Flӓkt Pulp Dryer Fact Sheet

Optimization of Fläkt Pulp Dryer and Associated Structures for Increased Capacity and Efficiency at a specialty fibers mill in Washington State

eSteamG optimized a specialty fibers pulp dryer in 2017. An assessment indicated that a unique set of facility modifications to steam coils and condensate removal systems were needed to achieve steam system and pulp dryer optimization.

KEY OUTCOME: Out-of-the-box solutions and collaboration resulted in an increase of 4% in the average production rate leading to increased revenue and a significantly more stable system.

• Phase 1 was an assessment of the Fläkt dryer and facility-specific parameters which identified key elements that could be optimized, the costs to perform the optimization, and the estimated gains in production and steam system efficiency.
• Phase 2 implemented the recommended steam system changes and identified additional system problems restricting production output. This work was performed during a scheduled maintenance shut-down at the Mill.
• Phase 3 implemented corrections to the additional problems identified in Phase 2 which included changing from condensate coils to steam coils and work on the steam system upstream from the dryer.
• Phase 4 resolved a plugging issue resulting from faulty condensate chemistry readings and some resulting copper corrosion.