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Energy savings combined with lignin extraction for production increase: case study at a eucalyptus mill in Portugal

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Abstract

In previous research by the authors, energy savings combined with lignin extraction as a means to debottleneck the recovery boiler were evaluated on a model mill. The study showed that this concept was a profitable alternative to recovery boiler upgrade. In the present paper the concept was taken one step further, and the potential for energy savings and possibilities for lignin extraction were evaluated at a real mill: a market pulp mill in Portugal. The energy-saving methods proved to be applicable also to the real mill and the steam-saving potential was 4.2 GJ/ADt or 33%. Lignin extraction trials with bench scale equipment showed that lignin extraction was fully viable at the studied mill. A full-scale lignin separation plant according to the LignoBoost concept, combined with energy savings, was simulated in a computer environment and compared to installation of a new recovery boiler. A new recovery boiler had an investment cost four times higher than the LignoBoost concept combined with energy savings, but the electricity production would be higher. The profitability for a production increase of 16% was calculated for both cases. Steam savings combined with LignoBoost were found to have better profitability unless the electricity price is very high.

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Acknowledgments

This work is a part of the Swedish national research programme “Future Resource-Adapted Pulp Mill part 2” (FRAM 2). Funding for this project is provided by the Swedish Energy Agency (STEM), Åforsk and industrial partners. We thank Marcus Olsson for helping us with evaporation calculations. Moreover, we kindly thank Åsa Samuelsson (STFI-Packforsk), The mill personnel, Anders Åsblad (CIT – Industriell energianalys), Lennart Delin (ÅF) and Lars Olausson (Kvaerner Power) for their valuable contribution to this work and we also thank Jon van Leuven for editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Energy and Environment/Heat and Power Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

    Catherine Laaksometsä, Erik Axelsson & Thore Berntsson

  2. STFI-Packforsk, Mill Systems and Energy, Box 5604, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anders Lundström

Authors
  1. Catherine Laaksometsä
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  2. Erik Axelsson
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  3. Thore Berntsson
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  4. Anders Lundström
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Correspondence to Thore Berntsson.

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Laaksometsä, C., Axelsson, E., Berntsson, T. et al. Energy savings combined with lignin extraction for production increase: case study at a eucalyptus mill in Portugal. Clean Techn Environ Policy 11, 77–82 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-008-0169-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-008-0169-0

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