard and dry-process-fibreboard manufacturing, Miller Freeman Inc., San Francisco, California, 1977, 672 pages, $42.50.
Dealing with a relatively new and increasingly important branch of the forest products industry, Modern particleboard and dry-process fibreboard manufacturing presents in one volume a wealth of practical information about today's board processing systems and the range of products manufactured from comminuted wood.
The book's emphasis is on dry-process methods and technology for producing platen-pressed boards, with special attention to dry-process hard-board, medium-density fibreboard, and particle board-three important products with similar basic production techniques. Extruded board, moulded products, and mineral-bonded products, minor parts of the industry in the United States and Canada, are discussed.
One of North America's leading authorities on particleboard and fibreboard manufacturing, Thomas M. Maloney is well qualified to write a comprehensive manual for those who want to know about composition board processing and products. He is head of the Wood Technology Section, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Washington State University and has spent 21 years on research and development of hardboard and particle board.
Among the subjects covered are particle generation, conveying, and storage; drying practices; moisture measurement and control; particle separation; fire and explosion prevention; resins and other additives; resin wax application; caul and caulless systems; mat forming; pre-pressing; hot pressing; and primary and secondary board finishing. Processing equipment is also examined.
Throughout his text, Maloney has deliberately de-emphasized the highly technical, scientific, and theoretical aspects of dry-process board in favour of providing useful, practical information for anyone involved in the forest products industry.
The book gives both English and metric measurements, with conversion tables. There are some 460 illustrations, a bibliography and an index.
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379 pages, 26 ill., clothbound. $12.50*
306 pages, 19 ill., $8.00*
A guide to the planning and execution of a forest inventory. English, French and Spanish editions.
121 pages, $3.00*
A trilingual (English, French, Spanish) directory.
283 pages, $10.00*
A manual on production and cost. English, French and Spanish editions.
90 pages, 36 ill., $3.00*
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