Process integration methodologies developed and applied in swedish kraft pulp mills - A review

A wide range of investigations into process integration in energy-intensive industries such as the pulp and paper industry have been conducted by various universities and R&D centers both in Scandinavia and in North America. Various methods and tools to improve the energy efficiency of pulp and paper mills have been developed. Recently, implementation of biorefinery concepts in existing pulp mills has been the major focus for integrating these new processes into pulp mills. In this paper, an overview of methods, tools, and methodologies used by key players in the field of pulp mill-based biorefinery system studies is presented; the focus is on methods developed and applied in Swedish Kraft pulp and paper mills. The strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies are discussed, and an example of application of newly developed methodologies to the implementation of new concepts such as biorefineries is presented