Paptac Bleaching Committee

Section 7: Opportunites and Problems Section

October 21, 2002

 

MILL OPPORTUNITIES

 

Marathon Pulp Inc. - Jim Collins (reported by Paul Earl)

 

1)                 Established new safety record in June 2002.

·        1,065 days without a Lost‑Time Injury

·        1,667,868 person‑hours

2)         New Annual Pulp Production Record:

- Fiscal Year 2002 (Sept. 30, 2001 to September 28, 2002)

- 182,970 BADMT

- Best Previous ‑ 176,723 BADMT ‑ 1999

3)        New Digester White Liquor Feed System ‑ Direct fill to batch digesters

- From white liquor storage bypassing WL day tank.

- Will allow increased white liquor flow to digesters

- for potential production increase

4)          Installation of Thermocompressor on steam feed to pulp machines

- This will allow higher steam pressure to pulp machine to increase heat

        transfer

- Expect to get increase in pulp dryness from current 84‑86 % AD

 

Abitibi-Consolidated- Kent Ramsay

 

1)                    Annual shutdown extremely successful.

2)                    Three daily production records – last two months.

3)                    EcoBrite (bleach enhancer) trials. Reduction in ClO2

4)                    Looking at Process Control Upgrades for peroxide: O2 addtion (RF)

5)                    #6 Digester made the same as Dig 1-5, 7. Kappa St. Dev. Improvements

6)                    Env. No exceedances this year.

7)                    Not much capital

8)                    Flash Dryer upgrades required.

 

St. Anne Nackawic – Tim Gillis

 

1)                   Mill running well- setting daily and monthly production records in July.

2)                   Cost reduction and Environmental goals continue to be paramount.

3)                   No major capital projects.

4)                   Improved controls in Bleach Plant.

5)                   Do control working fine.

6)                   Implementing dosage control.

7)                   Increasing bleach shower flows.

8)                   Increased hog fuel burning has reduced energy costs

9)                   enzyme trial upcoming.

 

Celgar Pulp Co. – Ralph Lunn

 

1)                   New record in September: 1289 t/day average, 97% on grade

2)                   Browstock Pressure Diffuser (from Gold River) installation underway. Complete February 03

3)                   Kappa analyzer installation complete mid-November

4)                   Weld overlay of additional 16’ in digester.

5)                   New Avtron drives and Fisher Delta V Controls on #4 pulp machines

 

Pope & Talbot Harmac Pulp Operations – Murray Walters

 

1)         R8 Plant control now via Delta V DCS

2)                   Cs control installed on stock flow to 1 and 2 Pulp Machines

3)                   Partial DCS conversion (to Delta V) in all 3 Pulp Machines

4)                   Embarking on batch digester renewal program.

5)                   Continuous precoat renewal systems to be installed in LMF’s.

 

Canfor, Prince George – Lance Anderson

 

1)         Absolute brightness project still continuing to build supervisory.

2)         New sampler installed on major shut

3)         Generator control supervisory (FTNIR) working well – Significant reduction on NaClO3 usage.

4)                   Very little capital spent.

 

Tembec Skookumchuck – Kari Rae and Gavin Baxter

 

1)                   Formaldehyde – 3 trials

2)                   Other improvements (radial wash) interfere.

3)                   Lowered Cl02 usage—saving Cl02 but not enough to cover cost of HCHO. Chemistry works.

4)                   Spent Acid addition to D2 ST for pH control.

5)                   Implemented radial wash, reduction of 6 Kg/ADt

6)                   Cogeneration plant now functioning near design

7)                   Updating pinch study

 

Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Limited Partnership – Gerry Pageau

 

1)                   Energy savings from F11 project - -now allowing running cold blow cooler with mix for warm and cold water, higher blow line temp – less steam in digester and bleach.

2)                   Just installed new DCS ( ABB Advant) in pulp machine and cleaners area

3)                   Fully integrated motor and valve controls from stock prep to scanner

 

DMI – Peace River – Guy Normandeau

 

1)                   Digester downflow low solids project commissioned Oct. 15/02.

2)                   Advanced Bleach plant controls will be completed in November (with new bleach plant kappa/bright analyzer).

3)                   Warm water into Recaust.

 

Kruger Inc. – Alain Bergeron

 

1)                   Construction of a new paper machine which will produce 750 TPD of light-weight coated paper -

-Start-up Fall 2003.

2)                   Installation of a Kappa analyser on the blow line – June shutdown.

3)                   Installation of an Alkali analyser.

4)                   Put digester on DCS

5)                   Uncooled chip recovery system

 

Cascades FjordCell – Michel Aucoin

 

1)                   Addition of surfactant (Chemstone) gives 8% boost on our production, with the same loading at the boiler.

2)         Putting chemical air remover to increase dryness by around 2-4%. It also increases the ceiling, production of our pulp thickener machine.

3)         Resolve our fouling at the boiler  by changing NaOH, and improve sesqui washing.

 

Domtar Espanola - Brian Gartley

 

1)         Previous year spent on Optimization with focus on energy and cost.

Kappa analyzer being installed.

2)                   Management change at mill. Fred Munro is now the Director at Process and Product Development. His rolin Paptac bleaching may be reduced.

3)                   Polysulphide project is on hold due to operational issues at the kilns. (Not related to PolyS).

 

Domtar, Inc. -  Azim Shariff

 

1)                   Domtar expansion to the U.S. – 4 G.P. Mills.

2)                   Integration has been completed.

3)                   Marginal economics to feed sweet spot for operating to maximize cash flow in a down market.

4)                   Mill managers no longer chasing production records.

 

Cariboo – Ted Tam

 

1)                   Installed Gemini nozzels in the sootblowers – Realized 25-30% steam savings.

2)                   Upraded turbo-generator for higher efficiency and increased capacity.

3)                   In the process of installing a hi-sheer mixer in Eo stage to improve delignification.

 

Sterling Pulp Chemicals – Jim Hopmans

 

1)                   Jim Davidsons (Sterling Technical Service R& P) will be retiring next year after (many) years of service.

We are wellin the process of hiring his replacement to ensure that a higher level of service is maintained.

2)                   Sterling’s supervisory (advanced) control system known as Erco-Smarts is completing its 1st year of

successful commercialization at a Mead-Westvaco Mill. Mead-Westvaco has ordered  similar systems for all of their mills. Negotiations are underway for installation at several Smurfit Mills as well as Sappi-North America mills.

3)                   Sterling successfully commissioned its first atmospheric hydrogen peroxide-based chlorine dioxide process (known as AHP) at a mill location in Finland. Start-up was hampered by dirty feed chemicals but is currently operation above design capacity and in line with all design parameters.

 

ALPAC – Ralph MacDonald

 

1)                   Set new SW/HW production rates (1 day average)

2)                   Modified pulp machine suction press roll.

 

Paprican – Jean Bouchard

 

1)                   The start-up of our new chlorine dioxide generator went very well and now allows us to do real pilot-scale trial and contract.

2)                   Our financial situation has improved since the federal government has decided to involve itself with Paprican, Ferric, and Forintek and also because a couple of new members have joined.

 

Air Liquide -  Gord Homer

 

1)                   Well into the construction of a 65-ton VSA at Bowater-Catawlka- SC.

2)                   Work on effluent colors and low consistency application of ozone continues.

3)                   Work continues on ozone metallurgy

4)                   A second molecular white liquor oxidation system ordered.

 

MILL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

 

Kent Ramsay, Abitibi-Consolidated

 

Q.         Silicone-based Defoamer deposits. Overdosing?

A.         Repaired agitator. Improved consistency control.

 

Ralph Lunn – Celgar Pulp Co.

 

Q.         Transport of Dangerous Goods no longer requires “Residue” placarding: in fact, prohibits it. What are mills doing to track full and empty railcars on the mill site?

A.                  Checking spring heights

Check sheets

Howe Sound considered mill type tagging

 

Q.         What are mills doing with their turpentine? Any methods to deal with a high sulphur content?

A.                  Tembec, Cariboo, Harmac all burn turpentine. Ft. Frances sells to “Millenium”: they didn’t mind high sulphur levels sent to them. High sulphur levels could be a result of poor temperature control (too cold).

 

Q.                 Coating on D1 brightness probe?

A.         Poor Eop washing could be contributing. Oxidized manganese turn black. At Howe Soung, they tried moving the brightness probe before the ClO2 addition; did not work. They then lowered the D0 pH to 2.1 (from 2.5) and it helps a lot (acid washing)

 

Murray Walters, Pope & Talbot- Harmac Pulp Operations

 

Q.         Any mills having trouble keeping their R8 generator density compensation working? – i.e. they plug.

A.         Yes. Some mills have moved to nuclear level transmitters. Must ensure signal lines are properly sloped. Jim Hopmnas will send along latest Sterling standard.

 

Q.         Anyone tried using renewal network technology to infer [ClO3] and [H2SO4]?

A.         Sterling put time into it at ??? but didnt’ get anywhere. Their (Sterling) system currently uses “algorithms” that function much the same.

 

Alex Edwards – Celgar Pulp

 

Q.         Slime Control in pulp at Celgar.

A.         Brian Gartley of Espanola, stated he has some and control with biocide. Celgar believes that the constant S02 addition 6kg/hr. neutralizes all ClO2 in whitewater promotes slime.

 

Q.         Control of liquid SO2 at low flows (15ml/min) for souring ClO2. Does anyone tank it as H2SO3 and control to process using ORP? Currently using SO2 vaporizer on Rail Car. Project to go to liquid SO2 and small tank.

A.         Conductivity control/pH control

            Can use straight injection @20kg/hr

            Can use a tank at “x” concentration

Many types of controls, no one is using ORP feedback control

 

Q.                 SVP lite generator high solids: Does anyone hydraulically doctor the solids off or use a shower/knock-off below the doctor blade to control solids.

A.                  Sterling has a retrofit hydraulic doctor which replaces titanium doctor blade. DMI has installed a high pressure shower far below the existing doctor blade. Talk to Jim Hoppman.

 

Kari Rae and Gavin Baxter – Tembec, Skookumchuck

 

Q.                Neutralization stage, what brightness do you run D1 to?

A.                  Increase in ClO2 on D1 and decrease on D2. Cannot measure ClO2 residual on D1. Measure only on upflow.

One mill did a comparison with DnD and DEoD and found the E2 stage was required.

Another mill ran their DnD to different pH’s an would have preferred an Ep stage

Check previous meeting minutes: question by Ted Tam

 

Q.                 What are mills using for effluent neutralization and what pH target do you run?

A.         CO2, pH= 9.8; Domtar, Espanola – NaOH - pH 8.5-9.0; Celgar - NaOH - pH= 7.5; Alpac - NaOH - pH= 6.0; St. Anne - nothing - pH = 6.5; Harmac – pH 7.0; Domtar – pH 8.5-9.0; Some mills use CO2

 

Q.                 Looking at glued or straped bale. Who are doing what? What problems do they see?

A.         Canfor Intercon - Glued domestic not good for international.

Harmac- looking at ball straped & glued.

Domtar have two mills on glued bales.

 

Gerry Pageau - Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Limited Partnership.

 

Q.         ECF D0 stage control on comp. brightness not working as well. Exit Bright strategy in question, Eo kappa too low to measure easily. How are others handling Do stage control?

A.         Sounds like most still use comp bright. Those on Kappa analyser KF control sound happiest.

Do inlet kappa for KF and Do exit kappa and /or Eop exit kappa for feedback. Important to stabilize brownstock washing carryover for this.

 

Q.                 Getting only 90.5 % efficiency on R8 generator. What are people doing to maximize efficiency?

A.         Chorate mass flow meter with temp correction, PAPRICAN ALEC level control and FTNIR sensor (from Kvaerner Chemetics?). Level control is crucial as is control of acid and chlorate. Minimizing rate changes helps a lot as does eliminating standby operation.

 

Guy Normandeau        - DMI Peace River

 

Q.         R8 control: Automate Acid Flow with Temperature?

A.         Canfor Intercon is using FTNIR to control acid and chlorate addition.

 

Gordon Matson - Celgar

 

Q          Bleach tower brick lining system- Any satisfactory systems?

A.         Not aware of a better system. Repairs beginning at 5 years.

 

Laurier Morissette - BTG Americas

 

Q.                 How to measure chlorite, lab titration is not repeatable.

A.                  Paprican: use of IC chromatograph.

 

Alain Bergeron - Kruger

 

Q.                 Does someone operate an Andritz MC pump at a consistency of 12 to 14%?

A.                  Steve Bull/Tembec – operates its MC pump at 14%.

 

Michel Aucoin - Cascades FjordCell

 

Q.         Our slaker is very limited in retention time. For short term, we need to increase our green liquor TTA. What is your TTA target and what is the TTA max. without affecting efficiency and scaling problems?

A.         125-130 TTA – Alpac (Over 130- scaling problems); 124 – Howe Sound; 125 – Wayagamack; 126 - Fort Frances

 

Q.         Does anybody know a way (on-line or not) to measure hydrated lime into white liquor?

A.         No answer recorded.

 

Brian Gartley - Domtar Espanola

 

Q.                 Biosulphate as an antichlor -  any issues with pulp quality as a result.

A.                  No impact; DMI Peace River – photoactive; Halsey – used for peroxide residual. Drops pH and causes pitch deposition; Check with Thurso and Cornwall; Peroxide may not work – pH dependent

 

Q.                 Neutralization of small ClO2 spills?

A.                  Sterling – black earth and sawdust, thio, any organic with ClO2 uptake. Pope & Talbot – Bobcat with brownstock

 

Azim Shariff - Domtar, Inc.

 

Q.         Domtar Woodland-(mixed northern HW market pulp) has determined that the lowest-cost bleaching is the a D0 pH of 3:5. Any explanation?

A.         Poor washing on the D0 stage consumes caustic in the E1 stage

            Gerry Pageau HSPP had similar situation until they improved washing on the D0 stage and have gone to a lower D0 stage = 2.5.

 

Q,         Domtar Windsor is looking for ways to reduce cadmium concentrations in bleach plant filtrates so they can meet MEF limit of 10 ppm Cd in land application sludge.

A.                  Raise D0 pH to minimize desorption in the bleach plant. No literature, do lab trials (P. Earl). Dow will check bonding efficiency of Cd to chelating agents. ( Irene Yaraskavitch, Dow) but thinks that it won’t be as strong as Mn.

 

Q.                 For mill on on/off AQ usage, have they found any effect on pulp bleachability, viscosity, etc?

A.                  Cariboo does on/off but see no difference in bleachability. Intercon uses AQ continuously, have seen ½ kg/ton increase in ClO2. Paprican lab studies seen an increase in chemical demand. Hypothesis is that more “hemis” are retained and hemis are more difficult to bleach.

 

Ralph MacDonald - ALPAC

 

Q.                 D0 pH targets before/after ClO2 addition. What observations have been noted at high or low pH? What impact on ClO2 efficiency?

A.                  Referred to ECF best practices, Grande Prairie meeting.

 

Bob Montgomery - Celgar

 

Q.                 Salt Cake filter drum undersized

A.                  Sterling are developing a washer shower bar – talk to DMI (Drum out of round).

 

Q.                 O2 delignification stock line vibrates. Could it be pulp slip stick.

A.                  Yes.