The direct injection steam pulp heater is in demand within the paper and pulp mills, as it is a significant energy saver for the industry.  The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) application has a proven track record into energy efficiency and as a cost-effective solution.  Let’s dive into more specific details of the pulp heater.

What is a Pulp Heater?

A pulp heater is designed to inject and mix steam directly into a low and medium consistency pulp stock line.  It is part of the direct injection steam heater line that is for directly injecting saturated steam.  In order to heat and maintain water like products to/at a certain temperature.

How Does it Work?

With the help of temperature control and in order to improve chemical performance, the steam heats the stock into the pulp line.  This process is done by the pulp heater prior to the addition of bleaching chemicals.

The creation of the pulp heater was to solve the industries mixing problems and create a more simplified effective process.  The main factor within it is that it handles temperature control.

The pulp heater helps lighten and or remove the lignin element from the pulp to ensure a brightened appearance.

This is specifically in pulp mills and integrated paper and pulp mills.

Applications of a Direct Steam Injection Heater

While the direct steam injection heating for pulp heating and bleaching is one of the most common applications that it is used for, here are some other processes that it also can help with.

• Tank and suction heating
• Plant utility heating
• Dryers and kilns
• Indirect steam generators
• Calendar rolls

The Komax Steam Heater

After a Canadian Bleach Mill approached Komax to help with their production facility.  It became aware of Komax that there was a need for a better industry solution.

The specifics that were taken into consideration were the need for optimum results, enhanced heating capability, low maintenance, and user-friendly design.

The design utilizes the patented Equalizer mixing module, which composes of six mixing chambers equal in diameter.  The helical mixing elements allow contacting of steam and product for heating.  Then divide and recombine the process flow to form multiple impingent blending zones that produce high turbulence and small steam bubble sizes.  Thus, for a more uniform temperature output with no vibration, no water hammer, and no excessive noise.

The Specific Benefits of the Komax Design

The Komax technology was able to create a Steam Heater that had a series of benefits to the Pulp and Paper Industry.  These include:

• Better temperature control than previous models.
• Only a few process upsets.
• Significant energy savings.
• The heating process is reliable every time.
• In their pulp heater, there are no motors or seals that will need repairing or replacing.
• The maintenance costs of the pulp heater are very low.
• It replaces the old-style motor-driven peg mixers.
• The usage of modern-day technology advances within the equipment.
• It can heat green and black liquor. Which was not possible in the old design.