The main function of refiners are to rub or grind the wood fibers apart. Several improvements are possible with the refiner section reducing electricity consumption in mechanical pulping. Refiner control strategies to reduce variations, switching from disc refiners to conical refiners and decreasing the consistency of pulping are among the improvements that can be implemented (Kramer, et al., 2009. p. 96). Also, double disc refiners are known to consume less energy than single disc refiners (BREF, 2010. p. 471).
| Development Status | Products |
|---|---|
|
Commercial
|
Mechanical Pulp
|
| Parent Process: Mechanical Pulping | |
|---|---|
| Energy Savings Potential |
A newspaper mills applied refiner control strategy to minimize variations in the freeness of ultra high yield sulfite pulp saved 51.3 kWh/t product. By decreasing consistency of pulping from 50% to 30%, 7 to 15% electricity savings possible in Thermo-mechnical and refiner mechanical pulping. Savings due to mechanical improvements are estimated at 11%. (Kramer, et al., 2009. p.96)
|
| CO2 Emission Reduction Potential |
|
| Costs |
Potential electricity savings of 11% may be achieved at the capital cost of around $7.7/ton (2000 dollars) of pulp production (Kramer, et al., 2009. p.96). |
This Energy Guide discusses energy efficiency practices and energy-efficient technologies that can be implemented at the component, process, facility, and organizational levels.
Double disc refiners used in some Swedish and Norwegian mills consume aroun 300 kWh/t less energy than single disc refiners (BREF, 2010. p. 471).