Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

PULP& PAPER CANADA

NOTES ON NANOMATERIALS DUST EXPLOSIONS: WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVING THE INDUSTRY

sEPtEmBEr/oCtoBEr 2012 www.pulpandpapercanada.com

GREEN

POWER The business

of bioenergy

An Official Partner of the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada

PAP

Pulp an Associa

23,000 LBS OF PURE PROFESSIONALISM. Excuses have no place on the jobsite, that’s why we created the GMC Sierra HD. It boasts a maximum towing capacity of 23,000 lbs.1 A maximum payload capacity of 7,215 lbs.2 As well as a legendary Duramax® 6.6L Diesel V8 and Allison® Transmission that makes anything it does seem effortless.† So if you’re the type that wants to do everything like a professional, then stop driving an amateur’s truck.

MODEL

SIERRA HD

GMC.GM.CA MOBILE ENABLED

TORQUE

765 LB.-FT.

MAX PAYLOAD

7,215 LBS

MAX TRAILERING

23,000 LBS

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL GRADE

1 2012 Sierra 3500HD DRW 4x4 Regular Cab with available Duramax® Diesel and Allison® transmissions, when properly equipped. Based on WardsAuto.com 2012 Large Pickup segmentation, 2012 Model Year competitive data for Ford Super Duty F-350 and

Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks and latest published information available at time. Excludes other GM models. 2 2012 Sierra 3500HD DRW 2WD Regular Cab. Based on WardsAuto.com 2012 Large Pickup segmentation, 2012 Model Year competitive data for Ford Super Duty F-350 and Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks and latest published information available at time. Maximum payload capacity includes weight of driver, passengers, optional equipment and cargo. Excludes other GM models. †Available Duramax® Diesel.

PULP& PAPER

september/October 2012 Vol. 113, No. 5 A Business Information Group Publication PrINT eDITION IssN 0316-4004 ON-LINe eDITION IssN 1923-3515

CANADA

OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVING THE INDUSTRY

COVER STORY Photo: Steam turbine rotor, courtesy of Siemens.

16 Green energy: Pulp, paper and power

More pulp mills have become power exporters, but the new market comes with its own challenges.

FEATURES

14 Nanotechnology for wood fibre

An international gathering in Montreal examined all aspects of emerging wood-based nanoproducts, as well as ways to build a market for these unique materials.

16

22 steam energy in the dryer section

Assess dryer section efficiency and identify areas for improvement with dryer performance indicators based on waste energy flows.

24 Prevention of dust explosions

The type of dust produced in pulp and paper mills has a lower risk of explosion than many other industries, but it creates an increased risk of fire.

30 Bio-economy update

Ontario moves ahead with coal-to-biomass conversion; UBC banks on the bio-economy; biorefinery symposium planned for PaperWeek Canada.

miSSion StatEmEnt: To promote the pulp and paper industry in Canada by publishing news of its people and their innovations in research, technology, management and financing, as well as forecasts of future trends.

Serving the industry since 1903.

14

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 7 12 27 29

7

editorial news Opinion: FPaC Technology news Classified ads

For breaking news, visit www.pulpandpapercanada.com www.pulpandpapercanada.com

September/October 2012 PulP & PaPer Canada

3

Kemira KemFlite™- Helps Your Paper Machi

ine Take Flight Kemira KemFlite™ concept has been developed specifically to address a sticky issue; wood pitch, white pitch, and stickies.

Kemira KemFlite concept combines our understanding of the papermaking process, broad deposit control product line and novel monitoring tools like Kemira Flyto™ and Kemira AutoFlite™ to create a custom solution for every sticky situation.

Our customers benefit with improved process and machine efficiency, less breaks, a cleaner process, and more first-grade tons. In addition, Kemira KemFlite reduces raw material usage resulting in cost savings. Simply put, with KemFlite you get improved paper quality and less customer complaints.

Let us show you how your paper machine can take flight with Kemira KemFlite.

Europe Tel +358 10 8611 North America Tel +1 800 347 1542 www.kemira.com/kemflite kemira oyj kemiragroup

Editorial

Linked in to readers F

or direct feedback from readers, nothing beats talking to people face-to-face when I’m out at events. For measureable feedback, however, we send out an annual readership survey that provides the whole team at Pulp & Paper Canada an insight into the habits and preferences of our subscriber base.

This year, almost 200 people answered the survey. The results show that these respondents are dedicated readers of Pulp & Paper Canada.

Eighty-four percent always read or regularly read the magazine. Many of them (42%) spend more than half an hour with each issue. Most (72%) refer to each issue more than once, and 38% of respondents keep the magazine on hand for up to one year, or indefinitely.

Cindy Macdonald Respondents rate the quality of the magazine Editor highly, with 73% saying it is either very good or excellent. Questioned specifically about the content and writing in the magazine, 65% selected “very good” or “excellent.”

We also hold our own against the competition. Seventyseven percent of respondents read Pulp & Paper Canada more often than other industry publications they receive.

One area that could be improved is Pulp & Paper Canada’s fit with the Canadian industry. Just over half of respondents rate the magazine excellent or very good on meeting the industry’s needs. A further 37% rate it as good. So while that’s not a bad review, I believe we can do better.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the industry’s aging workforce, but there’s not a lot of interest (among survey respondents, at least) in making some Pulp & Paper Canada content accessible by mobile phone or through social media channels. Asked which devices they own, 89% of respondents claimed an iPhone and/ or a Blackberry, but only 15% access the magazine’s digital content via this type of handheld device. A higher number, 29%, have an interest in belonging to social media groups associated with this magazine.

More than two-thirds of respondents belong to LinkedIn, so clearly that’s another area for potential improvement for Pulp & Paper Canada.

Thanks to all those who did respond to the survey. For everyone else, please don’t wait for a formal invitation. Call or email suggestions or comments at any time.

Editor CINDY MACDONALD 416-510-6755 cindy@pulpandpapercanada.com Publisher Jim Bussiere 416-442-5600 ext. 3606 jim@pulpandpapercanada.com President, Business Information Group BRUCE CREIGHTON Vice President, Publishing ALEX PAPANOU Executive Publisher, Manufacturing Tim Dimopoulos

Advisory Board Richard Foucault Greg Hay Dr. Richard Kerekes Barbara van Lierop Dr. David McDonald Dennis McNinch Dr. Yonghao Ni Bryant Prosser Dr. Paul Stuart Ross Williams Editorial/Sales Offices 80 Valleybrook Dr., Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Phone: 416-442-5600.

Toll Free: c da 800-268-7742; usa 800-387-0273

PRODUCTION Art Director CAROLYN BRIMER cbrimer@bizinfogroup.ca

Print Production Manager PHYLLIS WRIGHT pwright@bizinfogroup.ca

Circulation Manager CINDI HOLDER cholder@bizinfogroup.ca

Reprint requests: Marisa Sementilli 416-510-6829

Market Production Manager KIMBERLY COLLINS kcollins@bizinfogroup.ca

News and Press Releases media@pulpandpapercanada.com

PULP & PAPER CANADA (ISSN 0316-4004) is published by BIG Magazines LP, a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., 80 Valleybrook Dr., Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Subscription rates Canada $52.95 per year; $71.95 for 2 years.

Outside Canada $99.95 per year.

Single copy $19.50. (All subscription prices exclusive of taxes.)

The editors have made every reasonable effort to provide accurate and authoritative information but they assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the text or its fitness for any particular purpose.

All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner.

From time to time, we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you.

If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods.

Phone: 1-800-668-2374; fax: 416-442-2191; e-mail: privacyofficer@businessinformationgroup.ca; mail to: Privacy Officer, Business Information Group, 80 Valleybrook Dr., Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Postmaster: Please forward 29B and 67B to 80 Valleybrook Dr., Toronto, ON M3B 2S9. Legal deposit Quebec National Library.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240 A Business Information Group Publication Print edition ISSN 0316-4004 On-line edition ISSN 1923-3515

Sustaining member, Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada; Member, Canadian Business Press and Audit Bureau of Circulation.

“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.”

6

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Industry News

White Birch re-opens Stadacona, moves ahead with asset sale

W

hite Birch Paper Company reopened the Stadacona newsprint mill in Quebec City in early August, starting up two paper machines and recalling 200 employees. The mill had been closed since December 9, 2011. The start-up comes after several months of joint efforts with the Government of Quebec and the union at the mill, the Syndicat canadien des communications, de l’énergie et du papier (SCEP), to obtain a sustainable operating plan, according to White Birch.

“This marks a new beginning for the Stadacona mill. A second chance. Compromises by all parties involved have resulted in a promising future for Stadacona,” stated Christopher Brant, president of White Birch.

Brant extended his thanks to Minister Sam Hamad and the other members of the Quebec government for the role they played in ensuring the future of the mill. The provincial government has offered a loan of $35 million, conditional on the company investing $47 million to re-start the mill, reduce its production costs, and diversify its product lines.

The new collective bargaining agreements and government support that paved the way for Stadacona to re-open also move the company closer to a courtapproved sale. White Birch has been

Electricity sale contract prompts restart of Dolbeau paper mill Resolute Forest Products Inc. will reopen its paper mill in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Que., producing soft nip calendered (SNC and SCB) commercial printing paper. It represents a $20-million investment for Resolute.

Resolute says the decision to re-open follows the conclusion of a deal to sell biomass-based electricity produced at the company’s Mistassini cogeneration facility to Hydro-Québec.

Resolute stated on Aug. 24 that production would resume as soon as the recall of employees was completed. The www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Zellstoff Celgar fined for releasing effluent

under creditor protection since 2010.

Courts approved the sale of White Birch’s assets in Sept. 2010 to Black Diamond Capital Partners via BD White Birch Investments LLC, but certain preconditions of the sale were not met at the time.

Industry Canada’s approval of the sale, granted on July 13, and the new labour agreements with unions at Stadacona and the two other Canadian White Birch mills were pre-conditions of the sale that have now been satisfied.

The sale was expected to go through

by Aug. 31.

Concessions from workers and pensioners also paved the way to restarting the facility. Le Soleil, a Quebec newspaper, reported Aug. 1 that the new collective agreement includes a 10% salary cut for unionized workers, a salary freeze, and the termination of pension plans. Retirees agreed to a reduction of about 30% in their pension.

White Birch also owns and operates two other mills in Quebec, Papier Masson in Gatineau and F.F. Soucy in Riviere-du-Loup, as well as one mill in the U.S. A report from the court-appointed monitor, presented in March 2012, noted that little or no proceeds were expected to be available to creditors once the asset purchase agreement has closed.

restart of the mill will provide direct employment for about 135 workers.

“We spared no effort to relaunch the Dolbeau mill because it is a good investment,” stated Richard Garneau, president and CEO of Resolute, who was in the Lac-Saint-Jean region to confirm the news. “With today’s announcement, Resolute will be more competitive than ever.”

Resolute says it is “currently assessing its network of paper mills to ensure that production continues to be balanced.”

The Dolbeau mill had been closed since 2009. It is a chemi-thermomechanical mill.

Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership has been convicted and fined in connection with a spill of effluent containing black liquor in 2008 from the company’s kraft pulp mill in Castlegar, B.C. The company was fined a total of $150,000 by the provincial court, and ordered to post details about the conviction on its corporate website until July 31, 2013.

The judgment determined that over two days a total of 209 million litres of “deleterious effluent” was released into the Columbia River. It also stated that Zellstoff Celgar failed to comply with permit requirements following discharges in excess of their permitted limits.

According to a report on Castlegarnews.com, the judge noted that while there was no proof that Zellstoff Celgar caused any harm to the environment during the spill, there was the potential for harm.

However, an Environment Canada press release regarding the sentencing referred to the spill as “depositing acutely lethal effluent into the Columbia River.”

The company may still appeal the court’s decision.

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation will receive $120,000 of the fine, and has said it will apply the funds to projects in the Columbia River watershed.

Straw-based copy paper lands on Canadian shelves Straw-based copy paper with a reported 80% less forest fibre than traditional paper is now available to Canadian consumers, small businesses

September/October 2012 Pulp & Paper Canada

7

Industry News and home offices at Staples Canada.

The paper is designed and produced by Winnipeg-based Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. Called Step Forward Paper™, it contains 80% straw from the leftover by-product of harvested wheat crops and 20% FSC-certified wood fibre.

According to Jeff Golfman, president of Prairie Pulp & Paper, Step Forward Paper is the first of its kind to be available to North American consumers. The paper is presently made at a mill in India. If Prairie Pulp & Paper can build a market for straw-based paper, the company plans to build a new state-of-the-art facility in Manitoba, “which will in turn enable us to produce this straw paper with an even smaller footprint,” said Golfman.

Pete Gibel, vice-president of merchandising at Staples Canada, says, “Paper made from leftover straw produces high quality and performance that compares with other copy and printer papers.”

Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. is working in

partnership with Canopy, a not-for-profit environmental organization with a goal of protecting forests by developing the North American straw paper industry.

interest in natural resources is adding to the diversity of investment sources available to develop capital-intensive Canadian natural resources projects.”

Forest industry presses for deeper economic ties with China

Corner Brook employees approve Kruger pension relief plan

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is urging the government to follow through on the conclusion of the Canada-China Economic Complementarities Study which states that Canada and China should continue to strengthen their bilateral trade and investment ties.

“Growing our exports to overseas markets, especially China, is vital to our vision and the future prospects of Canada’s forest products sector,” says Catherine Cobden, executive vice-president of FPAC. Increased exports are also essential for the forest products industry to reach its Vision2020 goal of generating an additional $20 billion in economic activity from new innovations and growing markets.

Forest products are already Canada’s number one export sector to China. Since 2001, the industry has increased its wood exports to China by 45 times. Total Canadian forest products exports to China exceeded $4 billion in 2011.

China also emerges as in investment partner for Canada. The executive summary of the Economic Complementarities Study states: “In Canada, China’s growing

Active and retired unionized employees of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper have approved Kruger’s proposal to apply funding relief measures to their pension plan’s deficit. According to Kruger, these relief measures were essential to the mill’s ability to compete in the market and will enable the company to pursue its assessment of the mill’s long-term viability.

Unionized employees had voted against the funding relief measures earlier this year.

The next step is for Kruger to present a sustainability plan to its lenders and to the Newfoundland government within the coming weeks.

Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy and wines and spirits.

Stops, starts, changes…..

• Continuing the consolidation of its operations, packaging and tissue manufacturer Cascades Inc. permanently closed the Cascades Tissue Group plant located on McNicoll Street in Toronto, as of Aug. 13. The facility produced paper napkins for the away-from-home market, mainly for quick service restaurants.

Approximately 30 employees will be affected by the closure.

• Catalyst Paper has announced the permanent closure of its Snowflake recycle mill located in northeastern Arizona, citing supply and market pressures. The operation is scheduled to cease production on September 30, and the site will be prepared for sale and repurposing. The closure is not anticipated to have any impact on operations at Catalyst’s three other mills in British Columbia.

• Resolute Forest Products Inc. and Fibrek Inc. have completed their second step plan of arrangement transaction whereby Fibrek and RFP Acquisition Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Resolute, have amalgamated, resulting in Resolute indirectly owning 100% of the shares of Fibrek Inc.

8

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

Quebec plan supports transformation of forest industry The Quebec government has a five-year plan to make the Quebec forest products industry modern, diversified, innovative and adapted to evolving markets.

The 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy is designed to modernize the forest products sector, open new markets for the pulp and paper sector, and encourage investment in the production of bioenergy. It will receive funding of $268 million over its five-year span.

FPInnovations, a not-for-profit scientific organization focused on the forest products sector, has stated its support for the strategy.

“We welcome the fact that the strategy is based on the scientific and technical advances that have been made over the last few years. It also proposes an approach that focuses on developing innovative wood-based products,” says Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO, FPInnovations.

The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) has granted FPInnovations $5.5 million this year www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Industry News CEOs of Domtar, Tembec, Cascades to speak at PaperWeek Canada

People…

• Richard Garneau, president and CEO of Resolute Forest Products, has been selected as RISI’s 2012 North American CEO of the Year.

RISI is an information provider for the forest products industry. Garneau was chosen for his leadership, vision, and strategic accomplishments by a survey of investment analysts and portfolio managers.

Alain Lemaire

John D. Williams

James Lopez

John D. Williams, president and CEO of Domtar, will participate in the official kickoff to PaperWeek Canada with a keynote presentation on the state of the industry and its future.

PaperWeek Canada is the annual gathering of the pulp and paper industry in Canada, organized by PAPTAC. This year’s event takes place Feb. 4-8 in Montreal. It will combine PAPTAC’s technical and business sessions, a trade show, a job fair and a symposium on biorefining.

James Lopez, president and CEO of Tembec, will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday morning. He will present Tembec’s approach to the challenges and opportunities tied to the transformation of the industry, and comment on recent progress the company has made. Lopez will be followed by Kurt Schafer, vice-president, fibre, with RISI, who will provide a global outlook on pulp and paper market trends and forecasts.

Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades, will discuss Cascades’ vision, its unique approach to the market, and implementing a successful sustainable development strategy. Clive Suckling, global forest, paper and packaging leader at business consulting firm PwC, will follow with a financial analysis and information regarding financing of major projects around the world.

For more details on the event, visit www.paperweekcanada.ca.

under its biorefinery and demonstration plant program. The money will be used to set up premanufacturing facilities, which will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of new biomaterials and renewable, ecological bioproducts made from forest fibre.

“Our industrial members are targeting high-value-added products that will give them an edge over the international competition,” says Lapointe. “The new strategy is a serious nudge in the right direction, as it spurs the competitiveness of the traditional forest industry and encourages swifter transformation of the sector through innovation.”

The strategy can be viewed at www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/fr/forets/ strategie-2012-2017 www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Details of Terrace Bay deal emerge The sale of Terrace Bay Pulp to AV Terrace Bay Inc., a subsidiary of Aditya Brila, has been approved by the Ontario Superior Court, despite a last-minute legal challenge by another bidder.

With the acceptance of the Indian company’s $2-million bid, it was revealed that workers at the mill have ratified a collective agreement with the new owner. Steelworkers Union spokesman Herb Daniher told CBC.ca that the five-year deal includes some concessions.

He said the workers agreed to more liberal contracting out language, no pay increases in the first three years, and small pay increases in the final two years.

As well, workers will be responsible

• Linda Coates is now vice-president, human resources and corporate affairs with Tembec. Coates joined Tembec in May 2011. In her new role, she will be leading the continued transformation of the organization as the senior executive accountable for all aspects of human resources, as well as internal and external communications. “The level of experience and leadership qualities that Linda provides will enable Tembec to achieve world-class performance from a people management perspective,” stated president and CEO James Lopez.

• Canfor Pulp president and CEO Joe Nemeth is stepping down effective September 30, 2012. Brett Robinson, formerly executive vicepresident, operations, will become president of Canfor Pulp. Canfor Corp. president and CEO Don Kayne will now serve as CEO for both companies.

Joe Nemeth assumed leadership of Canfor Pulp in May 2010.

“Joe has been an instrumental part in leading the company through successive profitable quarters and has put together a great team. His leadership and guidance will be missed,” stated Kayne.

for 25% of the cost of their benefits.

The company plans to employ 275 people at the mill.

Industry News continues on page 12.

September/October 2012 Pulp & Paper Canada

9

From Toronto to Tokyo,

there’s one word for innovation.

Across the globe, papermakers face tough challenges. They are looking for new ways to reduce energy consumption, increase fibre yield, and boost operational efficiency.

And they continue to turn to the company that, for more than a century, has led the industry with innovative products, process-knowledge, and a dedication to understanding papermaking needs. The company that consistently delivers the best solutions, in every language and market. That company is Kadant.

Discover how Kadant innovations in fibre processing, water management, doctoring, and drying are making a difference to papermakers around the globe. Discover Kadant.

w w w . k a d a n t . c o m

Š 2010 Kadant Inc. All rights reserved.

Increase thermocompressor efficiency up to 25% and reduce high-pressure steam consumption.

Conventional thermocompressors use high-pressure steam to compress and recirculate uncondensed steam in the dryer section. Kadant’s new high-efficiency thermocompressor has been shown to reduce motive steam consumption and increase overall thermocompressor efficiency by up to 25%. Using advanced computational fluid dynamics modeling, Kadant thermocompressors are designed to maximise steam utilisation.

New UniSet™ doctor blade holder delivers robust performance and simple replacement.

The next generation of doctor blade holders features light-weight composite and carbon-reinforced construction integrated with the UniTrak™ T-rail.

The UniSet™ blade holder offers easy removal, replacement, and upgrades to improve doctoring performance. All blade retention and pivoting components are formed and reinforced within the top-plate and tube tray and there are no items to loosen, twist, or fall into the machine.

ErGo™ filtration system removes contaminants while enhancing safety.

Kadant’s innovative ErGo™ filtration system is designed for protecting shower nozzles and process equipment from contaminants while increasing energy efficiency and contaminant removal. The automatic internal backwash barrel filter design features a safety cap allowing rapid filter media access and a “bottomless” barrel for easy cleaning and element removal.

Opinion

The World’s Greenest Forest Industry?

C

anada’s forest products industry has burnished its environmental credentials to the point that it has become the most progressive forest sector in the world.

That may seem like an audacious claim for an industry once known for belching toxins into the air and for campaigns by conservation groups. But there are impressive reasons why the likes

By Robert Larocque, Director, Environment, of Green Party leader Elizabeth Forest Products May have now embraced Canada’s Association of Canada forest sector.

For a start, Canada has the most third-party certified forests on the planet – 151 million hectares or more than 40% of all the world’s certified forests. Certification is an independent assessment that Canadian companies follow the highest standards of sustainable forest management.

In fact the member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) embrace these principles: harvest legally, regenerate promptly, reduce waste and recycle, reduce greenhouse gases and welcome independent scrutiny.

This commitment can be seen in the 650 million seedlings planted annually by Canadian companies and also in Canadian companies vowing to only buy and use wood coming from legal sources.

And there’s more: the Canadian forest products industry

Interest in bio-based auto parts revs up

has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 60% since 1990 while emissions grew in the Canadian economy at large. The pulp and paper sector now gets about two-thirds of its energy needs from forest biomass, and in some cases is now selling excess electricity to the grid. Additionally, the industry is working to maximize the use of every tree harvested and introducing technologies that will lead to the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and more.

The forest products industry in Canada has eliminated dioxins, reduced air pollution by 75% and decreased water used by 36% since 1990. Since that date, the industry has invested more than $9 billion in becoming more “green” and it intends to become carbon neutral without the purchase of carbon offset credits by 2015.

Another impressive achievement is the landmark Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. Environmental groups joined hands with forest products companies belonging to FPAC to jointly work to conserve the environment while also protecting jobs and communities. This historic deal has attracted worldwide attention for bringing former foes together in common cause.

All in all, very impressive achievements.

However, the industry is not resting on its laurels. Under Vision2020, FPAC has identified twelve parameters where the industry will attempt to further reduce its environmental footprint by 35%. These include improvements in greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, air contaminants and waste.

It’s been a remarkable story that adds up to world-leading environmental accomplishments. And the best and “greenest” is yet to come!

cost and lighter weight option.

In a second phase of this project, the knowledge gained from using wood fibre The Centre for Research and Innovation will be transferred to high-volume conin the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) is partnering sumer and industrial products. with a supplier of automotive parts and “The dual challenges our industry systems on a project to integrate wood faces to reduce the cost and weight of fibre into plastic and composite parts. auto parts can be addressed in part with Magna Exteriors and Interiors plans high performance wood fibre reinforced to develop high-volume process and plastics,” said William Harney, executive product technology that integrates wood director, research and development, for fibres and Canadian-sourced pulp into Magna Exteriors and Interiors. its automotive parts.

CRIBE is investing $1.3 million in this Currently, Magna moulds a number technology. The government of Alberta, of components and sub-systems using through Alberta Innovates-Bio Solutions, long glass-filled polypropylene (LGFPP) is also supporting this project. Magna for global automotive manufacturers. also plans to collaborate with AlberIn certain applications wood fibre can ta Bio-materials Development Centre substitute for glass fibre while still pro- (ABDC), Alberta Innovates-Technology viding the required mechanical and Futures and the National Research Counphysical properties and offering a lower cil (NRC) to develop the technology.

12

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

Ford Motor Company is also investigating the use of natural fibres, including wood fibre, in automotive parts.

“The market potential is huge,” says Ellen Lee, a technical expert in plastics research at Ford. A typical vehicle contains 300 lb. of plastic and composites. Natural fibres with high mechanical properties could replace talc and glass fibre as a reinforcing agent. Other fibres could serve as a filler, reducing the volume of petroleum-based resin.

Lee attended a meeting of FPAC’s Biopathways Partnership Network recently in Toronto, and noted: “This meeting has been helpful because it brought to our attention lignin and bio-based chemicals.

“If we can start from the chemical precursors, then we know how to work with them.” www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Inspired chemistry for inspired results.

If you see AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals (formerly Eka Chemicals) as a leading chemical supplier to the pulp and paper industry, you’re only seeing part of what we can offer your mill.

Our goal is to not only be the leading chemical supplier, but to establish close partnerships with our customers and deliver high performing, cost-effective and innovative solutions. We are also focused on helping customers reduce their use of energy, fiber, and water and we view this challenge as a very important sustainability goal. We believe the future of paper is bright.

Pulp Mill As the largest producer of sodium chlorate and one of the largest suppliers of hydrogen peroxide, we’ve been a leading global supplier of bleaching chemicals and technologies for over 30 years.

Paper, Board and Recycled Fibers • Our focus is on being the global leader in silica-based retention systems. We are the creators of the patented Compozil® System for retention and dewatering.

• We help over 500 paper machines meet or exceed their performance goals every day.

• Compozil FX is the most advanced retention and drainage system for the world’s most modern paper machines.

• Our exclusive Monitrol® on-line retention measurement system is an industry standard for process control.

• Save chemicals, energy, water and money with our full range of advanced chemical injection systems.

• Our novel EcoFill™ technology allows you to achieve a high level of filler and enhanced strength.

• Replace talc and fixatives with Eka TR and ATC materials and cost-effectively control deposits.

• We offer an extensive portfolio of surface treatments and coating additives including the industry leading Eka Flow rheology modifiers. the products need of internal agent.

It’s easy to •eliminates Our Eka RF includesizing all major types of deinking apply.

Andsuch it increases cleanliness, which in turn that systems as our machine novel neutral pH deinking system improves runnability and reduces environmental impact. allows you to reduce stickies and chemical costs.

Take a step up in quality together with an expert partner.

• Our experienced, highly-trained staff can support your technical and all process needs is backed

by Meet a global Inspiring paper over the worldand is our inspiration. us network of manufacturing sites to supply your mill wherever at eka.com. you are.

Clean, efficient and easy to work with.

Introducing a new inspiring surface sizing agent.

Bleaching Services - with extensive pulp mill experience our team of experts can sizing help you maximize process We know how crucial chemicals are your to great paperefficiency and any pleasure pulp quality issues:one of our latest making.

Sosolve it’s a real to present innovations – the amphoteric Eka SP series. This new

• brightness • brightness reversion • fluorescence range of Eka SP products will provide you superior surface • strength • dirt and pitch sizing in fine paper as well as in packaging grades.

Whatever grade- you produce, the benefits Chlorine Dioxidepaper Services we deliver value and offerare immediate: Eka SP cuts your costs as it reduces or even flexible service programs to meet all of your chlorine dioxide production and maintenance needs:

• optimization • maintenance • training • regulatory compliance Our team fully understands pulp mill operations and always has the knowledge to make optimization recommendations that benefit both your mill and your bottom line.

For truly inspired papermaking, let AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals guide you to the best solutions for your most challenging pulp and papermaking problems.

Find out more at www.akzonobel.com/eka.

www.eka.com www.akzonobel.com/eka

Conference Report

Nanotechnology for wood fibre An international gathering in Montreal examined all aspects of developing nanoproducts from wood, and building the market for these unique materials.

By Cindy Macdonald, editor

A

select group of scientists, academics and businessmen gatheried in Montreal in June, drawn together by their interest in very small materials -- nanomaterials. The week-long 2012 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials drew attendees from around the world to discuss their common interest in nanomaterials based on wood fibre. The conference, organized in collaboration with PAPTAC, covered everything from the characterization of nanomaterials to markets, applications, standards, and safety.

The event opened with a tour of CelluForce’s nanocrystalline cellulose demonstration plant. Jean Moreau, CelluForce’s president and CEO, also spoke at the conference about the company’s experience with innovation and product development.

Moreau emphasized that CelluForce must protect its intellectual property. “That’s what will make us a specialty product, not a commodity.”

Also on the subject of nanocrystalline cellulose, Jean Hamel, vice-president, pulp and paper, with FPInnovations, noted that NCC marks the beginning of looking at wood fibre in a new way. “Fibre is not the smallest unit anymore, when disassembling a tree,” he said.

In her presentation, Katja Bergroth of Poyry Management

Celebrating the progress of NCC: Jean Moreau, Celluforce; Richard Berry, Celluforce; Jean Hamel, FPInnovations.

14

Consulting, commented that developments in nanomaterials are starting to bear fruit, as large companies enter the arena.

She believes nanomaterials currently face several barriers to successful commercialization: • upscaling of technology and characterization of products; • economic feasibility; • consumer acceptance; • developing value chains; • health and safety.

Mapping the new frontier It was announced at the conference that TAPPI has formed an international nanotechnology division, under the chairmanship of Sean Ireland of International Paper.

Ireland noted that the nano division would work on: advancing R& D, education and networking, applications, standards, resources, raising awareness and promotion. One of the group’s tools is a video called “Rethink Trees”, available at http://www. tappinano.org. The next TAPPI nanotechnology conference will be in Stockholm, May 2013.

PAPTAC is also organizing a symposium on nanocrystalline cellulose in Victoria B.C. next June, as part of ISWFPC 2013.

The winners of the poster competition were: first, Madhu Kaushik, McGill University; second, Javier Cuervo, University of Alberta.

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

From left to right: Patrice Mangin, Lignocellulosic Materials Research Centre/UQTR and chairman of PAPTAC; Jim Bussiere, publisher of Pulp & Paper Canada; Ron Crotogino, ArboraNano; and Robert Moon, USDA Forest Service. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

00604_281008

Inspiring great effects.

Every time.

In Eka you’ll find a global partner with expertise close to your operations. In the form of Dan Pernsteiner in North America and Martin Chen in China, for example.

Intimately acquainted with papermaking, Dan and Martin spend most of their time working with mill operators. Both of them admit to the rush when solutions exceed expectations (including their own) – and that’s why they’re dedicated to Compozil.

As Dan says, Compozil is a blend of experience, know-how and business sense. (His High-Speed Video Audit can show all the details, if you like.)

Proof can be found at Gold East, where Martin has worked closely with the mill on the application of Compozil Fx. Today, Gold East’s huge, advanced machines are running even faster and even better.

Put simply, Compozil is how we make papermaking everywhere smoother.

Inspiring paper all over the world is our inspiration. Meet us at eka.com.

Eka Chemicals AB, SE-445 80 Bohus, Sweden. Tel: +46 31 58 70 00 Eka Chemicals Inc. Marietta, Georgia, USA. Tel: +1 800 241 3900 Eka Chemicals (Thailand) Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand. Tel: +66 2 712 72 93 www.eka.com

Cover story

T

o keep their energy costs in line and generate a new source of revenue, a growing number of Canadian pulp mills are using biomassbased cogeneration to produce excess electricity for the provincial power grid.

Many pulp mills were able to upgrade or install power generation equipment during the period from 20092012 with the assistance of the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.

Becoming a power exporter requires each mill to balance its production of electricity with the production of pulp. Sometimes it pays the mills to produce more of one and less of the other, depending on the state of the markets for each product.

Montreal-based Resolute Forest Products Inc., for example, has a network of 14 company-owned hydroelectric and cogeneration facilities with a total installed electricity production capacity of slightly more than 500 megawatts.

Alain Bourdages, Resolute’s director of energy development and procurement, says the company and its predecessor, AbitibiBowater Inc., have been producing cogen electricity since before 1990 and selling some of it to the grid.

“Each of our mills makes its own decision about who it sells to and when,” said Bourdages. “It all depends on the price they can get for the electricity.”

Resolute monitors the market price for electricity automatically, with specialized software, and also with a team of energy market buyers and sellers.

Recognizing the value of electricity sales, Resolute is adding electrical generating capacity at another of its pulp mills, after finalizing a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority. Resolute is installing a condensing turbine at its Thunder Bay mill that will enable it to sell green energy from biomass to the OPA. Bourdages says the project, worth approximately $50 million, should be completed within the next 12 months. The condensing turbine will use steam from a boiler to drive an electrical generator.

Pulp, paper and POWER

By Peter Caulfield

More pulp mills have become power exporters in recent years, with consequent benefits to the bottom line. But selling to the grid is a different market with its own challenges.

Photo courtesy Andritz.

16

PulP & PaPer Canada September/October 2012

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Cover Story

“The new high-efficiency turbine allows us to get more energy out of our fuel and use less in the transfer of energy from steam to electricity,” said Bourdages.

Resolute says the new turbine will make it more economically competitive and environmentally friendly. Once the turbine is installed, the Thunder Bay mill will have an electrical capacity of almost 100 megawatts.

a contributing factor. The company is investing $20-million to restart the mill at Dolbeau-Mistassini, Que., producing soft nip calendered (SNC and SCB) commercial printing paper.

Resolute says the decision to re-open follows the conclusion of a deal to sell biomass-based electricity produced at the company’s Mistassini cogeneration facility to Hydro-Québec.

electricity revenue changes the game

Like most other kraft producers, Canfor Pulp Holding Inc. uses cogeneration to produce heat and electricity. Brett Robinson, Canfor Pulp’s executive vice-president of operations (and president as of September 30, 2012), says the

Big players in bioenergy

Resolute is one of approximately 20 pulp mills in Canada that either produce electricity from cogeneration now or are developing the capacity to do so. Most are located in British ColumThe new high-efficiency turbine allows us to get bia. BC Hydro says there are 12 pulp mills (and one more energy out of our fuel and use less in the sawmill) in the province transfer of energy from steam to electricity. with at least some self-generation capacity. Of the 12 – Alain Bourdages, Resolute Forest Products mills, seven have Energy Purchase Agreements with BC Hydro. company produces approximately 105 megaIn 2013, Nanaimo Forest Products will watts of electricity, which represents more than be added to the list. BC Hydro has signed a 80% of its total internal requirements.

15-year electricity purchase agreement with “The Prince George mill is completely electhe company to purchase clean energy from a trically self-sufficient and sells excess electricity new 25-megawatt turbo-generation unit that is to the BC Hydro grid and to our other facilibeing built at the Harmac Pacific pulp mill on ties,” Robinson said. “Export sales to BC Hydro Vancouver Island. started in 2009.”

The new turbo-generation unit will produce Robinson says Canfor currently exports electricity from wood biomass and from recap- about 10% of its total generation to the grid, tured steam from the pulping process that will all of it from the Prince George mill. help power the generator.

“We have been told that we are one of the According to Nanaimo Forest Products, largest bioenergy producers in one location, in revenues from power generation will improve North America,” he said. the company’s business model by adding a Robinson says electricity sales to BC Hydro fixed revenue stream that is separate from the contribute 1-5% of Canfor Pulp’s revenues, volatile pulp market. depending on the pulp cycle, although the Just as the cost of purchased electricity can company hopes to increase the figure to 15% have a significant effect on the bottom line, so over an average pulp cycle. too can electricity sales.

“As far as how we decide how much to sell Peter Vinall, president and CEO of Fortress to the grid, our first priority is to ensure we Specialty Cellulose, noted last year that a bio- generate the historical amount the mills require energy deal with Hydro Quebec would net a to make pulp and paper,” Robinson said. $100-per-tonne benefit for the dissolving pulp “That’s what we call our generation base line. produced at Thurso, Que. The mill buys elec- Excess power to this historical generation level tricity at the usual industrial rates, and sells the can then be sold into the grid. Power generaenergy it produces to the grid at higher, green tion, electrical consumption and power exports energy rates. are all managed with advanced technology that More recently, Resolute Forest Products enables our operators to monitor and control restarted a mill that had been closed for three every detail of the process, 24 hours a day, years, citing an energy purchase agreement as seven days a week.” www.pulpandpapercanada.com

September/October 2012 PulP & PaPer Canada

17

Cover story

Balancing costs vs. revenue

Today, pulp, paper and power are a complimentary group of businesses, but green power itself is certainly not at a level that it could support a standalone green field operation.

In the future, how much green electricity is produced by Canadian pulp mills and how it is used will depend on a number of factors, one of which is cost.

Paul Lansbergen, lead director regulatory affairs and association secretary of the Forest Products Association of Canada, says the cap – Brett Robinson, Canfor Pulp ital cost of a new boiler is $50-$60 million; a new turbine costs $30-$50 million.

“Energy costs have been increasing at an alarming rate and industry’s ability and willingness to take advantage of techwe believe long term this trend will continue,” said Canfor’s nological innovation. FPAC’s Lansbergen says there are new Robinson. “Incremental power generation certainly adds to our types of energy conversion, such as biomass gasification and costs with incremental fuel, energy and resource requirements, pyrolysis, that have the potential to replace the boiler in the but with green energy revenues from power exports, we are cogeneration process. currently able to offset the incremental costs while supporting Canfor’s Robinson notes that a 50-megawatt gas-fired the capital investment. turbine would make a mill self-sufficient in power, with the “The risk here is that biomass has come under a great deal exhaust steam used for heat. of pressure and costs are rising. Long term green energy con“Today’s combined cycle gas-fired turbine technology is tracts sound good, but companies which venture into this field far more efficient than single-cycle gas turbines,” he said. “It need to be very thoughtful around future biomass supply and produces triple the amount of energy that single-cycle turbines costs as a result of competing businesses like the pellet indus- operating today produce. Plus we have lots of natural gas and try that is trying to grow in parallel.” it’s low in price now. Natural gas is already used as a heat (The Canadian wood pellet industry produced 1.3 million source in most mills. Why not try to generate some power first, tonnes of pellets in 2010, operating at only 65% of capacity.) and then use the waste heat to offset existing gas consumers?”

“Today, pulp, paper and power are a complimentary group Alberta Newsprint, in fact, has recently announced it will of businesses,” Robinson continues, “but green power itself is build a natural-gas fired power plant at its mill in Whitecourt, certainly not at a level that it could support a standalone green Alta. The company will use the electricity for internal use and field operation.” sell excess to the Alberta grid.

Wenli Duo, principal scientist of thermochemical processes Robinson says he is advocating for fair market pricing. at FPInnovations in Vancouver, says there are alternative fuels “Jurisdictions across Canada and around the world recogthat can be used in pulp and paper mill steam boilers. nize the higher value of green power,” he said. “Corporations “At present, steam boilers in kraft mills use hog fuel and marketing their products as green and sustainable are willing black liquor and mechanical mills use hog fuel,” said Duo, who to pay the higher cost of green energy.” is an expert on boilers used in pulp and paper mills. “Other fuels may be co-fired with hog fuel to increase efficiency and/ alternative technology for alternative energy The supply of cogen electricity also depends on the pulp or to reduce emissions.”

Examples of alternative fuels which help to burn biomass of high moisture content are tire-derived fuel, which is composed Cogeneration explained of shredded tires, and coal.

“Adding low sulphur coal by up to 10% to chlorine-conCogeneration is the process in which a taining biomass can substantially reduce dioxin emissions,” boiler and a turbine generator together said Duo. produce electricity and heat. In its Other fuels that can be burned with biomass include shingle waste, agricultural residues and used railroad sleepers (ties). simplest terms, cogeneration works like Duo says not all hog fuel boilers in use at pulp and paper this: Biomass is burned in a boiler to heat mills today are suitable for co-firing these alternative fuels. water, the water is turned into steam, the “However, boiler technology is evolving and more advanced steam spins a turbine, and the turbine boilers, such as fluidized bed boilers, can burn mixed solid fuels,” he said. drives an electrical generator. after it A switch to alternative fuels or gas-fired turbines could be passes through the turbine, the steam is step two in the industry’s evolution as a green power producer. condensed in a condenser and is recycled For now, most mills are newcomers to electricity sales and to where it was heated originally. working out how to balance the demands and rewards of two distinct products, two markets, and two revenue streams.

18

PulP & PaPer Canada September/October 2012

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

The Annual Conference of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Industry

FEBRUARY 4 to 8

PAPER WEEK

2013

CANADA

Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel

Greg Hay, Executive Director PAPTAC

My Industry. My Commitment. Our Future.

The annual Conference of the Canadian Pulp and Paper industry, PaperWeek Canada, will be held in Montreal from February 4-8, 2013. As always, the conference will feature a wide spectrum of including moderated roundtables, technical & business It's about all f us events who are involved in this industry everyday. meetings, sessions on emerging technologies and business trends, It's about te next geration who will join an industry in constant evolution. as have well asseen the PaperWeek tradeshow, industry awards, keynote It's about thos who and lived its challenges and successes and speakers, a national job fair, numerous networking receptions, and who want to see it strive. the renowned PaperWeek Luncheons.

John D. Williams

President and Chief Executive Officer DOMTAR CORPORATION

Greg Hay Executive Director Paptac Keynote Speakers

It's about the great pride we take in being part of this industry.

Join us at PaperWeek Canada 2013, and come It's about connecting, learning and growing together. see how far we've come... be sure to visit our site for updates at www.paperweekcanada.ca James Lopez

President and Chief Executive Officer TEMBEC

Visit www.paperweekcanada.ca

Program Committee

BUILDING FOR THE NEW P&P COMMUNITY

Program Chairman Martin Lorrion VP Manufacturing at Domtar

Co-Chair Business Program Yvon Pelletier Executive VP at Tembec

Co-Chair Technical Program Roger Gaudreault Corporate Director Science & Innovation at Cascades

Marie Dumontier Consultant Adviser

Hosted by:

Reliable

Partners

Reliable performance for steam turbines and compressors Sulzer Turbo Services is the world’s leading service company for rotating equipment. With our expert capabilities we overhaul steam turbines and compressors in our shops or in the field. We work with you to provide the optimal solution to extend the life cycle of your equipment.

We also offer a wide range of services for electro-mechanical equipment to improve the performance of your plant.

www.sulzer.com

Flexible

Sulzer Turbo Services Canada Ltd 5218 – 68th Avenue NW Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X7 Canada Tel: +1 780 577 9200 Fax: +1 780 577 9201 sulzertscanada@sulzer.com www.sulzer.com

Operations SPONSORED TECHNICAL PAPER

A new perspective on steam energy in the dryer section By mike soucy, Kadant canada corp.

Traditional measures provide limited insight into the energy efficiency of the dryer section. New energy-focused dryer performance indicators (DPI) based on waste energy flows allow for assessment of dryer section efficiency and identification of areas for improvement.

P

aper machine dryer sections consume large amounts of steam energy.

And while significant time and effort is devoted to measuring and evaluating dryer section efficiency, traditional measures provide limited insight into the energy efficiency of the dryer section.

In fact, one of the most commonly cited drying performance indicators, pounds of steam used per pound of water evaporated, unfairly penalizes dryer sections using high-pressure steam, rewards dryer sections using low-pressure steam, and ignores the energy consuming aspects of condensate handling altogether.

Drying paper with steam-heated dryers is a fundamentally efficient process.

The steam does not give up its heat unless it is transferring it to the drying cylinder and the drying cylinder does not accept the heat unless it is able to transfer the heat to the paper. Rather than focusing on the steam that is condensed, improvement opportunities can be better identified by looking at the steam that is not condensed and the ways in which the condensate is handled.

Improvement opportunities on inefficient dryer sections usually amount to less than 15% of the total amount of energy used in the drying process. The commonly used drying performance indicator (steam-water ratio) can vary by more than 15% due to the relationship between steam pressure and steam latent heat and due to the difficulty in accurately quantifying the evaporation load. As a 22

result, the steam-water ratio has limited value. Another limitation of the steamwater ratio is that it reveals nothing about how energy is being wasted.

An alternative method for assessing dryer section energy efficiency which addresses these limitations looks specifically at the waste energy flows and their relationship to total dryer section energy consumption. This article describes new energy-focused Dryer Performance Indicators (DPI) based on waste energy flows.

These indicators allow for assessment of the efficiency of the dryer section and identification of areas within the dryer section where potential improvements can be found.

energy-focused dryer performance indicators For even the most inefficient dryer sections, a high percentage of the consumed steam energy goes into heating the wet sheet and evaporating water. Waste energy flows are generally small compared to the total amount of energy that is used specifically for drying paper.

1. Losses to condenser or atmosphere When assessing dryer system performance, steam loss to a condenser is treated the same as steam loss to atmosphere – both are considered waste energy flows.

This is appropriate even in cases where warm water from the condenser is reused in the process. If the steam system continually makes warm water, there is no

PulP & PaPer Canada September/October 2012

incentive to minimize water usage or to find other less energy-intensive sources, such as from the pulp mill or heat recovery systems. It is important to note that losses to a condenser or to atmosphere include loss of blowthrough steam from the steam system. Flash steam losses resulting from the discharge of high-temperature condensate to a lower pressure vessel are assessed separately.

With proper equipment and good management of the steam system, all machines should be able to achieve a value of 2.5% or less of total steam energy consumption. On some paper machines, it is not possible to eliminate all steam flows to a condenser. For example, paper machines that make lightweight paper grades often operate wet end dryers at low pressures to avoid picking, cockle, and other quality problems.

There are, however, many other applications in which there are practical solutions to reduce or eliminate the energy losses to the condenser or atmosphere.

These include: • Converting from rotary to stationary type syphons, to reduce the amount of blowthrough steam.

• Minimize the number of dryers draining directly to the condenser.

• Replacing poor-performing thermocompressors with high-efficiency units.

• Improving management of set points on cascade steam systems to maintain a proper cascade.

• Upgrading rotary steam joints to www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Operations SPONSORED TECHNICAL PAPER modern designs that are less prone to steam leaks.

• Upgrading old piping that has thinwalled areas and is prone to leaking.

2. Energy use for heating dryer section supply air This indicator is useful to assess whether total energy use for the purpose of heating dryer section supply air is at an appropriate level. For many machines, air heating has significant improvement potential.

The minimum amount of energy required to heat the supply air and avoid condensation and dripping depends on the insulation value of the hood, the type of false ceiling, the air supply distribution, and the dryer section evaporation load.

Since evaporation load is a factor and this load varies considerably from one machine to another, the amount of energy used for heating the supply air can be minimized by measuring the evaporation load and controlling the air system accordingly. Few machines in North America actively manage the machine ventilation system. Consequently, there are significant opportunities available for energy conservation.

The most efficient dryer sections employ heat recovery systems that preheat the dryer section supply air using hot, humid exhaust air. Heat recovery systems can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating dryer section supply air to far below (i.e., better than) the “good performance” target of 12% of total dryer section energy consumption.

3. Flash steam losses This indicator applies to flash steam that is generated by hot condensate discharging into a low-pressure receiver that is vented to atmosphere or to a condenser.

Flash steam should not be confused with blowthrough steam – the uncondensed steam exiting a dryer with the condensate. Flash steam loss is evaluated separately because eliminating it requires a different set of solutions than minimizing blowthrough steam or eliminating other steam losses.

A thorough assessment of dryer section energy efficiency requires an investigation of how condensate is handled both at the www.pulpandpapercanada.com

paper machine and at the powerhouse.

The most efficient steam system handles condensate such that no flash steam is vented to atmosphere at any point in the process, except that needed for proper deaerator operation. Using flash steam to generate warm process water should also be avoided. Though this practice is not as wasteful as venting to atmosphere, it should still be viewed as an energy loss.

4. Energy losses from dryers to surrounding air The energy loss from a dryer section to surrounding air is difficult to quantify.

However, it is important to characterize this indicator because it is a significant part of the total energy system. With all paper machines, dryers lose heat to surrounding air through convection and radiation. The sheet and dryer fabrics also lose heat through convection and radiation. The heat losses from the dryers, sheet, and dryer fabric impact dryer section steam consumption. Even though these energy losses ultimately increase dryer condensing rates, they cannot easily be distinguished from “drying energy” on operating paper machines.

The “good performance” level for energy losses from dryers to surrounding air is 10%. This is the expected loss for a dryer section with an enclosed hood operating with proper exhaust flow and a normal level of make-up air flow and temperature.

Open hoods require more exhaust and normally operate with much lower exhaust humidity. The higher level of exhaust flow and the hood construction lower the ambient air temperature around the dryers and the sheet resulting in increased heat loss from the drying process. While a closed hood is expected to operate with total heat loss of approximately 10% of the total dryer section energy consumption, an open type hood typically operates with a loss of approximately 13%.

5. Assessing high pressure motive steam use Thermocompressor steam systems use high-pressure motive steam for recompressing blowthrough steam. High-pres-

sure motive steam can be more valuable than low-pressure steam because of its power generating capability. In mills that have power generating turbines that are not running at their maximum output, it is important the steam system does not use excessive amounts of motive steam, but rather use that motive steam to generate power.

When assessing whether motive steam consumption is excessive for a given machine, consideration must be given to both. Methods to reduce motive steam consumption include: • Replace inefficient thermocompressors with units capable of higher entrainment ratios.

• Convert from rotary to stationary syphons to reduce the amount of blowthrough that must be recompressed.

• Ensure the syphons are correctly sized for the current operating conditions.

Many machines have oversized rotary syphons resulting in excess blowthrough that may require additional motive steam.

• Improve accuracy of differential pressure transmitters so that differentials can be minimized.

• Actively manage differential setpoints as a function of machine operating conditions.

Conclusions The first step to improving dryer section energy efficiency is to evaluate it. The dryer performance indicators outlined in this paper focus these efforts on identifying and quantifying the losses, with a reasonable level of accuracy. These indicators reveal where improvement potential lies. The deliberate focus on these five energy-specific indicators provides greater insight into dryer section performance and areas for improvement. When applied properly, this method will yield greater results for optimizing dryer section performance and energy utilization while supporting capital investment decisions that drive real value into papermaking operations.

Mike Soucy, P.Eng, is president of Kadant Canada Corp.

September/October 2012 PulP & PaPer Canada

23

Safety

Prevention and mitigation of dust

explosions The characteristics of the dust generated in pulp and paper mills produce a lower risk of explosion than some other industries, but actually increase the risk of fire due to higher surface area and porosity that allows air to easily mix with the dust.

24

and pulp dryers and cutting machines, and dust that escapes from equip4% 7% ment where the pulp is Food 8% processed, tend to be Wood 23% non-uniform in size and Metal 14% are strand-like in shape.

Plastic These particles, when Coal mixed with the smaller Inorganic spherical shaped particles, 20% 24% result in the formation of Other agglomerations when settling out. The agglomerations, when disturbed by air movement including Fig. 1: Chemical Safety Board reported incidents, 1980-2005. blow-down with compressed air, tend to result in suspen- in. for pulp and paper dusts compares to sions that are isolated in nature, of small accumulations of 1/32 – 1/8 in. for most volume and not dense enough to create other combustible dusts. a cloud that will propagate flame, in the Another way of looking at this is that presence of a credible ignition source. more paper and pulp dust particles must The relatively low bulk density of be present in a cloud of dust in a given pulp and paper dusts (typically less volume of air to reach the Minimum than 160 kg/m3 or 10 lb/ft3) also offers Explosible Concentration (MEC) when a benefit in terms of explosion risk. A compared to more dense dusts having relatively thick accumulation of paper or the same MEC value. pulp dust must be present to present a Finally, paper and pulp dust is dust explosion risk in a room or building extremely hygroscopic and wetting of when compared to other combustible the particles above 5% can offer a benefit dusts such as coal, agricultural and food in terms of increasing the sensitivity of dust, metal dust and even wood2. For the dust cloud to ignition and lowering example, an accumulation of up to 1/3 the severity of the resulting explosion.

PulP & PaPer Canada September/October 2012

Photo by Sharon Boutwell

T

he pulp and paper industry has experienced few reported explosions in the last 25 years when compared to other industrial plants that handle, process or otherwise generate combustible dusts. The Chemical Safety Board reported in its 2006 Combustible Dust Hazard study that, in a 25-year period in the United States, from 1980 to 2005, there were a total of 281 explosion incidents, 24% of which were attributed to wood and paper dust (Fig. 1)1. These explosions resulted in 11 fatalities and 88 injuries and occurred in dust collectors, particle size reduction equipment, silos, storage bins and inside of plant buildings where housekeeping issues existed. Out of the 66 incidents two were associated with paper dust; pulp dust was never mentioned in the database details.

The following may be some reasons why pulp and paper plants experience a lower frequency of dust explosions when compared to some other industries. Generally speaking, manufacturing facilities that produce pulp and paper products generate particles that do not lend themselves to the production of fine uniformly distributed dust clouds, when placed into suspension. In many cases the particles produced from paper

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Photo: Thinkstock

BY STEVEN J. LUZIK, CHILWORTH TECHNOLOGY INC.

Safety risk of fire is significant

burning materials, self-heating, Oxidant The above factors are considelectrostatic discharges, and ered to be important reasons electrical sparks. why the frequency of reported explosions in the paper and pulp The basis of safety for dust Mixing Confinement industries seems to be somewhat cloud explosion hazards lower than other industries. The Any measures put into place to operator should not however, remove one or more elements be lulled into a false sense of of the fire triangle would be security that their plant is not considered to be a “Basis of Safeat risk for explosion based on ty.” Typically, control of fuel or the favorable properties of pulp removal of oxygen, if possible, is Fuel Ignition Source and paper dust just described. the preferred basis of safety. In Prudent administrative and engisome cases reliance on control neering controls must be put Fig. 2: The explosion pentagon of ignition sources may be the into place and followed if the only practical measure for ensurplant is to be operated at an acceptsion or mixing of the combustible dust in ing safety. It should be noted however, able level of risk. air, in small enough particle sizes, above that there are situations where, although The risk of dust fire in these plants is the lower explosive limit, and (5) confine- the operator may completely identify all also significant. The relatively low bulk ment. These two additional requirements sources of ignition that may be present density of the dust and agglomerations combine with the fire triangle to form the in the plant, control of these sources that are produced, in conjunction with “Explosion Pentagon” (Fig. 2). may not always be possible or practical. dust generation, actually increase the risk Generally speaking, dust particles Hence, under such conditions control of of fire due to increased surface area and must be of small diameter, usually below ignition sources is used as a secondary porosity that allows air to easily mix with 0.45-0.5 mm (450 to 500 microns); how- basis of safety, in conjunction with other the dust. ever, in the real world, dust particles are measures such as control of fuel, oxidant, Some pulp and paper plants have not often spherical in nature and can be or explosion protection. a green wood section where trees are needle shaped or flake like. (See the 2012 Both NFPA 654 and 664 standards received, debarked and chipped in prepa- edition of the NFPA 6643 standard for require that the design of the fire and ration for digestion. These areas may the Prevention of Fires and Explosions explosion safety provisions be based on generate dry wood dust that easily forms in Wood Processing and Woodworking a process hazard analysis (PHA) of the dense combustible clouds, when sus- Facilities for a definition of deflagrable facility, processes and associated fire or pended, and can lead to fire and explo- (having the ability or readiness to burst explosion hazards. This analysis consions if proper controls are not in place. into flame) wood dust.)3 Laboratory test- siders explosibility characteristics of the The incident history reveals that many ing is always advised to determine if a dust, conditions that can produce the dust cloud, identification of potential fires and explosions have occurred where specific dust is combustible.

The term used to identify the mini- ignition sources and the likelihood of the wood dust is handled. There is a significant risk of fire and explosion, where mum density of a dust cloud necessary event. Alternately there are prescriptive wood dust is involved, if the hazards are to cause combustion is called Minimum requirements in the standards but these Explosible Concentration (MEC) and is requirements do not consider the risk not managed effectively. usually reported in units of grams per (likelihood x severity) of the event. Expert Conditions required for dust cubic meter (in air) or ounces per cubic help is generally required to assess the foot. Typical wood dusts will exhibit hazards and to provide recommendations explosions to occur Three elements are required for a fire: (1) MECs between 40 and 120 g/m3 or 0.04 on the management of the risk. a fuel; (2) an oxidant, typically the oxy- – 0.120 oz/ft3. The oxidizer is the 21% gen in air; and (3) a sufficiently energetic oxygen that is present in the air. In wood, Management of dust explosion ignition source. These three elements paper and pulp manufacturing facilities hazards in your facility are commonly referred to as the “fire tri- there is always enough oxygen to support A systematic approach to identifying dust angle”. If any one of these three elements combustion, unless the process is inerted. cloud explosion hazards and taking meacan be removed, fire cannot be initiated.

Credible ignition sources that have sures to ensure safety in any facility The first two of these elements – the fuel been found to be the cause of the involves: and oxidant – when in an appropriate majority of explosions in dust han- • Determining the dust cloud’s igniratio, are referred to as the flammable dling/processing plants include welding tion sensitivity and explosion severatmosphere. and cutting, heating from dryers, sparks ity characteristics through appropriate For an explosion involving a com- generated by mechanical equipment faillaboratory tests on representative dust bustible dust to occur, two additional ure, sparks generated by mechanical samples; requirements are necessary: (4) suspen- impacts, hot surfaces, open flames and • Identifying areas of the facility where www.pulpandpapercanada.com

September/October 2012 PulP & PaPer Canada

25

Safety combustible dust cloud atmospheres could exist under normal and/or abnormal conditions; • Identifying potential ignition sources that could exist under normal and/or abnormal conditions; • Preventing the formation of explosible dust clouds in the plant and reducing the extent and duration of any clouds that may be formed;

• Taking measures to eliminate/control ignition sources; and • Taking measures to protect against the consequences of dust cloud explosions.

With regard to control of dust and dust generation, a three-pronged approach to management of the dust explosion risk is suggested. This approach includes: • Reducing or eliminating dust generation; • Limiting or restricting dust migration;

FEASIBILITY STUDIES THROUGH TO DETAILED DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES • Process Design • Mechanical/Piping • Building & Structures • Equipment Specifications

DESIGN SPECIALTIES • Steam & Steam Power • Wood & Bark Handling • Power Distribution & Control Systems • Co-generation Systems

• Removing/cleaning dust accumulations.

In addition, engineering controls should be installed on equipment that is particularly at risk for dust explosion including dust collectors, mills, storage bins and silos.

Conclusion Examination of the dust explosion history in pulp and paper manufacturing facilities in the U.S. indicates that the frequency of explosions in this sector is less than other industries where combustible dusts are processed, handled or otherwise generated. The reason for this statistic may be, in part, due to the low bulk density of pulp and paper dust and the agglomerative nature of the dust that is generated. These characteristics offer some benefit with regard to controls to manage the risk. The risk should not be downplayed however, and an understanding of the factors that determine if a dust explosion hazard exists is essential. A systematic approach to identifying dust cloud explosion hazards and taking measures to ensure safety is required if the combustible dust explosion risk is to be effectively managed.

References 1. The Chemical Safety Board, Investigation Report - Combustible Dust Hazard Study, Washington, D.C., November 2006.

2. The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 654 “Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids”, (2013), Section 6.1.6 - Layer depth criterion to assess the dust explosion hazard based on bulk density. Quincy, MA. 02169-7471.

3. The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 664 “Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Wood Working facilities” (2012), Quincy, MA. 02169-7471.

Vancouver 604 736-5421 Thunder Bay 807 625-6700 Montreal 514 340-0046

www.genivar.com 26

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

Steven J. Luzik, PE, CFEI, is a senior process safety specialist at Chilworth Technology, Inc. with more than 30 yearsí experience in the area of fire and explosion hazards. He can be contacted at 609-799-4449 or safety-usa@ chilworthglobal.com. For more information about Chilworth, visit www.chilworth.com. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Technology News A new concept in paper machine deposit control Kemira is introducing KemFlite™, a new concept to reduce paper and board machine problems that are caused by deposits due to the agglomeration of hydrophobic particles. These particles typically originate from wood pitch, stickies or binders in coated broke and have previously been difficult to detect and control. Under certain conditions the particles agglomerate to a larger size and eventually deposit on paper machine wetend surfaces, wires, felts and dryer cans.

“KemFlite is a concept that pools together a range of Kemira products and our process know-how in a consolidated package, directly addressing the problems customers have with deposit control on paper machines,” explains Chris Lewis, regional applications manager, paper.

KemFlite is designed to manage the hydrophobic substances, particularly their size, before they form deposits. The concept combines Kemira’s papermaking process know-how, with its broad deposit control product portfolio and powerful analysis and monitoring tools.

These tools include Kemira Flyto™, a unique laboratory analysis to measure the particle size, quantity and hydrophobicity in samples taken from key points in the process, and Kemira AutoFlite™, a new on-line device that continuously provides similar information.

Following a complete mill survey by Kemira’s application experts, a tailormade deposit control program can be implemented to manage the hydrophobic substances found in the mill process waters and eliminate machine deposition.

The KemFlite concept has been proven in numerous mill cases where it has improved machine runnability and reduced defects like holes, spots, specks and hickeys in the final paper or board product.

The result for papermakers is smoother

operation, decreased downtime, better cost efficiency, reduced chemical consumption and improved finished paper and board quality.

Kemira, www.kemira.com/kemflite

Noss to supply thick stock screening system Noss will supply a Radiscreen-C coarse screen for the JE2 pulp machine at the Fibria Jacarei mill in Brazil. Start up is scheduled for October 2012.

The Radiscreen-C is an energy-efficient protection system for a great variety of applications in the pulp and paper industry, covering a wide range of flows and consistencies with only one unit.

Due to its innovative design, the Radiscreen ensures high operational reliability at very low maintenance costs and energy consumption.

Noss AB, www.noss.se

Low-load gaskets have superior creep resistance Garlock Sealing Technologies has expanded its line of low-load gaskets for sealing metallic and non-metallic piping systems to include the 3504 Gylon® Stress Saver® gasket for industrial applications such as chemical processing, semiconductor production, and pulp and paper.

The new gaskets are designed to seal lightweight metallic, plastic and fiberglass flanges that cannot provide the proper loads required to compress conventional fiber or PTFE gaskets. The molded, raised, concentric ribs allow for a more concentrated gasket load, creating a tighter seal with less torque on both flat and raised face flanges.

The gasket material – 100% Gylon® PTFE with glass microspheres – provides superior cold-flow and creep resistance, eliminating the need for frequent retorquing. In ongoing laboratory testing

Actuators provide faster grade changes Automation technology provider ABB recently launched Weight xP extended profiling actuators with high-speed positioning. This leading-edge technology reduces variability, minimizes sheet breaks and improves product quality. The actuators provide faster grade changes and faster recovery from process upsets, keeping mill productivity levels high.

The Weight xP technology eliminates dependence on a physical position sensor, so the actuators can shift into new positions in one swift, continuous movement. This reduces control action time and increases precision. The patented and patent-pending technology also helps mills

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

under controlled conditions, a 3504 Gylon Stress Saver gasket installed in fiberglass flanges has logged more than 3,000 thermal cycles without leaking or needing to be retorqued.

Garlock Sealing Technologies 800-448-6688, www.garlock.com

Advanced controls will increase chemical efficiency at pulp mill Metso has won an order from Burgo Ardennes for the supply of a bleaching line optimization solution for its mill in Virton, Belgium (shown above).

In the process of replacing its aging Kappa analyzer, Burgo Ardennes, which is an integrated plant producing hardwood kraft pulp and woodfree coated paper, made the decision to invest in a global optimization solution for its bleaching line.

This new solution focuses on establishing the stability of the pulping process, which leads to the optimization of bleach production, a decrease in chemical consumption and a diminished impact on the environment.

Metso’s delivery will include a Metso Bleaching Optimizer which includes necessary sensors and analyzers, such as the Metso Kappa Analyzer for kappa and brightness measurements. New samplers will be added as well as new in-line sensors

meet even the most exacting product specifications.

“Papermakers can achieve the lowest possible cross-direction variability, improve product quality and reduce their costs with the new Weight xP actuators,” says Steven St. Jarre, head of sales and marketing for ABB Quality Control Systems.

A patented power management scheme allows the actuators to move simultaneously at all times, including flush cycles, global setpoint changes or the failure of one power supply, ensuring reliability even in extreme conditions.

ABB, www.abb.com

September/October 2012 Pulp & Paper Canada

27

Technology News for continuous brightness measurements and Metso’s filtrate sampler for pH measurements.

This solution was to be installed in the bleaching fiber line during the summer and autumn of 2012.

Metso Automation 514-908-7045, www.metso.com

Andritz to supply biomass boiler island to Karlstads Energi

Chucks improve quality, reduce maintenance for Vacumet Paper Vacumet Paper of Franklin, Mass., has improved its roll quality and reduced maintenance costs with the use of Goldenrod pneumatic mechanical chucks.

The company recently began using a pair of Goldenrod 1420-LF chucks on some of the largest, heaviest paper rolls the company treats – 12 in. diameter cores, supporting eight-foot wide, sixfoot diameter, seven-ton rolls of paper.

Almost immediately, the company saw an improvement in roll quality and, after three months of constant use, has seen little to no wear on the Goldenrod chucks.

Vacumet’s plant in Franklin specializes in coating, metallizing, and slitting large rolls of paper that are then shipped off to converters.

“Vacumet is a company that is very much a ‘let’s improve’ environment,” said Steve Lynch, mechanical design engineer at Vacumet. “When our traditional chucks weren’t performing as well as we’d hoped, we decided to change.”

The traditional steel chucks being used at Vacumet have ‘keys’ that lock the chucks onto the steel core. This design can cause grinding between the chuck and the core, leading to the need for shutdown and maintenance. “In our experience, the traditional chucks need to be sent out for maintenance every 4-5 months, which requires labor and downtime. While we have avoided downtime by planning around the regular maintenance, this is still an issue and a significant cost,” said Lynch.

How significant? Vacumet calculated the costs as follows: Cost of maintenance in the potential machine locations where the Goldenrod

28

chucks can be used: -24 chuck repairs/year x $750= $18,000 -300 keys/year x $60=$18,000 -800 key bolts/year=$300 -20 core repairs/year x $300=$6,000 Conservative total=$42,300 The maintenance savings is only the beginning, said Lynch. “The wear on the chucks affects roll quality,” he said.

Traditional chucks can ‘bounce’ once they start to wear, causing ‘cinching’ (roll slipping between layers) and ‘telescoping’ (outer layers of roll sliding in or out while winding), problems that can lead to poor quality, unacceptable rolls. The bouncing also causes problems with the in-line web splicing at full speed.

“This is where really serious cost and quality issues can occur,” he noted.

In the three months since Vacumet installed its first set of Goldenrod pneumatic mechanical chucks, the company has already seen significant quality and maintenance improvements.

So far, Vacumet has seen zero maintenance issues with the Goldenrod chucks, and the company has also seen their roll quality improve. “When you’re coating and metallizing seven-ton rolls, the machines need to be within tolerance,” said Lynch. “Precision rewind of these rolls is a huge advantage with the Goldenrod chucks – they have already paid for themselves.”

Because of the improved performance provided by the Goldenrod chucks, Vacumet already has another set on order. The company plans to further incorporate these chucks into the slitting portion of its operations.

Goldenrod 203-723-4400, www.goldenrodcorp.com

Pulp & Paper Canada September/October 2012

Andritz has received an order from the municipal energy company Karlstads Energi AB, Sweden, for the supply of a new biomass-fueled boiler for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Hedenverket.

Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2014.

The scope of delivery includes the complete boiler island (fuel bin to flue gas fan outlet), based on Andritz’s well-proven bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) design, which combines high efficiency with excellent environmental performance. The boiler will burn wood-based fuels (logging waste, sawmill chips, and bark) which are widely available in the region to generate steam at the rate of 127 t/h, equal to 88 MW of thermal power.

“The completion of this plant will enable us to secure a long-term electricity and district heating supply with sustainable and renewable fuels, using highly efficient and environmentally friendly technology,” says Mats Preger, CEO of Karlstads Energi.

Andritz, www.andritz.com

Board machine rebuild will boost production Metso will rebuild the white top kraftliner machine at the Piteå mill of SCA Packaging Munksund AB in Sweden.

The main target of the rebuild is to increase the production of value-added white top kraftliner products. As a result of the rebuild, SCA Packaging Munksund will be able to increase its total annual white top kraftliner production from the current level of 110,000 tonnes to 165,000 tonnes and the total kraftliner production from 360,000 tonnes to 415,000 tonnes.

“The investment in the rebuild facilitates increased production of white top kraftliner, a strong specialty paper for the corrugated board industry which is experiencing a high growth rate,” said Jan Johansson, president and CEO of SCA, in a press release after the investment decision.

Metso’s delivery will comprise a rebuild of the approach flow system, headbox, forming, press and dryer sections as well as the board machine ventilation system.

Metso, www.metso.com www.pulpandpapercanada.com

Professional Connections

Equipment

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

BOILERS SELL • RENT • LEASE

24 / 7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

CALL: 800-704-2002 10HP TO 250,000#/hr

250,000#/hr Nebraska 750 psig 750 TTF 150,000#/hr Nebraska 1025 psig 900OTTF 150,000#/hr Nebraska 750 psig 750OTTF 150,000#/hr Nebraska 350 psig 115,000#/hr Nebraska 350 psig 80,000#/hr Nebraska 750 psig 80,000#/hr Erie City 2000 psig 800OTTF 75,000#/hr Nebraska 350 psig 70,000#/hr Nebraska 750 psig 750OTTF 60,000#/hr Nebraska 350 psig 40,000#/hr Nebraska 350 psig 20,000#/hr Erie City 200 psig 10-1000HP Firetube 15-600 psig ALL PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE COMBINATIONS SUPERHEATED AND SATURATED O

RENTAL FLEET OF MOBILE TRAILER-MOUNTED BOILERS 75,000#/hr.

75,000#/hr.

60,000#/hr.

50,000#/hr.

40,000#/hr.

30,000#/hr.

75-300HP

Nebraska Optimus Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Firetube

350 psig 750 psig 350 psig 500 psig 350 psig 350 psig 15-600 psig

750°TTF

ALL BOILERS ARE COMBINATION GAS/OIL

ENGINEERING • START-UP FULL LINE OF BOILER AUXILIARY SUPPORT EQUIPMENT. Electric Generators: 50KW-30,000KW

WEB SITE: www.wabashpower.com 847-541-5600 • FAX: 847-541-1279 E-mail: info@wabashpower.com

wabash

POWER EQUIPMENT CO.

444 Carpenter Avenue, Wheeling, IL 60090

Poyry.pdf

1/17/12

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

To inquire about advertising in Pulp & Paper Canada

Contact Jim Bussiere 800-268-7742, ext 3606 or 416-442-5600, ext 3606 Fax: 416-510-5140

10:33:36 AM

Consultants

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

BELT PRESS DEWATERING SYSTEMS • 0.8 – 3.0 METER BELT WIDTHS • HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION • PACKAGED SKID SYSTEMS • FREE LAB TESTING • FACTORY START-UP SERVICE

Pöyry (Montreal) Inc. Montreal, QC 514 341 3221

Pöyry Management Consulting NA Oakville, ON New York, NY 289 291 4573 646 651 1547

Pöyry (Vancouver) Inc. Vancouver, BC 604 689 0344

Pöyry (Appleton) LLC Appleton, WI 920 954 2000

K

www.poyry.ca

Engineering services for the pulp and paper industry

PHOENIX Process Equipment Co. www.dewater.com (502) 499-6198

careers PulP & PaPer Jobs Freeman Staffing, Inc. specializes in the placement of engineers (all disciplines), production type supervisors, managers, mill and/or plant managers and corporate executives in the pulp & paper industry, North America-wide. For specific current job searches call us or contact our web site. All resumes are treated with complete confidentiality.

Freeman Staffing, Inc.

Telephone 416. 391. 2322 E-mail mail@dickeng.com Web site www.dickeng.com

www.pulpandpapercanada.com

(800) 221-9629 or FAX (360) 653-8271 email: markp@freemanstaffing.com

web site: www.freemanstaffing.com

September/October 2012 Pulp & Paper Canada

29

Bio-Economy

Ontario coal-to-biomass conversion complete by 2014

A

fter almost two years of negotiations, the Ontario government announced on July 19 it has reached an agreement to convert the Atikokan Generating Station from using coal to biomass by 2014.

Conversion of the plant, which is owned by the Ontario Power Generation Inc. and located about 200 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont., will start later this year. Once completed it will provide more than 200 megawatts (MW) of energy to the power grid.

Officials say Atikokan is the first OPG-owned facility to undergo such a conversion and will be “one of the larg-

est biomass-fired electricity generating facilities in the world.”

“The conversion of Atikokan from dirty coal to biomass means we are reducing harmful emissions and building a modern, clean, reliable energy system,” said Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

“We’ll keep energy jobs in the Town of Atikokan and create forestry jobs in northern Ontario while ensuring a cleaner, healthier Ontario for families and future generations.”

The government estimates the Atikokan conversion will create 200 con-

Mercer partners with uBC on research chair for forest bioproducts Mercer International Inc. has established a $1-million partnership with The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and The Pulp and Paper Centre, in the creation of an industrial research chair in Advanced Forest Bio-Products Engineering.

“Mercer’s five year commitment to support this new research chair at UBC underscores our belief in the future of the forest products industry and the opportunities and resulting value potentially available to the industry in the emerging bio-economy,” said Jimmy Lee, president and CEO of Mercer.

Lee also stated that, “Mercer is committed to being a global leader in sustainable forest practices, which includes maximizing the value of our forest resources through sound forestry management and investing in research and development that will generate tomorrow’s transformative technologies. Partnering with UBC is a natural extension of our desire to be at the forefront of the industry’s transformation.”

The chairholder will focus specifically on establishing the scientific and engineering breakthroughs needed to create commercially viable opportunities for sustainably converting forest fibre resources into new high-value bio-products.

Mercer International Inc. is a global pulp manufacturing company. It owns Zellstoff Celgar in Castlegar, B.C., plus two European NBSK mills, for a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million tonnes.

Biorefining event planned for PaperWeek Canada PAPTAC recently announced that after two successful editions with strong international presence, the Third International Forest Biorefinery Symposium will take place in conjunction with PaperWeek Canada 2013 in Montreal, next February.

PaperWeek Canada is the annual gathering of the pulp and 30

PulP & PaPer Canada September/October 2012

struction jobs and create or support another 200 in the forestry sector since the agreement stipulates that the biomass pellets used at Atikokan must be sourced and processed in the province.

The procurement of the Atikokan generating station will provide a new market for waste fibre and could act as a catalyst for a larger biomass industry in Ontario. Wood pellets will be made primarily from unused and underutilized species, non-marketable wood, forest residue and sawmill residue, according to a statement issued by the Ontario government.

paper industry in Canada, organized by PAPTAC. The 2013 event takes place Feb. 4-8.

The biorefinery symposium is suitable for professionals and scientists working in the field of pulp and paper, biofuels and biochemicals, in Canada and abroad. Presentations will focus on recent advancements and technological breakthroughs.

PaperWeek Canada combines PAPTAC’s technical and business sessions for the pulp and paper industry, a trade show, a job fair and the symposium on biorefining. For more details on the event, visit www.paperweekcanada.ca.

uBC banks on the bio-economy James Olson spoke at the PacWest conference about the University of British Columbia’s Bio-economy Research Initiative (BERI), which consists of a network of professors at six strategic centres within the university. BERI will be a fully-integrated, trans-disciplinary initiative, says Olson, director of UBC’s Pulp and Paper Centre.

And positioning pulp and paper research in the broader context of the bio-economy is good marketing, he adds.

“We have had success bringing people in [to the university by promoting] the bio-economy. They don’t think of themselves as chemical pulping experts,” says Olson.

UBC frequently uses its campus and 54,000 residents as a “living lab” for testing technology in an operational sense. One example is the $30 million investment in a biomass gasification facility that will produce heat and power for the campus, beginning in September.

The gasification facility will require 50 tonnes per day of biomass. Since the biomass will be available on campus, Olson said there is the possibility of building an operational biorefinery on site. This could demonstrate bio-chemical and material technologies, and would use a start-up company to market and sell the bioproducts. www.pulpandpapercanada.com

SDTC-supported companies grow twice as fast as other Canadian cleantech companies.

Bringing Clean Technologies to Market SDTC’s SD Tech Fund™ is accepting Statements of Interest from September 5th to October 24th, 2012.

Contact us for information on the funding round and how you can be a part of our new SD Tech Fund™ Virtual Incubator.

SDTC supports the commercialization of clean technologies by Canadian companies.

sdtc.ca/applications