PROCESS FOR MAKING THROUGHDRIED TISSUE USING EXHAUST GAS RECOVERY

The energy efficiency of a throughdrying papermaking process is improved by recycling exhaust air from one or more throughdryers to further heat the web at variou s places in the process. The present invention provides for a process for making tissue comprising the steps of forming a wet tissue web by depositing an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto a forming fabric; partially dewatering the wet tissu e web while it is supported by a papermaking fabric; drying the wet web in one or more throughdryers, wherein heated drying air gathers moisture from the wet web as it is passed through the wet web and is exhausted from the throughdryer(s); and recycling exhaust air from one or more of the throughdryers to heat the fabric at one or more points in the process.