The pulp and paper industry is continually turning to steam heaters for replacing conventional methods of heating product. This transformation significantly increases the efficiency of paper making while lowering energy demands and reducing clogging throughout the entire process.

The papermaking process depends a lot upon heating the inputs, often during multiple stages of production. Direct steam injection, which often combines a steam module with a mixing module for complete distribution and integrated steam, can be used for white water recycling, pulp bleaching, and even oxygen introduction.

White Water Recycling– A lot of water needs to be added to pulp, often accompanied by many different chemicals so that the pulp can be handled easily and flow through pips without clogging. Draining and treating this wastewater can be a difficult task as the chemicals and pulp residue make a very heavy water. Using a steam heater will make this leftover water much easier to work with and treat, therefore prepping it to be reused within the process.

Bleaching Pulp– Paper mills can achieve significant savings from reducing the amount of bleach required for the pulp. A heater with mixer and injector combination distributes bleach completely and evenly, allowing for less chemicals required and a therefore more even and uniform final product.

Oxygen Mixing– Some steam injectors use such an effective mixing system that they can be used for introducing oxygen into the pulp. The complete dispersion of steam bubbles can be paired with oxygen to eliminate the need for a medium consistency mechanical oxygen mixer.

Steam injection heaters are becoming a jack-of-all-trades within the paper making industry. It is important to find a unit that uses extremely effective static mixing elements in order to get all the above benefits, which is why Komax Systems is highly recommended for their prowess with both steam injection and static mixing.