We keep thinking someone must have tried this, but if they have we are not aware of it. If any of you readers know of any research in this area, please let us know.
What is "this"? Putting a charge on the stock in the headbox and using this charge to drive drainage.
Why not? It would be something like electrostatic dip painting, a long proven technology, in reverse. The forming elements could be given a negative charge.
This would induce the water to flow to the forming elements. But what would happen to the stock? It should be mechanically separated from the water just as it is now, and left lying on the surface of the forming wire.
Another possible way to do this would be to manufacture a forming wire with a top that could transmit electricity, then, next in the z-direction and insulating layer, followed by a bottom that could transmit electricity. Then a circuit could be made between the top and bottom, resulting in a flow of water through the wire in the z direction.
Again, anyone heard of lab work along this line? What are your thoughts? Could this eliminate vacuum pumps?
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