METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING VISCOUS MATERIAL

摘要

In a method for transporting nanofibrillar cellulose in the form of viscous liquid dispersion, the nanofibrillar cellulose is unloaded from a container (3) through a discharge point (3b) which is the lowermost point with respect to the volume of nanofibrillar cellulose in the container at least at the time of unloading. The nanofibrillar cellulose is unloaded and transported to a target location along a pipe (2) using a progressive cavity pump (P2) operating on a positive displacement principle with the suction side of the pump at a distance from the discharge point (3b). The discharge of the nanofibrillar cellulose is ensured by selecting the distance (L) of the suction side of the pump (P2) from the discharge point (3b) so short that the nanofibrillar cellulose flows from the container (3) by the effect of the pump suction, or pressurizing the nanofibrillar cellulose in the container (3) to such a pressure (p) that it will flow at the selected distance (L) of the suction side from the discharge point by the common effect of the pressure of the nanofibrillar cellulose and the pump suction.