Converting boiler from coal-fired to pellet-fired
June 2023
Electrical Power & Protection
Valmet is to convert Helen Ltd’s coal-fired district heat boiler to bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) combustion to enable wood pellet firing at the Salmisaari power plant in Helsinki, Finland. The conversion promotes the company’s goal of phasing out coal and at the same time strengthens the construction of a sustainable energy system. “Our goal is carbon-neutral energy production in 2030. Sustainable bioenergy is part of the overall solution to achieve our goal. The versatile production structure ensures reliability of heat supply even in freezing weather. This project is an important step for us on the way to carbon neutrality. We trust Valmet’s abilities to complete this demanding project on time,” says Juhani Aaltonen, who is responsible for Helen’s sustainable energy solutions.
“Converting an existing coal-fired boiler to biofuel combustion is a quick and cost-effective way to transition from fossil to renewable fuels. Valmet has decades of experience of successful boiler conversions,” says Valmet director, Niina Ollikka.
The project is a continuation of the good cooperation between Helen and Valmet. In 2018, Valmet started up a 92 MW pellet-fired heating plant at the Salmisaari power plant area, and during this year the heat recovery plant belonging to the Vuosaari bioheating plant will be completed.
Valmet’s turnkey delivery includes a fuel conversion from pulverised coal to wood pellets on a hot water boiler. It will be modified to a bubbling fluidised bed boiler with a fuel capacity of 150 MW. The delivery includes a flue gas cleaning system and a heat recovery system and modification to the Valmet DNA automation system, together with all necessary auxiliary systems. After the conversion, the plant will produce district heat with extremely high efficiency – the flue gas temperature at the stack will be only 13°C.
Further reading:
Localised inverter-integrated transformer
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM, South Africa’s largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electromechanical equipment, is launching a breakthrough in renewable energy integration with its localised inverter-integrated transform
Read more...
Steinmüller Africa integrates advanced technologies at Mondi’s boiler project
Electrical Power & Protection
Steinmüller Africa is leading a boiler project at Mondi’s Richards Bay mill. The 18-month undertaking showcases the company’s blend of engineering excellence and cutting-edge technology.
Read more...
ABB innovation for energy efficiency and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
The application of sensor technology to reduce the operational and standby power losses of traditional current and voltage transformers can lead to energy savings of 181 MWh over a 30-year period, the lifetime of a typical switchboard in the African environment.
Read more...
UPS systems are key to keeping SA’s automotive industry up and running
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
During loadshedding, PLCs and OT systems often fail, not because they are directly tied to the factory’s core manufacturing process, but because they are now an integral part of IT infrastructure. When an IT system shuts down, the impact is far more complex than simply restarting machinery.
Read more...
ACTOM advances energy infrastructure
Electrical Power & Protection
At this critical juncture where South Africa is poised to modernise its power infrastructure, ACTOM’s Engineering Projects and Contracts (EPC) Division showcased its capabilities for the first time at Enlit Africa 2025.
Read more...
Advanced contactor solution to revolutionise motor management
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched the TeSys Deca Advanced, an advanced contactor solution designed to revolutionise motor management with unparalleled efficiency, reliability, simplicity and sustainability.
Read more...
Steaming ahead with boiler skills development
Electrical Power & Protection
As an expert in steam and boiler operations and maintenance, AES is very focused on safety, quality, technology advancement and the development of human capital. The company invests heavily in training and the promotion of talented people on an equal opportunity basis into the industrial operations environment.
Read more...
High-performance oscilloscopes
Electrical Power & Protection
RIGOL Technologies, a global leader in electronic measurement instruments, has launched two powerful additions to its oscilloscope portfolio.
Read more...
Revolutionising solar farm management with remote monitoring solutions
Electrical Power & Protection
As South Africa continues its transition to renewable energy, the efficient management of solar farms has become more critical than ever. Iritron, a leader in industrial automation and control systems, is at the forefront of this revolution, offering advanced remote monitoring solutions tailored to the unique challenges of solar farm operations.
Read more...
SKF announces wave energy technology partnership
SKF South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
SKF and Carnegie are collaborating on the design and delivery of a power take-off system driven by the motion of a buoy that sits a few metres below the surface of the ocean and moves with the ocean’s waves.
Read more...
printer friendly version