Webinar Reducing steam generation variability through advanced biomass combustion controls

Reducing steam generation variability through advanced biomass combustion controls

Organized by Natural Resources Canada and PAPTAC
Organisé par Ressources Naturelles Canada et PAPTAC

ABOUT THE WEBINAR SERIES

The Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTAC), in collaboration with the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and FPInnovations will be hosting a series of webinar on opportunities for advanced manufacturing in Canada’s forest sector. The purpose of the webinar is to share knowledge on emerging or commercially available technologies with industry and demonstrate how they can be implemented.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented economic turbulence and lower demand for almost all forest products, as well as increased operating costs in order to ensure health and safety of workers. More importantly, COVID-19 compounds existing challenges including declining timber supply due to wildfires and pests, trade disputes with the U.S., and declining demand for printing and writing paper products.

NRCan, FPInnovations and PAPTAC actively support the forest sector transformation and view advanced manufacturing as a key strategy to make the sector more competitive and resilient. While great strides were made over the past decades on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the forest sector, NRCan, FPInnovations and PAPTAC are fully committed to build on that momentum and provide industry the tools required to realize the full potential of the circular bioeconomy.

ABSTRACT

Biomass is typically the preferred source of fuel due to its cost and its carbon-neutral impact. However, grate-type boilers have a long combustion response time that will force operators to burn fossil-fuel or use a condenser to control their steam header system. This webinar will show that variability in fuel bed shape factor is the most important short-term disturbance to biomass grate-type boilers. Also, calculating the heat release as a virtual sensor and controlling it sensor allows biomass to be used as the primary swing fuel thereby reducing gas or oil utilization. As an option, steam accumulators can be added to steam systems to provide additional stability and optimum biomass fuel utilization.