Abstract The ambition to increase the production of paper has made paper machine runnability widely studied in recent decades. Paper machine runnability is often measured by the number of web breaks in comparison with paper machine speed. When runnability is good, a machine can be run at the desired speed with the least possible number of breaks. Web break sensitivity means the number of breaks in a day, which can also be understood as a measurement of paper machine runnability. This study presents an application for the evaluation of web break sensitivity in a paper machine. A web break sensitivity indicator was built using the basic principles of case-based reasoning with a linguistic equations approach and basic fuzzy logic. The indicator combines on-line measurement data with expert knowledge and provides a continuous indication of break sensitivity. Web break sensitivity defines the current operating situation at the paper mill and provides new information to operators. Web break sensitivity is presented as a continuous signal with information about actual web breaks depicted as an eight-hour trend. The trend shows how the situation has developed and the current value gives a prediction for the next 24 hours if the situation stays as it is now. Together with information about the most important variables, this prediction gives operators enough time to react to the changing operating situation. From the methodological point of view, a new tool for building case-based reasoning applications for other purposes was also tested and found to be suitable for diagnostic applications.

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The press-section of a paper machine holds several different types of press rolls. One of the many press roll variants is the Valmet produced press roll, ViscoNip. This press roll utilizes an extended nip in order to increase the amount of water removed. The extended press nip in ViscoNip is special since it is controllable by a pressurized polyurethane press shoe. The press shoe runs through the body of the press roll. Due to limits of the current production process, new manufacturing methods and construction solutions are needed. In cooperation with another thesis, the current design and manufacturing process was reviewed and a plan intended to improve the current solution was formulated. The plan was to, by working together in a project, perform a product development process intended to create concepts able to utilize new methods of manufacturing. By using established methods of concept generation, such as Brainwriting 6-3-5, 11 concepts were created. Some of these concepts involved a redesign of the press shoe, leading to a need for construction and performance analysis. With the other thesis focusing on researching new possible and available manufacturing solutions. The work of this thesis fully committed to the structural and mechanical performance evaluation of the new concepts. This was performed by creating a model of the technical application using Finite Element Modelling in ABAQUS. The model included a hyperelastic material model for the polyurethane material as well as cohesive zone modelling to account for partitioning of the part. The model was then used to simulate the different concepts as they were subjected to a challenging load case. The results of which were used as the basis for structural and performance analysis. The analysis showed proof of sufficient structural stability and mechanical performance for all evaluated concepts. Then, in cooperation with the other thesis, a final concept choice was made. All in all, three different redesigned concepts were deemed as having potential for further development. The current solution was also deemed as having potential for future development but only when new manufacturing methods or techniques were considered.

The press-section of a paper machine holds several different types of press rolls. One of the many press roll variants is the Valmet produced press roll, ViscoNip. This press roll utilizes an extended nip in order to increase the amount of water removed. The extended press nip in ViscoNip is special since it is controllable by a pressurized polyurethane press shoe. The press shoe runs through the body of the press roll. Due to the limits of the current production process, new manufacturing methods and construction solutions are needed. In cooperation with another thesis, the current design and manufacturing process was reviewed and a plan intended to improve the current solution was formulated. The plan was to, by working together in a project, perform a product development process intended to create concepts able to utilize new methods of manufacturing. By using established methods of concept generation, such as Brainwriting 6-3-5, 11 concepts were created. Some of these concepts involved a redesign of the press shoe, leading to a need for construction and performance analysis. The other thesis focusing on the structural and mechanical performance evaluation of the new concepts. The work of this thesis focusing on researching new possible and available manufacturing solutions. The new concepts were analyzed with new and possible manufacturing methods to fulfill all the requirements. With all data, a document was created and market research was made to get feedback from more knowledgeable in the subject. Moreover, sequence analysis between the concepts with the current and those new manufacturing methods was made to further explain which manufacturing method that could solve the main problem. All in all, one different redesigned concept was deemed as having potential for further development. The current solution was also deemed as having potential for future development but only when new manufacturing methods or techniques were considered.