Pulp handling system, method and apparatus

Claim 1

IN A METHOD FOR HANDLING PAPER PULP PRODUCED AS A WATER SLURRY OF PULP FIBERS IN A PULPING PROCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE BETWEEN A PULP MILL AND A PAPER MILL, THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE DEWATERING SAID PULP SLURRY UNDER PRESSURE, INTRODUCING SAID DEWATERED PULP TO A PELLET MILL FOR MECHANICALLY WORKING AND PELLETING SAID PULP FIBERS, SAID DEWATERING INCREASING THE CONSISTENCY OF SAID SLURRY TO A DEGREE PERMITTING PALLETING, SUBJECTING SAID PULP FIBERS IN SAID PELLETS MILL TO MECHANICAL WORKING BY A ROLLING PRESSURE AGAINST A HARD SURFACE, EXTRUDING SAID WORKED PULP UNDER HIGH PRESSURE THROUGH A RESTRICTED COMPACTING EXTRUSION PASSAGE IN SAID PELLET MILL THUS FORMING COMPACTED AND SELF-SUSTAINING PELLETS OF SAID DEWATERED AND WORKED PULP FIBERS, AND DRYING SAID PELLETS TO A SUBSTANTIALLY FREE FLOWING CONSISTENCY FOR BULK STORAGE AND TRANS PORTATION AND HANDLING THEREOF.