The Impact of Specialty Chemical Programs on Mill Energy Use, PaperCon '09 Conference

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As the third largest industrial consumer of pure energy, the pulp and paper industry seeks to reduce its energy consumption to effectively lower production costs and improve its environmental image. Specialty chemical programs regularly prevent process-related problems, improve operational efficiency, or enhance end-product performance, with some programs directly influencing energy usage. A relevant example is in chemical control of scale formation on evaporator heat transfer surfaces. Successful treatment maintains the heat transfer coefficient within specification and prevents excess steam consumption. Other chemical programs deliver energy reduction as a secondary benefit. For example, water removal improvements in the forming zone from retention and drainage programs are often used for machine speed, but can also lead to a drier web, requiring less steam in the dryer section. This paper explores three distinct unit applications and how their chemical treatments enhance process energy efficiency.