Regulatory testing carried out in June 2016 on Northern Pulp Nova Scotia’s (NPNS) $35-million recovery boiler electrostatic precipitator shows it continues to outperform expectations. Test results show the recovery boiler precipitator particulate at 2 mg/Rm3.
“This is a full year of the precipitator operating with outstanding single digit results,” stated general manager Bruce Chapman. “All five tests since last summer have come in at 4 mg/Rm3 or lower.” The mill’s industrial approval allows for a limit of 77 mg/Rm3.
June power boiler testing revealed a level of 164 mg/ Rm3 which exceeded the emission limit. Out of the past five series of regulatory testing conducted, this is the second failure for the power boiler. The mill’s industrial approval allows for a limit of 150 mg/ Rm3.
Since fall 2015, Northern Pulp has been working diligently with boiler specialists to review the entire power boiler system. The review led to immediate implementation of several operational improvement recommendations.
“We knew there would be a learning curve as changes around air flow and ash removal are implemented,” Chapman explained in a company statement, but he expressed disappointment “that the power boiler particulate numbers continue to fluctuate in and around the limit.”
The mill will undergo its annual 10-day maintenance shutdown in September where significant focus will be on power boiler equipment. “Due to the nature of the work, there were projects that could not be done prior to our maintenance shutdown in September,” said Chapman. This year’s shutdown budget is anticipated to total $8 million.
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