JAY — Verso Paper Corp. will hold a public information meeting on Thursday on its proposal to file an application to the state for a major air modification emission license.
The project will add a natural gas option in the paper-making process that will increase the Androscoggin Mill’s fuel flexibility and allow the mill to take advantage of lower cost, cleaner burning fuels, mill Communication Manager Cherilee Budrick said.
“In a tough economy, we need every competitive advantage we can get and need to save money where we can in order to remain viable and sustainable as a company,” she said.
The information meeting will be held at 6 p.m. July 28 at the company’s Murray Hall at 69 Main St. in Livermore Falls.
The application is for a natural gas conversion project, which includes permitting natural gas use in the Nos. 3 and 4 paper machines, lime kilns and the regenerative thermal oxidizer. The latter is “an air pollution control device designed to destroy air pollutants, volatile organic compounds and odorous emissions through the process of high-temperature thermal oxidation,” Budrick said.
The mill plans to use a branch of the natural gas pipeline that was run to the mill site when the co-generation plant was built several years ago.
The project also includes an upgrade to the lime kiln’s wet scrubbers.
The No. 3 paper machine is equipped with propane-fired infrared dryers, and the mill is proposing to add the capability of firing natural gas in the dryers, Budrick said.
The mill is also proposing to install natural gas burners for the No. 4 paper machine at the soft-nip calendar roll that currently fires No. 2 fuel and uses propane for the pilot light, she said. It also plans to install the natural gas burners for the infrared dryers and air floatation dryers, which both currently fire on propane.
The lime kilns are currently permitted to fire No. 6 fuel oil, No. 2 fuel oil, propane, and on- and off-specification used oil, Budrick said.
The mill is proposing to replace the existing burners in each kiln and install new burners that are capable of firing either on-specification used oil/No. 6 fuel oil or natural gas, in addition to No. 2 fuel oil, propane and off-specification used oil, she said.
The mill is proposing that normal operation of each kiln will be with approximately 80 percent of the heat input from natural gas and the balance from on-specification used oil or No. 6 fuel oil, Budrick said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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