Optimization of Fläkt Pulp Dryer for Increased Production and Efficiency

Fläkt Pulp Dryer Reference – Grande Prairie DRAFT_20180911

Optimization of Fläkt Pulp Dryer for Increased Production and Efficiency

Western Alberta, Canada

In fall of 2015, the eSteamG Team, then working under the banner of MEI Resources, was hired by a western Alberta pulp mill to assess the Fläkt Pulp Dryer to improve efficiency and optimize performance. The dryer was typically constrained at a production level of 1150 ADTPD and was the main bottleneck of the mill’s overall production capacity.
The Assessment noted an unfavorable coil interaction, excessive venting of steam, flooding of the steam coils, and other signs pointing to poor steam efficiency and an opportunity for dry end production increases.
The work was implemented in three phases:

• Phase 1 was an assessment of the Fläkt dryer and facility-specific parameters and 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 key changes and upgrades to the steam system identified in Phase 1 (part of this work is performed by contractors working directly for the pulp mill) and confirmed that the changes were operating consistent with expectations. This work was performed during a scheduled maintenance shut-down at the Mill in 2016.
• Phase 3 continued the optimization process to fine tune the system to achieve additional gains.

 

KEY OUTCOME: Achieved substantial steam and energy savings; assessment of increased production capacity ongoing.