PAPTAC Bleaching  Committee

Section 7 -  Problems and Opportunities Session

June 17, 2002

 

 

1.      Presentation by Ross Stacey (Marsulex) on “Safety Handling of SO2”.

 

The presentation is attached to the minutes.

 

2.  MILL OPPORTUNITIES

 

Luke Monk, Kimberly Clark, Terrace Bay, Ontario – Installed steam injectors, MC pumps, also both D1 and D2 upflow tubes were replaced.  We also completed significant Kappa analyzer calibrations in order to establish and maintain their accuracy.

 

Shane Svendson, KC-NS – Installed Kappa analyzer – D1 on Kappa control.  Pressure screens 6000 slot.  Upgraded dryer coils.  Cold blow pump – failure on start up.

 

Laurier Morrisette, BTG Americas – Design improvement to filtrate extractor for hardwood on Eop stage to measure pH.  Redesign sampler for batch digester blowline.  Brown stock washing control strategy and test.

 

Mike Beattie, Weyerhaeuser, Dryden – Lots of construction at Dryden.  Office building project just complete.  New Recovery Boiler construction in progress.  Just completed annual kraft mill maintenance shutdown.  Notable projects:  Digester – new outlet device and smart filtrate cold blow dilution system,  Bleach Plant – new Corudeck III washer drum installed in D1, modifications to brown stock vacuum washer,  Chemical Plant – new/refurbished R10 filter installed.  Chlorate/caustic storage/unloading and handling projects planned for 2002 – 2003.

 

Tim Gilliss, St. Anne Nackawic – ECF production is increasing and brings its own capacity challenges in terms of Cl02 and chlorate production.  Improved drying as a result of a lazy steam shower installation on 1st press of the pulp machine.  Increased hog fuel burning has helped to lower oil consumption.  Installing Do compensated brightness controls in June.  Enzyme trial scheduled to begin in August.

 

Tom Mullen, Air Products – Paper presented at PAPTAC Annual Meeting, “Using White Liquor Oxidized to Thiosulphate in the Bleach Plant Can Reduce Caustic Purchases by 20%”. A copy will be available with the minutes. Contact Tom Mullen at [email protected] for copy.

 

Rob Laurendeau, Canfor – Intercon  1.  FTNIR analyzer for online moas/control of SVP generator, chemical concentrations.  2.  Kappa-Brite analyzer for after tower brightness.  3.  Looking at Cl02 pre-heaters product.  Slide at knuckle plates in Chipbin/Supercoils on dryer headbox upgrade.

 

Kari Rae, Tembec, Skookumchuck - Formaldehyde bleaching trial.  Consistency controller on Do.  Spent acid addition to Do Stage to control pH in D1 and D2.  Installing Kappa sampler (40 minute frequency).  C02 trial.  Filtrate extractor on 2nd post oxygen washer (conductivity).  Cogen running well!

 

Stephen Young, UPM Kymmene – Shutdown hardwood addition system – 100% softwood.  Switched to 100% ECF.  Regular mixture 60% woodroom, 40% sawmill.  For paper mill purposes, making runs of 100% sawmill chips (increased fiber length).  Several projects underway around generator to improve Cl02 production / reduce Cl02 usage.  Working around dryer / baling line to ensure production.

 

Erik Tremblay, Metso Automation – Few months ago, our Company bought the Pulp Expert Company, which is now part of Kajaani product family.

 

Mark Healy, Iogen Bio-Products – Starting up a new application.  First good stab at application on 02 delig. line.  Very preliminary results are positive.  Not enough data to draw conclusions yet.

 

Ralph MacDonald, Alpac -  1.  ISO 14001 certification, 2001.  2.  2001 established new weekly, monthly and annual production record of 612,000 ADT/year,  2,038 ADT/day, and 1,940 ADT/day  3.  Set new softwood production target of 1,750 ADT/day (3 stage bleaching).

 

Guy Normandeau, DMI Peace River – Kappa/Brite analyzer installation in July (2nd Kappa analyzer).  Down flow low solids upgrade to digester.  Fall of 2002.  Safest mill in Canada.  MCC kappa analyzer installation this fall.  Mass/flow meter for chlorate addition to R-8.  70% reduction in Cl02 emissions by piping vent scrubber to bleach scrubber.  Paper presented in Montreal on scale reduction in DMI bleach plant.

 

Chris Kanters, Paprican – I am now with Paprican.  New Director – Contracts and Licensing.  Responsible for Paprican’s relations with allied industry as well as Paprican’s intellectual property.

 

Ted Tam, Cariboo – In the process of installing new lagoon, can’t dredge final lagoon which is full of solids for fear of stirring up dioxin.  Installed an improved version of sootblowers in the boilers, saw 28 – 30% reduction in steam usage for sootblowing.  Achieved a record monthly production of 1,014 ADT/day, 13 ADT/day over the previous record.

 

Jim Collins, Marathon Pulp Inc. – Ran formaldehyde trial in Feb. 2002.  Installed Kappa analyzer in 2001 – started Kappa factor control in Do stage July 2001.  D1 kappa factor control 0.18. D0  KF with enzymes 0.20 without enzyme.  Working well.  Scrapped Pulmac (0-span tester in July 2001), now using Kajaani FS-200.  Pulp machines upgrade new style steam coil.  AD's up   2 to 3%.  Lots of small cost reduction projects, e.g., Ti heat exchanger, old Cl02 heat exchanger that was never installed on line to recover more heat from Eo filtrate.  Looking at 02 delig., probably mini 02.  Good results on stack testing for bleach plant – no emission found.  Cl02 vent scrubber is problem though.  Safety – now 1,050 days without lost time accident.  1.6 million hours, but DCC up to 17 this year (6 in 2001).  Chlorate mass flowmeter installed in fall 2001.  1.85 tons short of monthly production record in May (535 t/d average).  ISO 14001 certification July 2001.  Tristar D2 stage washer drum installed in Feb. 2002.  Regular enzyme usage continues.  Biobrite UHB working on autodosage program for brown stock HD level.  Redesigned blowline samplers for Kappa analyzer so that they would not get hit by “bricks”.  Will be working toward Kappa control at Digesters.  Replaced FRP Eo stage seal tank with new stainless seal tank last shutdown May 2002.  Inspected bottom Cl02 absorption tower (in service since Nov. 1989, inspected annually).  This shut (May 2002) showed severe delamination (80%).  No evidence of problem previous inspection.  Bottom section relined.  Will be doing complete inspection next year, removing packing, etc.  Inspection of top absorption tower showed no problems.  Ratio caustic addition in D1 stage to Cl02 addition rate started beginning of 2002 very effective since Cl02 addition on D1 stage on Kappa factor control.

 

Lou Legall, Kimberly Clark, Terrace Bay, Ontario – Wedge curve as mill slot.  02 bleach with advanced controls.  New safety initiative (emphasis on air quality), new pulp and process offer (turn towers).

 

Jean Bouchard, Paprican – Jay Chen who was a member of this committee, has left Paprican.  Hua Jiang will replace him.  Federal Government announced a $ 30 million grant for 2 years to the 3 institutes – Paprican, Ferric, and Forintek.

 

Don McCabe, Irving Pulp & Paper, Ltd  - Achieved a 12 month RIR ( for a short period of time ) of less than three. 2001 was a record production year.  2002 annual mill shutdown was the best ever, from a planning execution and safety point of view. Continue to optimize the MBB to the point where methanol will be trialled in the near future. Recently completed a reduced kappa factor trial with promising results. Installed a new vent scrubber on the ClO2 generator.

 

Jim Hopmans, Sterling Pulp Chemicals Limited – Our parent Company, Sterling Chemicals Inc. recently emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in the U.S.  Under the proposed re-organization plan filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy court, Sterling Pulp Chemicals Limited (the Canadian subsidiary) will be controlling by the secured creditors who have indicated they will offer the company for sale following approval of the re-organization plan.  All Sterling Pulp’s present operations are expected to remain together.

 

3.  MILL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

 

 

Luke Monk, Kimberly Clark

Q.        - Currently we dilute our brown stock with 300 US gal/min of scrubber water at 40oF.

- Where would be a good place to use it so that we do not see the negative cooling effects?

A.        - No answer recorded

 

Shane Svendson, KC-NS

Q.        Now using bleach plant defoamer in Do and D1 also the E1.

A.            Recycled more white water back to bleach plant.

Entrained air – dilution in washer vat.  Consistent vacuum and drainage is critical.  Check dilution and vat consistencies.  Defoamer in bleach is not uncommon, however should not need it in D1.

 

Laurier Morrisette, BTG Americas

Q.        What are the mills testing for cleanliness?

A.        KC Terrace Bay and quarterly for change for ISO certification.  Irving Pulp & Paper Muetek on pulp.

 

Tim Gilliss, St. Anne Nackawic

Q.        Who is using D1 tube residual measurement for control purposes?

A.        Irving, Terrace Bay. Some mills are automated.

 

Q.        What are mills using for antichlor?

A.        Survey available.  Run low residuals and machine white water, S02 at Irving.

 

Q.        What are mills using for MC standpipe level measurement/control?

A.            Dryden – redundant DP and Drexel Brock.  MacKenzie nuclear.  Grand Prairie –no problem with nuclears.  Cariboo – nuclear no problem.  Grand Prairie looking to get rid of remaining DP.

 

Q.        How do you measure wear or efficiency loss over time on high shear oxygen mixer?

A.        On/off bump test on 02.  Check mixer gap every 6 months.  Check pressure gauge. Have supplier check 02 uptake.

 

Ralph Lunn, Celgar ( via Rae Cunnington )

Q.        What type of caustic control are mills using?

A.        Irving – feed forward control based on Cl02 addition time shifted to Marathon – 10 years same.  Canfor – same plus feedback pH cascade loop.

 

Kari Rae, Tembec, Skookumchuck

Q.        H202 split between Eop and Ep.

A.            Average about 3 Kg/ADT on Eop, and 2 Kg/ADT on Ep.

 

Erik Tremblay, Metso Automation

Q.        I would like to know if there is any way to measure chlorite?  Any technical paper?

A.        Jim Collins, Marathon – The mill developed their own method to measure chlorite.

 

Mark Healy, Iogen Bio-Products

Q.        Are any mills still using C02 in brown stock for pH control (to reduce pH)?  Economic impact?  How much?  How low in pH can you go?

A.            Dryden – significant 8.0 to 8.5 pH for them because brown stock limited.  St. Felicien – 8.0 to 9.0 in as low as anyone goes.

 

Ralph MacDonald, Alpac

Q.        What Eop caustic control strategy is used?  Any use of Do feed forward for caustic control?

A.        Irving uses ratio caustic to Cl02 charge on Do no feedback compensation. Marathon same as Irving.  Prince George same, but use feedback from pH.  St. Anne installed extractor in feedline and works on control, but frequently scale pH probe.  None have             gone to any other form of feed forward control, i.e., brightness, Kappa #.  Powell River was trialling conductivity prior to mill shutdown, but no results reported.

 

Q.        Are any mills able to make previous generation light-scattering sensors?

A.        Yes, Prince George-Intercon specifically requires frequent lab sampling and calibration and per service reps may require a shift to a different light spectrum.  Filtrate color will influence light scattering.

 

Guy Normandeau, DMI Peace River

Q.        Irving Pulp presentation described a loss of tear and tensile development with 02 delig            upgrade. Rae Cunnington talked about a loss of tear (10%) at constant burst, with change from CEH to HEH.  What are mills doing to improve strength characteristics?

A.            MgS04 on Eop stage trial.  Cariboo increased K # at blow line.  Canfor-Intercon 25 K #.  Increased white liquor sulphidity can help.  Loss at dryer?  Norm Liebergott recommends to cool 02 delig. blowing.  Digester is the largest variable.

 

Q.        When chemical dosage is at optimum and a shutdown occurs, low brightness can occur. Filtrates are lost and hot water make up occurs.  How important is filtrate residual, and how are mills adjusting dosing around shutdowns?  Before and after?

A.        St. Anne – when making high bright pulp, need to put on a higher Do charge for initial dose and then walkdown.  Alpac – see the same thing.  Requires a higher initial charge.

 

Dave Willis, FMC of Canada

Q.        What tactics have been used to minimize loss of pulp viscosity across the bleach plant?

A.        Ted Tam, Cariboo – increase sulphidity as allowed by TRS.  Don McCabe, Irving – considering MgS04.  Also, can you blow colder?  Guy Normandeau, DMI Peace River –            Took H202 out for viscosity/strength sensitive customer. Check for incomplete mixing of H202.  When customer complaint occurs, they go back to the pulp mill.

 

Q.        What filtrate routing scheme is used at your mill?  Counter current, jump stage CC, split flow JSCC?

A.        Refer to E-mail question to bleach committee route list.

 

Ted Tam, Cariboo

Q.        We are looking at taking out the D1 washer.  For those mills that have switched from D1, E2, D2 sequence to DND, what do you see in terms of chemical usage's, scaling or plugging issues?

A.        Not recorded

 

Q.        Has anyone been using oil refinery spent caustic as make up?

A.        Check with Harmac and Grande Prairie.  Be careful with sulphur, organics and metals. Smell can be an issue.

 

Jim Collins, Marathon Pulp Inc.

Q.        Have problem acid mist coming out of acid day tank every time H2S04 acid transferred.

Acid supplier has come up with a “seal pot” device to pipe vent from acid day tank.  Seal pot is filled with limestone to react with acid mist.  Another experience with this.  Also            installing “P” trap on overflow from tank.

A.        Acid supplier has come up with a “seal pot” device to pipe vent from acid day tank.  Seal pot is filled with limestone to react with acid mist.  Another experience with this.  Also            installing “P” trap on overflow from tank.

 

Tom Burton, Pioneer

Q.        Cl02 savings with Eo at high substitution?

A.            Cornwall not using Eo.  Paul Earl – 3 mills in U.S. (hardwood) not seeing benefit when            using peroxide.  St. Anne – 2.5 Kg Cl02/5 Kg peroxide at 50%.  Will trial ECF.  Irving –

           

Dennis Owen

Q.            Norske Canada, Crofton have 4 FRP chlorine dioxide storage tanks, 12 gpl Cl02.  Used batch addition of TBP, now can’t increase in methanol.  Floating roofs, 2 tanks out of service 6 months.  Corrosion through to structural layers. Floating roofs will not replace.            Early inspection may have caught the problem prior to penetration of structural layer.

 

Rae Cunnington, Sandwell

Q.        I want to respond to a question (via E-mail) that was raised by France Champagne of Thurso, regarding Eo stage mixing.  Apparently Thurso observed that their Eo mixer (IR series 600) was not working.  I want to point out that about 15 years ago, this committee conducted a survey of Eo mixer performance.  The best performance was by this IR mixer.  I contend that under normal circumstances, a properly maintained high shear             mixer will give good benefits.

A.        Tom Mullen said that the Thurso mixer was inspected and found to be in good mechanical condition.  However, with a high Kappa factor at Thurso, the actual benefits for Eo versus E may be limited.  Jean Bouchard said that for a mill with 8 to 10% consistency, the oxygen bubble size increases and gives poor Eo performance (reference Portland Paper in 2002).  Don McCabe, Irving – said that at Irving, they found            that good maintenance was necessary to ensure optimum performance of this mixer. They checked every 6  - 12 months.

 

Q.        For a mill about to put in an oxygen sparger in an Eo stage, which side of the MC pump level control valve do you install the sparger?

A.        Of the mills present, 4 locate it before and 4 locate it after the level control valve.

               

 

Don McCabe, Irving Pulp & Paper, Ltd.

Q.            Recently have seen an build up of scale in the Eop stage which is mostly calcium carbonate.     

A.        Refer to paper by Chris Ho from scaling round table. Precipitate is due to Cacium ion concentration. Do pH may not be low enough. Shouldn't have a problem if D0 end pH is below 2.5. Some mill routinely acid wash their stage.

 

Q.        How many mills are using a ratio control for the buffering caustic in the D1 and/or D2 stage?

A.        One, Marathon.

 

Q.        Are there any mills willing to share bleach plant viscosity/strength profiles?

A.            Kimberley Clark -Terrace Bay, KCNS, DMI Peace River, Alpac, Cariboo, Ste Anne Nackawic.