Energy Efficiency Challenges in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing: A Tutorial Review

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.

Automated summary

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive, with much of the cellulosic material used for manufacturing being incinerated to create needed steam and electricity. Efficiency can be improved by minimizing energy losses and following established best practices. By reducing exergy losses and moving closer to ideal performance, energy savings can be achieved.