ENERGY REDUCTION PROJECT SAVES 750 MILLION KILLOWATT-HOURS AT SWEDISH PAPERMILL

摘要

An energy reduction technology was implemented at a Swedish papermill. Specifically the project targeted a reduction in power consumption in thermomechanical pulping (TMP); the most commonly used process for the production of pulp for newsprint and lightweight magazine papers. Two TMP lines were converted in 2002 to RTS technology, a process formulated to reduce the electrical energy requirement of thermomechanical pulping. The project entailed replacement of the primary refiners with new machines capable of operating at high rotational disc speed, an important component of the technology for reducing power consumption. Since implementation this project saved over 750 million kilowatt-hours of electricity that otherwise would have been consumed using conventional technology. The project upgrade saved over 30 million USD during a ten year period of operation. A reduction of greater than 540,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions are realized with the reduced power consumption. This project represents the largest single energy saving measure conducted by a pulp producer. A case study for this project is presented from start up to present day operation.