Features Pulp
ABB to provide overall process control to SCA Östrand mill expansion

A forest products group with headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden, SCA started reconstructing the pulp mill in 2015, and the goal is for construction to be finished by June 2018. Upon completion, production capacity will double, official say, adding that the production line for bleached softwood kraft pulp will be the largest in the world.
 
In 2016, ABB Ability System 800x was selected as the digital automation platform for the mill. This includes a fully integrated control and monitoring centre that provides a process overview and the possibility to personalize ergonomics and work environments for each operator. In addition to integrated process control and power monitoring, ABB delivered transformers, motors, frequency converters and drive systems for large areas of the mill.
 
ABB will now also install ABB OPT800, Advanced Process Controls for pulp mills, which enables control of production against key ratios such as reduced raw material and energy costs, emission restrictions and others. According to ABB, Advanced Process Control will enable maximum productivity and maximize flow throughout the entire mill to ensure the right quality and minimal energy consumption, adding that the functionalities are integrated into the single operator environment to provide operators with real-time decision support.

The system will monitor and optimize the processes for pulp washing management, oxygen delignification, bleach control, causticizing and evaporation. By utilizing the information already available in ABB Ability System 800xA, the system can customize multi-function control with a variety of variables based on advanced analytics to help manage these process areas optimally, explains ABB.
 
In order to minimize conversion times and ensure the correct quality when changing parameters for a new product run, the system also includes recipe management and pulp follow-up functions to monitor the pulp status throughout the process.
 
The overall process control will provide operators with increased security and insights, notes ABB, as they can foresee how the system will control the mill — the operator will get a full overview of what is happening and can run the facility in a controlled and safe manner.

“By using ABB Ability System 800xA as a digital platform for the entire application and integrating it into one system, SCA Östrand will get a highly advanced solution that will drive efficient production. This leading-edge technology will help make SCA Östrand one of the most integrated digital pulp mills in the world, with the ability to continuously leverage latest technology to ensure ongoing competitiveness,” said ABB in a statement.