INNOVATION May-June 2019

2O18 ♦ 2O19 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

UTILIZING ALKALI ELEMENTS IN KRAFT PULPING Mondi SCP has implemented a novel PDP-K™ system to optimize the potassium chemistry in their bleached kraft pulp mill in Ružomberok, Slovakia. The first-of-its-kind facility was adapted by NORAM Engineering and Constructors Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) using a proprietary Eco-Tec Ltd. (Canada) ion-exchange platform. Potassium introduced in the wood supply normally builds up due to improved chemical recovery and reuse practices in modern mills. Established purging technologies were ineffective at the high potassium

concentrations experienced at Ružomberok, and furthermore wasted the potassium’s potential value as an alkali. The new plant extracts potassium from the kraft recovery cycle, where potassium contributes to plugging and corrosive conditions in the recovery boiler, and transfers the potassium to the kraft bleach plant in the form of potassium hydroxide, saving an equivalent amount of sodium hydroxide. This is the tenth installation of PDP for process ion-exchange in the pulp and paper industry. James T. Wearing P.Eng., Process Engineer

ESK’ETEMC FIRST NATION BIOMASS DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM SysEne Consulting was lead consultant for design and construction of the Esk’etemc First Nation Biomass District Heating System, which utilizes waste forest residue from the Band’s timber tenures to provide heating to seven band-operated buildings. Total fuel cost savings, compared to propane heating, is expected to be approximately $100,000 per year. The Biomass District Heating System project included defining the Band’s needs, selecting appropriate technologies, scoping the project for the available budget, and selecting a design/build contractor. The new boiler house contains two 150-kilowatt wood chip boilers, chip silos, and chip feeders. The district heating system has two district heating loops with accumulators, pumps, a backup generator, and a heat transfer station in each building. System controls automatically turn the boilers on and off and adjust their firing rate to match heating demand. Project Owner: Esk’etemc First Nation. Consultant: SysEne Consulting. Design-build contractor: Evergreen Biofuels Inc.

ECOLOCK KELOWNA STORAGE FACILITY Adopting a highly ambitious, deep green approach, this five-storey, 110,000 square-foot self-storage locker facility will also include ground and second-floor co-working office spaces. The building will incorporate leading-edge energy efficiency in design through an envelope-first approach,

utilizing Just BioFiber blocks to significantly reduce thermal energy for the building and sequestering carbon. Energy will be generated through a 150-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array resulting in net-positive energy generation on-site. A 70,000-litre below-grade rain water cistern is sized to provide 100 percent of the project’s irrigation needs—a first for the arid desert-like conditions of the Okanagan and Kelowna. A Canada Green Building Council Pilot Program project targeting International Living Future’s Petal Certification, the facility will utilize 91 percent less energy consumption than its counterparts. Project Owner: Ulmus Development. Mechanical, Electrical, Sustainability Engineering: Integral Group, Scott Ghomeshi, P.Eng. Architects: McLennan Design, Christine Lintott Architects. Image created and owned by McLennan Design

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