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“What sets the Metris WLA apart from other water leakage methods is the machine learning feature to detect unusual situations and cross-connections of the measurements, says Niki Lankila, Product Manager, Automation & Digitalization, Andritz
“Technically, the principle of the tool is measuring the mass balance of water and steam, this sounds basic, but it’s very important,” continues Lankila.
“When monitoring incoming water and outgoing steam the balance should add up to close zero to ensure that none of the elements are being lost.
“The machine learning feature is essential as it builds a model of the normal boiler operation condition. This principal model status can then be used as a reference point for operating condition of the recovery boiler. As well as the solution searching for leaks, machine learning enhances knowledge gained in boiler operation by using accumulated data to also search for signs of leaks by monitoring other parts of the process, for instance the flue gas balance.”
Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf has become the first mill to receive the new safety system. In 2020, they installed a new Andritz recovery boiler with a standard Water Leakage Advisor. After the take-over of the boiler, Andritz presented a proof-of-concept with machine learning technology to the Nettingsdorf recovery boiler management. It was agreed to set up a co-development and piloting program to bring the Metris WLA to life.
“When we first received the WLA, although the information we were receiving from it was useful, there wasn’t really enough information provided,” says Walter Marchgraber, Pulp Mill Manager, Smurfit Kappa Nettingsdorf. “The system we have subsequently co-developed with Andritz is now a completely different one.
“To bring the Andritz WLA experts together with the recovery boiler team was an excellent idea. These experts listened to all our needs and put into place almost all of the suggestions we had to enable the solution to give us all the information we needed.”
Lankila adds, “From the Andritz point of view this was an excellent collaboration as we were approaching the development from two different angles; a company running a recovery boiler and a technology supplier. We took all Nettingsdorf’s requirements into consideration, then implemented them to the system.
“After many meetings, calls, and inputs from the mill team, accompanied by a multitude of fine tuning and trials, we ended up with a very successful result that suits both parties.”
The recovery boiler is an area of particular concern as it bears the risk of large accidents as well as being an indispensable part of profitable production. Leaks left unnoticed can cause serious injury, or in the worst case, boiler explosion. There are several recorded cases where such explosions have occurred, including fatalities, in the pulp industry globally.
gofro.expert
