WOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY
boost drying efficiency and turn waste into value
unlock higher efficiency in pellet production and sawmills
The timber industry, especially sawmills and pellet plants, are under pressure. The economic and efficient use of raw materials is a key success factor. However, low-emission and sustainable use of this slowly renewable raw material is also important. Cascading use of trees and the use of biomass boiler with the latest combustion technology, flue gas cleaning systems and efficiency-enhancing components are not only ecologically sensible, but also economically necessary.
Producing thermal energy from waste wood such as bark, chips, sawdust and wood chips from the processing itself is a sensible use of the cycle for the wood processing industry. This is because processing steps such as steaming, drying and pelletizing are energy intensive.
Challenges for the industry
- Optimization of energy use for drying and production processes – economic efficiency
- Intelligent cascade use of trees and wood – full utilization of widely varying fuel qualities with different moisture contents
- Combustion efficiency and effectiveness
- High production throughput, high product quality/pellet quality directly related to efficiency
- Low emissions – sustainable and CO₂-neutral production
the SAVE ENERGY solution
Waste heat can also be used to supply connected office buildings with comfortable heating or even sold to a district heating network.
In pelletizing plants, flue gas condensation is used to preheat the drying air in belt dryers. An air heater is installed upstream of the belt dryer, using the condensation heat to warm up the drying air to 50–60 °C. Around 50% of the total heat requirement of these plants is accounted for by low-temperature heat, while high-temperature heat of 90 °C is used for reheating and other processes.
The SAVE ENERGY solution is ideal for energy recovery from the exhaust air of the drum dryer. The residual heat can be recovered at a high temperature level, which is usually sufficient to operate a belt dryer without additional energy resources.
advantages
Increased efficiency and profitability of wood and pellet production
Reduction in fuel consumption through heat recovery
Increase in production throughput
Efficient and profit-boosting cascade – utilization of surplus heat to district heating networks
Improvement in production quality
CO₂-neutral production
