Pulp & Paper

The Pulp & Paper category contains Case studies and blogs related to pulp & paper engineering services.

Clinker Detection System Reduces Boiler Fouling and Boosts Efficiency

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shop clinker detection system

Boiler monitoring technology replaces maintenance guess-work with data-driven accuracy.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016; MILFORD, OH; USA – Integrated Test & Measurement (ITM), a leading provider of structural test and measurement engineering software and services, introduces its Clinker Detection System. Clinkers, some of which reach the size of a small car, are incombustible residue that forms inside black liquor recovery and coal-fired utility boilers. This build-up (fouling) has a significant impact on the efficient operation of the boiler system.

The ITM Clinker Detection System:
• Determines where boiler fouling has occurred
• Optimizes soot blower operation
• Identifies damaging clinker impacts on the bed/floor
• Shortens the duration of chill & blow events

The ITM Clinker Detection System identifies fouling problems and determines the effectiveness of boiler cleaning tools and processes such as sootblowers, sonic horns, pulse detonation cleaning events, and thermal shedding during chill and blow cleaning events. The solution involves mapping and instrumenting the boiler floor with industrial sensors that measure the size and frequency of clinker deposits as they become dislodged impacting the floor. At the same time the system identifies which sootblower caused the clinker to fall. Together this information pinpoints the clinker’s area of origin directing where clean-out should be concentrated.

ITM Founder & President, Tim Carlier, comments:
“Without hard data to pinpoint areas of build-up maintenance is flying blind as to when and where to run sootblowers. The ITM Clinker Detection System in essence provides visibility into the boiler. And because up to 6% of the steam generated by a boiler is used for sootblowers, any decrease, by even a small percentage, will generate significant savings when factored out over the course of a year. In addition to saving money, optimizing sootblowing also carries with it a positive environmental effect as plants don’t have to burn as much fossil fuel to generate electricity since steam is being consumed more efficiently.”

About ITM
Headquartered in Milford, OH (USA), Integrated Test & Measurement, LLC (ITM) focuses on three vertical spaces: Industrial Monitoring, Testing Services, and Configuration-based Test Software, iTestSystem. Founded in 2001, ITM helps companies reduce costs and improve efficiencies in product development, manufacturing, and production activities. Today, ITM provides software development, structural and mechanical testing services, industrial monitoring, strain gauging, and data analysis solutions to clients on six continents.

For more information on ITM, iTestSystem and ITM’s other products and services contact Ryan Welker via email: ryan.welker@itestsystem.com or phone: (844) 837-8797 x702

/solutions/industrial-monitoring-systems/cds-clinker-detection-system/

Clinker Detection System (CDS)

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Do you need to reduce your operating cost and carbon footprint on your recovery or coal fired boiler? If so, we can help. With over 15 years of experience in the development and installation of boiler fouling detection systems, ITM is excited to introduce our latest technology that is targeted at clinker impact detection, The Clinker Detection System (CDS). Click here to learn more or visit the CDS product page at /solutions/industrial-monitoring-systems/cds-clinker-detection-system/.

cds-brochure

ITM Installs Paper Mill Thermocouple Monitoring System

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control panel

In search of a system that would send feedback to further optimize their production efficiencies and reduce energy costs, a paper mill company turned to ITM for help measuring the temperature of steam tubes inside its Recovery boiler.

The challenge our engineers faced was to not just log temperature measurements, but also to transfer this information to a remote computer, perform complex measurements and output results that would serve as a watchdog to ensure normal conditions.

Our solution was yet another example of finding a creative way to use existing National Instruments hardware and software to solve a complex problem.

See the complete Case Study.

— ITM President Tim Carlier

Wireless Strain Based Silo Monitoring

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Silo Level Monitoring Video

Keeping up with more than a million pounds of plastic pellets a year would seem a near impossible task.

But at ITM, we’ve developed a wireless strain based monitoring solution to help manufacturers — particularly those in the injection mold business — easily alter existing storage silos to keep a more accurate eye on the levels of dry goods contained in them.

Industry partners report the difficulty of keeping exact measurements of the amount of ever-changing raw materials they have stored in on-site silos. With our solution, however, we’ve removed the guesswork with a system that won’t require manufacturers to go through costly structural modifications.

As we demonstrate in this video, we are able to build a measurement system that will report silo levels by using strain gauge sensors, a wireless signal transmitter and a remote signal receiver. Notice in the lab test, as the valve is opened and the water begins to drain, the signals on the user interface respond accordingly as the values decrease. Though a seemingly simple test, I’m convinced the results hold important real-world implications.

Similarly, we think manufacturers will value being able to monitor multiple silos from a single customized interface and ultimately maintain efficiencies and keep their production lines humming.

— ITM President Tim Carlier