CO2 Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency Improvements in Paper Making Drying Process Control by Sensors

Luis Calvo,Rosario Domingo

doi:10.3390/su9040514

Abstract

The drying process of paper has many production parameters that can influence both the energy consumed and the characteristics of paper produced. It was found that most of the previous studies conducted on this process assume that the conditions of the facilities are always appropriate. The control of the variables associated with air circulating inside the drying hood is essential to obtain a paper with adequate quality and obtain low ratios of energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This article proposes a new indirect method based on the study of the enthalpy of the airflows inside the production hall and thermographic images that helps to analyze the maintenance state of the enclosure hood drying section in a general process, whereby it can also estimate the emissions and energy losses. The combined use of sensors and equipment has helped to identify energy losses and potential savings in CO2 emissions. The developed method is applied to a paper manufacturing plant that has ratios of energy consumption and CO2 emissions very close to the product benchmark set by the European Authorities. The study corroborates that it can be identified as a significant energy loss in paper making drying process. Analyzing facilities that are in apparently good maintenance conditions, leaks are evident. These energy losses are very significant compared with the theoretical energy consumption, and it can affect the paper moisture profile.

Highlights

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have become very important in today’s world scene
The study analyzes the status of an enclosure hood to quantify energy losses in the installation due to faulty insulation, loose panels of enclosure hood due to improper adjustments of parts, and deterioration of access systems such as automatic doors, manual doors, panels, etc
Other factors to be taken into account and that generate heat in the production hall constitute the operation of the paper machine itself and fluid transfer pumps

Summary

Introduction

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have become very important in today’s world scene. According to the International Energy Agency [4], around 29.7% of total energy consumption was due to industries and 36% of CO2 emissions are derived from industrial processes such pulp and paper, chemical cement, iron, steel and petrochemicals. Paper drying is a complex process affected by many factors. The relationship between drying section and CO2 emissions has been studied by various authors with different perspectives. Karlsson [10] laid the fundamentals of drying paper process using multi-cylinders’ facilities. Their analysis is taken as the basis for further studies and ideas for improvement, by both scientists and industry

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion