Paper industry benefits from advanced design optimization
The doctoral dissertation of MSc (Tech) Aino Ropponen explores the design optimization of papermaking processes. She developed a method that helps find the best possible compromise between cost and performance.Forest industry has been the backbone of Finland’s economy for decades. However, the past ten years have been a bumpy ride for the industry, as several mills have been forced to close down. Since paper industry requires heavy investments, new production methods and innovations are needed to slash investment costs and preserve the competiveness of Finnish paper industry.
Paper is made from cellulose fibres, water and chemicals. The production process entails a complex sequence of events that are sensitive to disturbances, such as web breaks, which cost money. In addition, decisions to use more bleach to increase whiteness or to use more cellulose to improve paper strength are made based on measurement data. All measurements contain some degree of uncertainty, but the more accurate the measurements are, the more useful the resulting data is.
As part of her dissertation research, Ropponen developed a method that involves six steps and specifies the individual stages of planning paper production processes.
“The objective was to find the optimal compromise between long-term performance and investment costs”, says Ropponen.
Public defence of a doctoral dissertation on Friday, 25 January
The doctoral dissertation of MSc (Tech) Aino Ropponen in the field of signal processing titled ”Design Optimization of Highly Uncertain Processes: Applications to Papermaking System" will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences of Tampere University of Technology (TUT) in room Pieni Sali in the Festia building (address: Korkeakoulunkatu 8, Tampere, Finland) on Friday, 25 January 2013 at 12:00.
The opponents will be Professor Angeles Blanco (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and Professor Sirkka-Liisa Jämsä-Jounela (Aalto University). Professor Risto Ritala from the Department of Automation Science and Engineering will act as Chairman.
Aino Ropponen (31) comes from Joensuu, Finland, and works as a researcher at the Department of Automation Science and Engineering of TUT.
Further information:
Aino Ropponen, tel. +358 50 543 1922, ">aino.ropponen@tut.fi.