A Multivariate Analysis of Recovery Boiler Fouling

This article was first published by the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTAC).Operating data from two recovery boilers was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS). PCA allowed visual and operational comparisons between periods of high fouling and low fouling in both boilers. PLS extracted the correlation structures between vari-ables and provided a better understanding of overall boiler operation and a focus on which variables might be adjusted to improve boiler performance. Together these two techniques can help identify the main operating variables that cause fouling in recovery boilers