Sulzer : 27.09.21 Media release Sulzer Chemtech’s separation equipment enabling production of biomass pellets
September 26, 2021
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Arbaflame's facility in Grasmo, outside of Oslo, Norway, will produce 70'000 tonnes of 'bio-coal' pellets per year. These are made of wood biomass and can be used as fuel in place of coal in power plants. The production processes leading to the pellets also generate condensate containing key chemicals, namely methanol and furfural. The methanol will be used to produce energy to power the plant, thereby enabling circularity, while furfural is expected to be used as building block in a number of downstream manufacturing processes.
Sulzer Chemtech's separation unit will play a key role in Arbaflame's pellet production process. It is helping them to minimize energy usage while maximizing the recovery of highly useful chemicals generated as by-products in the process, further supporting the circular economy. The biomass pellets are made of wood and can be used as a 100% sustainable alternative to coal in power plants to produce carbon-neutral power.
In order to minimize the environmental footprint of the recovery process, Sulzer Chemtech's engineers developed a highly efficient system. In particular, the company selected distillation methods to recover the chemicals according to their ability to deliver the highest purity chemicals while requiring minimal energy input. Also, the setup was engineered to be able to reuse energy in each stage of the distillation process, further increasing efficiency and sustainability.
Finally, Sulzer Chemtech was able to use its advanced skills and experience to ensure Arbaflame could benefit from the separation unit as soon as it was installed. Rune Brusletto, Chief Technology Officer at Arbaflame, commented: "The modular recovery unit provided by Sulzer Chemtech is the best investment we have made in our facility last year. It also came fully equipped and piped, ready to be operated. The collaboration with Sulzer Chemtech was extremely successful, as the company was able to deliver the unit in a very short time and has helped us streamline our operations."
Torsten Wintergerste, Division President at Sulzer Chemtech, concluded: "We are delighted by Arbaflame's positive feedback. This innovative project shows how our processing technologies can contribute to creating a greener economy. We look forward to providing more companies with the tools to maximize the sustainability of their operations in future."
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Sulzer AG published this content on 27 September 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 22 October 2021 12:53:04 UTC.
Sulzer AG is a Switzerland-based company engaged in pumping solutions and rotating equipment maintenance, as well as separation, reaction and mixing technology for the oil and gas, power generation and wastewater treatment industries. The Company operates four business divisions: the Pumps Equipment division offers a wide range of pumping solutions and related equipment, including centrifugal pumps and agitators for the oil and gas industry, among others; the Rotating Equipment Services division offers repair and maintenance services for industrial gas and steam turbines, turbocompressors, generators, motors and pumps; the Chemtech division offers products and services for separation, reaction, liquid application and mixing technology, and the Applicator Systems division offers dispenser systems and liquid application systems for the dental, healthcare and beauty markets, among others. The Company operates numerous subsidiaries.