Methods and systems for controlling operation of a smelt dissolving tank receiving a flow of smelt and having a vent stack in fluid communication are provided. A dissolving liquid is injected into the smelt dissolving tank at a predetermined injection rate. A temperature of a flow of vapour in the vent stack is measured with a sensor. The injection rate of the dissolving liquid is controlled based on the temperature of the flow of vapour.

The disclosed solution relates to recovering thermal energy from the operation of a dissolver of a chemical recovery boiler used in pulp manufacturing. According to the solution, a primary fluid circuit conveys green liquor from the dissolver to an external process such as causticizing and solvent such as weak white liquor back to the dissolver, and from this circuit solvent is diverted into a secondary fluid passageway comprising a heat exchanger which cools the solvent by recovering heat from it and transfers the heat to a heat-consuming process. After heat recovery, solvent may be used for further processes before it is at least partly conveyed back to the dissolver.

The disclosed solution relates to recovering thermal energy from the operation of a dissolver of a chemical recovery boiler used in pulp manufacturing. According to the solution, a primary fluid circuit conveys green liquor from the dissolver to an external process such as causticizing and solvent such as weak white liquor back to the dissolver, and from this circuit solvent is diverted into a secondary fluid passageway comprising a heat exchanger which cools the solvent by recovering heat from it and transfers the heat to a heat-consuming process. After heat recovery, solvent may be used for further processes before it is at least partly conveyed back to the dissolver.

The problem of runaway smelt explosions due to a sudden influx of smelt into a dissolving tank is mitigated by a system comprising an ultrasonic transducer configured to emit ultrasonic waves toward the dissolving tank at a frequency above 20 kilohertz. A system comprising the ultrasonic transducer may further comprise sensors and a data processor configured to regulate the properties of the ultrasonic waves in response to process conditions affecting the smelt flow.

The disclosed solution relates to recovering thermal energy from the operation of a dissolver of a chemical recovery boiler used in pulp manufacturing. According to the solution, a primary fluid circuit conveys green liquor from the dissolver to an external process such as causticizing and solvent such as weak white liquor back to the dissolver, and from this circuit solvent is diverted into a secondary fluid passageway comprising a heat exchanger which cools the solvent by recovering heat from it and transfers the heat to a heat-consuming process. After heat recovery, solvent may be used for further processes before it is at least partly conveyed back to the dissolver.

Various techniques are described for enhanced combustion of hot water extraction (HWE) derived liquor. For example, the HWE derived liquor can be pre-treated prior to introduction into a combustion chamber. The pre-treatment can include subjecting HWE derived liquor to filtration to remove suspended solids, evaporation to produce a first stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional concentration to produce a second stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional filtration to remove additional suspended solids; and pre-heating to produce a preheated HWE liquor. The preheated HWE liquor can be atomized and combined with pre-heated combustion air supplied into a combustion chamber to effect combustion of the HWE derived liquor.

A method for optimizing reduction and content of total titratable alkali of green liquor of a recovery boiler. The method comprises producing green liquor in a dissolving tank by conveying smelt and weak white liquor into the dissolving tank and measuring at least the contents of sodium sulphate, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulphide, and sodium carbonate of the green liquor. The method comprises controlling at least a process parameter of a recovery boiler to maximize the reduction of the recovery boiler and controlling the flow of the weak white liquor into the dissolving tank to optimize the content of total titratable alkali of the green liquor. In addition, a system for producing green liquor with optimized reduction and content of total titratable alkali. The system comprises a first sensor arrangement, a first and a second regulator, and a processing unit arrangement configured to perform the method.

A chemical recovery boilers is described in which the primary air system is reconfigured to provide aggressive charbed control and improved combustion in the lower furnace. The fewest number of primary air ports are used on two opposing walls to generate powerful air jets that penetrate across the boiler providing physical and thermal stability to the charbed while increasing the heat release and combustion stability in the lower furnace, increasing reduction efficiency, and lowering carryover and emissions. Various embodiments are described including operating strategies and multi-level black liquor injection.

A system (10) for treating spent pulping liquor (14) comprising lignin to provide green liquor (47) is disclosed. The system (10) comprises an evaporator (22), a recovery boiler (34), at least one filter (58, 74), and a green liquor plant (46). The evaporator (22) concentrates a first stream (18) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to provide a concentrated pulping liquor (30). The recovery boiler (34) incinerates the concentrated pulping liquor (30) to provide a smelt (42). The at least one filter (58, 74) filters a second stream (54) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to remove lignin therefrom to provide a permeate (66, 82). The green liquor plant (46) is for dissolving the smelt (42) from the recovery boiler (34) in the permeate (66, 82) from the at least one filter (58, 74) to provide green liquor (47). Also disclosed is a method for treating spent pulping liquor (14) to provide green liquor (47).

Various techniques are described for enhanced combustion of hot water extraction (HWE) derived liquor. For example, the HWE derived liquor can be pre-treated prior to introduction into a combustion chamber. The pre-treatment can include subjecting HWE derived liquor to filtration to remove suspended solids, evaporation to produce a first stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional concentration to produce a second stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional filtration to remove additional suspended solids; and pre-heating to produce a preheated HWE liquor. The preheated HWE liquor can be atomized and combined with pre-heated combustion air supplied into a combustion chamber to effect combustion of the HWE derived liquor.