VST-SE Valve Makes the News at Kvarnsveden

Production of newsprint and SC papers requires large amounts of energy. So any extra kilowatt hours generated by the Stora Feldmühle Kvarnsveden mill’s own turbines mean lower energy costs and greater profitability. Energy produced at the mill is mainly used for process steam, as well as the generation of electricity.

“The control range of our old reducing station limited the minimum steam flow. We knew that by increasing the control range, the minimum steam flow would decrease allowing more steam flow through the turbine,” says Marten Karlsson, the Supervisor in the Energy and Environment Department at Kvarnsveden.

Karlsson added, “More steam through the turbine also meant we could produce more electricity and thereby reduce the amount we purchase from the power utility company.”

One of the two VST-SE 112 steam conditioning valves at Kvarnsveden.

“The solution to our problem was the new VST-SE steam conditioning valve from BTG Valves [now CCI Sweden]. This valve permits us to control the steam flow with perfect temperature control over the entire range. In terms of energy consumption, this has meant a savings of 33 MWh,” says Marten Karlsson, adding, “Payback on investment was only a few months.”

The VST-SE steam conditioning valve employs CCI Sweden’s unique method of utilizing steam to atomize the cooling water. This technology combines high rangeability with low noise levels and long service life.

CCI Sweden has supplied all of the pressure reducing stations in operation at Kvarnsveden. The mill’s entire steam system was rebuilt in 1983. Since then other rebuilds have been done and other CCI Sweden valves installed.

Apart from valves, CCI Sweden has a number of process control products installed at Kvarnsveden for continuous, in-line measurement and control of consistency, brightness, residual chemicals, suspended solids, etc.