Pulp & Paper/Sawmill/Wood Pellet/Co-generation plant

The Superheated Steam Dryer (SSD™) incorporates a unique technology that uses superheated steam as a medium to dry a wide range of products in a closed-loop system. This dryer can handle moist material - from wood chips to paper pulp.

The environmental benefits are impressive: no particulate emissions are released into the atmosphere and energy recovery between 80 and 90%. Moreover, since no oxygen is present, a steam atmosphere eliminates the risk of fires or explosions.

In terms of energy consumption, operating costs of the Superheated Steam Dryer (SSD™) are a fraction of the costs of a standard dryer. Depending upon product and particle size, the normal residence time of the product in the system can be between 5 and 60 seconds - a rapid and efficient process. Its small footprint, design flexibility and ease of operation make it a good choice for any size of business.

Normally, in a pulp & paper plant, wood waste is consumed in the recovery boiler at a moisture content of 45 - 55 % and sludges (primary, secondary and deinked) are used as fertilizer or landfill, generating additional operating costs. Occasionally, primary, secondary or deinked sludges are also burned in the recovery boiler and at a moisture content of 65% or higher, the net heat is reduced to nothing. All of the heat value has been consumed in the furnace to evaporate the water, and the customer must burn more fuel or natural gas to compensate.

By integrating wood fuel (pellet production into an existing steam system, or a CHP plant), energy consumption for drying can be minimized and energy recovery maximized. As well, emissions of VOC's to atmosphere are eliminated.

Investing in GEA Barr-Rosin's SSD™ drying technology has numerous advantages for the forestry industry: