The world’s first wood-powder-fired lime kiln is now a reality. SCA Östrand’s new lime kiln is in full operation, giving an annual reduction in fuel-oil consumption of more than 17 000 cubic metres. That in turn gives a reduction in fossil carbon dioxide emissions, also known as carbon footprint, of more than 80 per cent.
BioLoop 2011 represents an investment of 500 million SEK consisting of five parts. The biggest part is the new lime kiln. The others are a new white liquor filter, a biofuel handling station, a rebuild of the chip screen, and new combination burners in one of the boilers.
Radically reduced environmental impact is one result of the investment; the other is a boost of more than 10 000 tonnes a year in production of Celeste, a totally chlorine-free bleached sulphate pulp.
“Our method of firing the lime kiln with wood powder instead of oil is totally unique, and has also attracted wide attention in the trade”, says Håkan Wänglund, project manager of BioLoop 2011.
SCA Östrand has pursued a long-term environmental policy for many years as a natural investment in the future.
“I am convinced that our pulp has an important place among future products. Wood fibre is a splendid raw material. It is environment-friendly, renewable and compostable, and offers many possibilities for products that can replace fossil alternatives”, says Ingela Ekebro, mill manager of the SCA Östrand mill.
BioLoop will be officially inaugurated on 13 December 2011 by SCA’s CEO Jan Johansson and Bo Källstrand, County Governor of Västernorrland.
Facts
The new lime kiln resembles a 125-metre long horizontal tube with a diameter of 4.5 metres. In the process lime mud is introduced at one end of the rotating kiln, where is heated to 1 100°C. The lime mud, when burnt, is converted back to lime and can be re-used in pulp production. The burners that heated the old kilns were fuelled with oil. The new kiln is fired with powdered wood ground from pellets supplied by SCA BioNorr.
Text: Anne-Sofie Cadeskog