TIP 0404-27

OLD TIS NUMBER 014-55

ISSUED – 1983
REVISED – 1995
WITHDRAWN – 2002
REVISED, TITLE CHANGED, AND REINSTATED – 2006
REVISED – 2013
REVISED – 2019
©2019 TAPPI

The information and data contained in this document were

prepared by a technical committee of the Association. The
committee and the Association assume no liability or responsibility
in connection with the use of such information or data, including
but not limited to any liability under patent, copyright, or trade
secret laws. The user is responsible for determining that this
document is the most recent edition published.

Press fabric dewatering and conditioning – suction

box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements

Scope

Design considerations for dewatering press fabrics to permit selection of slot widths, Uhle box sizing and
determination of vacuum requirements are discussed in this TIP. Recommended vacuum factors are provided for
calculation of Uhle box vacuum capacity. System design considerations for piping, separation and vacuum
equipment are included.
Notes: Press showering is discussed in TIP 0404-61 “Paper Machine Shower Recommendations.”
Chemical cleaning considerations are described in TIP 0404-65 “Chemical Cleaning Guide for Press Fabrics.”

Safety precautions

Follow normal safety precautions when working around paper machinery including use of personal
protective equipment such as eye and hearing protection, safety shoes, and safety helmets where required. Loose
clothing and equipment must not contact rotating machinery or ropes. Beware of overhead cranes and thermal or slip
hazards. Avoid direct contact with hot surfaces.

Introduction

The use of modern press fabrics on paper machines requires proper conditioning and cleaning to maximize
machine productivity and minimize operating expense. Fabrics are conditioned to promote dewatering, consistent
sheet surface quality, and CD moisture profile management. Improved sheet dewatering and uniform sheet profiles
can result from proper fabric cleaning and dewatering. These items complement each other because good fabric
cleaning requires good fabric dewatering. To properly clean a fabric, any contaminants (cellulose fines, fillers,
stickies, wax, etc.) contained in the fabric and batt structure must be dislodged and flushed from the system. Press
fabric cleaning is a mechanical and chemical process where showering and Uhle boxes provide the mechanical
components and chemical detergents or solvents are used to break bonds between the fabric and contaminants or
completely dissolve contaminants. Typically contaminants are dislodged by high pressure showers and/or chemicals
applied by showers. Elevating the temperature of the press fabric with a steam shower over the Uhle box can also
be beneficial. Removing contaminants from fabrics requires uniform distribution of water to convey contaminants
to the vacuum slot(s). Sufficient dwell time of the fabric over vacuum slot(s) must be combined with correct
vacuum induced airflow to adequately dewater a press fabric.
The objective of this Technical Information Paper (TIP) is to provide guidelines for selection of suction
box covers, suction box size, and system design basics. Vacuum factors are included to permit vacuum pump
sizing. Note that the terms “Uhle box,” “Uhle pipe,” “suction box,” “suction pipe,” and “felt suction box” are
interchangeable.

TIP Category: Automatically Periodically Reviewed (Five-year review)

TAPPI
TIP 0404-27 Press fabric dewatering and conditioning –
suction box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements / 2

Conversion factors

Multiply by to obtain

in 25.4 mm
in 2.54 cm
in 0.0254 m
ft/min 0.305 m/min
ft3/min 1.669 m3/hr
ft3/min/in.2 0.263 m3/hr/cm2
in Hg ("Hg) 3.39 kPa

1. Factors affecting dewatering – dwell time and slot width

The first step in determining Uhle box slot size, Uhle box diameter or vacuum pump selection, requires
selection of dwell time. Dwell time is the length of time a given point on the fabric is exposed to vacuum over the
Uhle box slot (s). Recommended dwell time is 2 to 4 milliseconds (ms). This allows time for airflow to be
established through the fabric and remove water and contaminants. While dwell times over 4 ms may yield
improvements in dewatering, diminishing returns will be realized.
A suggested approach is to use a single suction box with 2 to 4 ms dwell time unless a single box does not
provide adequate fabric dewatering and cleaning. A second Uhle box may be required on some early press positions
but are normally not required on later presses where the fabrics handle less water volume and can become less
contaminated.
Dwell time is more critical for early press nips where Uhle box dewatering is emphasized and where there
are significantly larger volumes of water to remove. Dwell time is less critical in later nips where less water is
removed. In these nips minimizing lubrication water volume to the amount required to prevent felt surface wear is
important.
Uhle dewatering volumes are low because felt designs will be denser with finer batt capping layers. Excess
lubrication water can lead to increased rewet.
Note that lube showers are optimally designed to apply water between the fabric and Uhle box surface.
Because water takes a finite amount of time to enter a fabric, lubrication water should be applied to the fabric
surface as close to the Uhle box as possible to minimize penetration. This water is taken into the first Uhle box slot
to which it is exposed. Lubrication for subsequent surfaces depends on water removed by the preceding slot. If
lubrication water is improperly applied, if too much water is applied, or if the water is put on the fabric too early,
fabric conditioning may be compromised.
Tissue machines and higher speed paper machines (>5,000 fpm) are an exception to the 2–4 millisecond
dwell time “standard.” Many tissue machines operate well with 1.0–1.5 ms of Uhle box dwell time. This is because
fabrics on tissue machines often operate at much higher moisture levels than on paper and board paper machines and
high speeds run on some tissue machines would require very wide slots to achieve 2–4 ms dwell time. Still, if at all
possible, at least 2 ms is desirable.

The following formulas are used to determine dwell time and slot widths.

Slot Width (in) = Dwell Time (s) × Machine Speed (ft/min) ÷ 5

Example A – To determine the slot width with 2 ms dwell time with a machine speed of 2,500 ft/min:

Slot width (in) = 0.002 s × 2,500 ft/min ÷ 5 = 1.0 in

Dwell Time (s) = Slot Width (in) × 5 ÷ Machine Speed (ft/min)

Example B – To determine dwell time with two (2) 5/8-in (0.625-in) slots with a machine speed of 1,800
ft/min:

Dwell Time (s) = 2 × 0.625 in × 5 ÷ 1,800 ft/min = 0.0035 s (or 3.5 milliseconds)
3 / Press fabric dewatering and conditioning – TIP 0404-27
suction box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements

Table 1 provides slot width information based on various machine speeds and 2 milliseconds dwell time.
Use 2 times slot width values for a dwell time of 4 milliseconds.

Table 1

MACHINE TOTAL (EQUIVALENT) SLOT

SPEED WIDTH PER UHLE BOX
(FT/MIN) @ 2 MS DWELL TIME, IN
0-1,250 0.5
1,560 0.625
1,875 0.75
2,500 1.0
3,125 1.25
3,750 1.5
4,375 1.75
5,000 2.0

The values listed in Table 1 are equivalent slot widths. These can be with single slots, combined multiple
slots, open area per inch of fabric width for herringbone or unique pattern covers. Minimum open area is
determined as total area of all boxes to which the fabric is exposed. For faster machines, slot widths closer to
2 milliseconds dwell time coupled with higher vacuum airflow to minimize suction box size are recommended.
Determining equivalent slot area for herringbone or other unique slot patterns requires some extra effort. For
optimum performance discontinuous Uhle box cover profiles such as herringbone, trapezoidal, drilled, or zigzag
patterns must expose every part of the fabric to the same dwell time. Consult the cover manufacturer to obtain an
accurate value for open area on these special covers. These interrupted cover designs are often used to provide a
more gentle action for seamed felts, or to provide higher dwell times for fast machines.

2. Slot configuration

Performance differences between single and multiple slot suction boxes are minimal if total open area and
resulting dwell times are the same. The choice of which to use depends on the following:

1. More mechanical action is provided by multiple slots leading to a slightly drier fabric. However, the
additional wear strips have less lubrication as the fabric passes over and may wear the fabric and/or seams
at higher speeds.
2. Slot widths of less than 0.5 inch may build up with contaminants and “bridge over.”
3. Straight slot widths above 1 inch may not allow sufficient fabric support and may cause premature fabric
and cover wear.
4. The cover should provide equal open area in the machine and cross machine directions. This will promote
an even moisture profile with minimal streaking.
5. Larger open area requires larger vacuum airflows (and resulting higher vacuum system energy cost).
6. Press fabric suppliers recommended use of herringbone pattern suction box covers when seamed fabrics
were first introduced in the early 1990s. Improved seam designs provide good performance with straight
slots.

3. Vacuum factors – airflow/vacuum capacity calculation

The largest variable in dewatering press fabrics is the amount of airflow per unit area and the resulting
vacuum level. Total airflow, or vacuum capacity, can only be established after suction box slot configuration is
determined.
Airflow is determined using the two variables below:

1. Suction box slot area – usually in square inches (in²)

2. Vacuum factor – usually in cubic feet per minute per square inch (ft3/min/in²)
TIP 0404-27 Press fabric dewatering and conditioning –
suction box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements / 4

Minimum vacuum factor is 15 ft3/min/in² for single layer fabrics and many tissue applications. The trend
has been toward higher vacuum factors of 18–20 ft3/min/in² for heavier, multi layer fabrics. Vacuum factors higher
than 20 ft3/min/in² do not appear to be required even with heaviest fabric weights or those with membranes between
plies. Note that vacuum factor is based on ft3/min which is synonymous with ACFM. ACFM is actual cubic feet per
minute and is a measurement of vacuum pump volumetric flow.

Example: Calculating vacuum capacity required for one Uhle box with two (2) 5/8-inch slots, with 300 inch
felt width, and a vacuum factor of 20 ft3/min/in² is as follows:

2 × 5/8 in × 300 in × 20 ft3/min/in² = 7,500 ft3/min

Resulting vacuum levels with the suggested vacuum factors is shown below:

VACUUM FACTOR OPERATING VACUUM

LEVEL
15 ft3/min/in² 10 – 15 in Hg
20 ft3/min/in² 15 – 20 in Hg

Note: Operating vacuum will vary with fabric design, construction materials, porosity, filling and
compaction.

4. Suction box sizing

The suction box is a key element in sheet dewatering and profile control. Uhle boxes sizes (diameter) can
only be determined after the slot configuration is made and vacuum factors are applied. Correctly sized Uhle boxes
will minimize frictional vacuum losses. High velocities in the suction box can cause CD vacuum variations,
resulting in a fabric moisture gradient from the front to back side of the press. Standard design practices call for
vacuum piping to be sized for specific velocities depending on wet or dry air. Wet air refers to air which is
conveying liquid water, typically prior to vacuum separators. Maximum piping velocities of 3,500–4,000 ft/min are
targets for wet air.
Uhle boxes should be similarly sized. It is recommended to use 3,500–4,000 ft/min for Uhle box selection.
Because machine widths are larger and faster operating speeds require more slot width, additional vacuum capacity
is required for Uhle boxes. This begins to limit physical size for Uhle boxes. Often, a fabricated or formed Uhle box
must be designed with the correct cross sectional area to meet velocity requirements. In any case, airflow velocities
above 5,000 ft/min should to be avoided for Uhle boxes.
Uhle box piping should be sloped to an air/liquid separator, avoiding pockets which could fill with water
and create vacuum fluctuations.
Table 2 provides recommended Uhle box sizes based on vacuum airflow with a velocity of 4,000–4,500
fpm.
Although the effort is made to determine slot width, total slot area, and cover/wear strip material, the
suction box must be designed to meet the following criteria.

1. Structurally sound to span the width of the paper machine width without distorting the box or slot
configuration.
2. Capable of handling recommended airflow as determined by slot area and vacuum factor without vacuum
losses.
3. Designed not to impede airflow and extraction of water and contaminants due to required internal bracing
to maintain a consistent slot area.
5 / Press fabric dewatering and conditioning – TIP 0404-27
suction box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements

Table 2

Uhle box vacuum Uhle box diameter,

capacity, ft3/min inches
700 6
1,200 8
1,900 10
2,800 12
4,000 14
5,600 16
8,000 18
10,000 20

5. Vacuum system design considerations

1. Separate vacuum sources or pumps should be used for Uhle boxes on each fabric if possible. Multiple Uhle
boxes on the same fabric can be connected to a single vacuum source.
2. Air/liquid separators should be installed between the Uhle boxes and vacuum pumps. Separators without
sufficient elevation above a seal tank will require a pump to extract water from the separator.
3. Barometric drop legs and centrifugal pump discharge from separators should be piped to individual weirs to
allow water removal rates to be monitored.
4. Vacuum piping between separators and vacuum sources should be sized for 5,500 fpm maximum velocity.
(Note that this is higher than the 4,000 fpm wet air recommendation).
5. Long horizontal runs of piping for separator discharge (drop legs) should be avoided, if possible, because
of potential plugging.
6. Consider flow measurement equipment to allow real time measurement and trending of Uhle box water
removal rates. This is valuable for controlling enhanced nip dewatering. Also, this is useful for evaluation
of fabric designs and cleaning chemicals.
7. Vacuum inbleed/relief valves should be considered to limit maximum Uhle box vacuum as required due to
drop leg limitation or vacuum pump drives and power requirements.

6. Nip dewatering considerations

The previous discussion (Items 1–5) applies at least to some degree when nip dewatering is considered and
practiced. Conditioning of press fabrics is still necessary in nip dewatering positions, although the increase in nip
water flow through the felt in the press tends to help clean felts. A significant difference for nip vs. Uhle box
dewatering is variability of vacuum airflow to limit Uhle box dewatering. Since total water removal through the
entire press is the goal, measurement of press water removal (Uhle boxes and nips) is required to provide optimum
water removal with either nip or Uhle box dewatering. Many nip dewatering presses operate successfully without
Uhle boxes, especially later in the press section, and totally rely on water expressed from the felt in the nip to
condition the felt. When a press operates in a predominantly nip dewatering regime, press drive power can increase,
but if less Uhle vacuum is required and consequently a vacuum pump can be shut down, there is a potential for large
energy savings. The biggest potential advantage of nip dewatering is optimized press performance and subsequent
reduced drying energy.
Many machines are shifting toward higher levels of nip dewatering. Depending on the applications, less
vacuum and or Uhle boxes need to be investigated. One of the machine suppliers has shifted their Uhle factor target
to 13.3 ft3/min/in2. This needs to be considered with new machine designs or rebuilds. Existing machines need to
confirm what vacuum is required with their optimized nip dewatering and then evaluate whether vacuum capacity
can be permanently reduced or shifted.
Many printing and writing grade machines operate without Uhle boxes on fourth presses or on third presses
with shoe presses. Evaluation of performance for the entire felt cycle and the impact on profile and defects needs to
be made. Mills can rely upon 100% nip dewatering in latter nips as a means to reduce electrical energy costs. The
full impact upon press solids, dryer steam consumption, and press fabric life must also be evaluated to fully assess
the economics of the situation. Press fabric design will likely need to modified to run successfully in the long-term.
TIP 0404-27 Press fabric dewatering and conditioning –
suction box (Uhle box) design and vacuum requirements / 6

Vacuum reduction can be made with in-line throttling and atmospheric in-bleed valves with attention to
hold operating vacuum at the pumps (liquid ring) to not higher than the highest vacuum Uhle box. Exhauster
systems require throttling valves only to regulate Uhle box vacuum.

Keywords

Press fabric, Vacuum equipment, Uhle box, Vacuum pumps, Showers

Additional information

Effective date of issue: May 28, 2019.

Working Group:
John Neun – Chairman, John A. Neun, LLC
Dick Reese, Dick Reese & Associates, Inc.
Doug Sweet, Doug Sweet & Associates, Inc.
Dave Burton, Asten Johnson
Philip Wells, Wells Enterprises
Frank Sutman, Solenis LLC