Cost‐Saving Opportunities in the Energy Management of Papermaking Processes

Energy consumption optimization belongs to the main agendas in sustainable industries. Here, cost‐saving opportunities in the pulp and paper industry as one of the largest industrial energy consumers worldwide are in the focus. Energy‐saving measures are proposed employing a large‐scale mathematical model of a paper machine based on mass and energy balances supported by real‐time experiments in paper machine operation. The presented measures are based on the optimization of paper stock pumping and a drying section operation. The total energy‐saving effect of the four proposed measures accounted for a reduction in specific heat and electricity consumption by more than 2 %. The proposed procedures require no or low investment costs with the overall simple rate of return of less than one year. A complex methodology from operation data review through mathematical model development based on mass and energy balances for proposing of cost‐saving measures in energy management of a paper machine is presented. Four energy‐saving measures targeting paper stock pumping and paper drying operation are recommended and partially verified in real‐time operation.