Energy efficient and environmental friendly heating of the Yankee Hood in tissue paper making

During tissue paper manufacturing, the Yankee Hood must be heated efficiently to optimize heat transfer and improve the uniformity of temperature distribution. This is essential for achieving high-quality tissue paper with the desired properties. Potential advancements in electric heaters and hydrogen burners hold great promise for this process. Electric heaters are known for their energy efficiency, precise temperature control and ability to quickly reach the desired operating conditions. They also offer a clean and environmentally friendly solution, eliminating the need for fossil fuels. Meanwhile, hydrogen burners provide a high-intensity flame with minimal emissions, ensuring optimal combustion efficiency.

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Introduction to Yankee Hood heating

Paolo Vezil, Sales Manager Valmet, has long experience working with air systems and burners for tissue making. “Traditionally, heating in the Yankee Hood was achieved through methods like steam heating, natural gas or other fossil-fuel burners – he says. While these methods have been used for many years, they have limitations in terms of efficiency and environmental impact. Electric heaters and hydrogen burners offer a more sustainable and efficient alternative, providing significant advantages in tissue paper making”.

Advantages of electric heaters

Electric heaters offer several advantages for heating the Yankee Hood, which can make them a preferred choice for many manufacturers.
Replacing a gas-fuel burner with an electric heater can lead to about 10 percent lower energy consumption, considering that:

• There is no water generation from the burning process to handle and exhaust.
• There is no need for combustion air with a high-pressure fan.
• A better air balance can be more easily achieved and optimized based on energy efficiency and runnability.

Energy efficiency and cost savings

When these benefits and the cost of electricity compared to natural gas are considered, it’s clear that implementing electric heaters can result in significant cost savings. In addition, electric heaters require minimal maintenance, reducing operational costs, and any advantage derived from Carbon Tax provisions will further increase the overall savings.

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Flexibility to serve all needs

Electric heaters can be applied both to new installations and rebuilds. “They can serve as a stand-alone heating source or be installed with another heating method or fuel, for example with natural gas burners – Vezil says. When electric heaters are employed to replace traditional burners, there is no major change in the drying philosophy, as both blowing speed and temperature conditions remain the same as before”.

Environmental benefits

Electric heaters also bring significant environmental advantages compared to traditional combustion-based heating methods, because they eliminate the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They produce zero emissions at the point of use, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the entire tissue manufacturing process. And, with the option to generate electricity from renewable sources, such as wind or solar power, tissue paper manufacturers can further enhance their sustainability efforts.

Advantages of hydrogen burners

Hydrogen burner solutions for the Yankee Hood are very flexible. Hydrogen can be used as a thermal energy carrier for air system burners, replacing traditional fossil-fuel solutions partially or entirely. “This burner solution can be designed to operate with 100 percent natural gas, 100 percent hydrogen and all the possible natural gas and hydrogen gas mixes, without shutting down the equipment when switching the source mix – Vezil says. The hydrogen burner solution can be implemented both on new machines and rebuild cases”.

Reduced carbon emissions with hydrogen burners

For tissue paper manufacturers that seek an even more sustainable heating solution and aim to reduce carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources, hydrogen burners can play a crucial role. Vezil explains: “unlike traditional heating methods (e.g. fossil fuel burners), hydrogen burners produce minimal carbon emissions, helping tissue paper manufacturers to reduce their environmental footprint and meet sustainability goals”. Hydrogen combustion produces only water vapor as a byproduct, making it one of the cleanest forms of energy available.

The future of Yankee Hood heating

As tissue paper manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, the choice of heating technology for the Yankee Hood plays a critical role. By embracing innovative solutions such as electric heaters and hydrogen burners, manufacturers can not only enhance their production processes but also contribute to a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.