The Smart Smelt Spout Robot automatically cleans the smelt spouts and spout hoods. This increases safety in one of the most hazardous areas of a pulp mill as well as also improves reliability and availability of the recovery boiler.
Due to the presence of molten smelt and a high temperature environment, the smelt spout deck of a recovery boiler is one of the most dangerous places to work in a modern kraft pulp mill. By ANDRITZ automation solutions for smelt spout deck you can significantly increase safety and operational efficiency of the recovery boiler.
The Smart Smelt Spout Robot automatically cleans the smelt spouts and spout hoods without requiring human intervention - significantly reducing time spent on the spout deck.
The robot system is a precision instrument, cleaning build-up along the spouts without physically contacting the spouts. Laser sensors track the thermal movement of the boiler and continuously update the robot‘s cleaning movements. Frequent cleaning maintains a consistent smelt flow from all spouts which improves green liquor stability and boiler availability.
Reduced mechanical wear on spouts ensures optimal spout lifetime. When paired with Smart Smelt Flow Measurement, the robot will always clean the spouts that need it the most, thus avoiding production losses due to a plugged spout. Consistent smelt flow along the spouts reduces thermal cycling, which in turn improves spout reliability by mitigating thermal cracking. Clean spouts with consistent smelt flow from all spouts will also improve green liquor TTA stability.
Smart Smelt Spout Robot combined with Smart Smelt Reduction measurement enable automated smelt reduction measurements from individual spouts. Frequent and immediate reduction results enable process optimization for best sustainable reduction rate.
Enhanced operator efficiency is another key benefit. Operators can focus on more value-added tasks, reducing operator fatigue and keeping the operators alert for process troubleshooting and optimization tasks. Improved job conditions also enhance operator retention by reducing job-related stress.
At ANDRITZ Pulp and Paper, digitalization is all about measurable results. Smart Smelt Spout Robot delivers tangible improvements across key performance areas, helping plants operate more efficiently, reliably, and profitably.
What you can achieve:
Up to 90% reduction in operator actions based on less manual smelt spout cleaning: robots automate the cleaning process and do it more frequently.
90%-95% safety improvement by less human risk exposure in the smelt spout area. The Smart Smelt Spout Robot reduces operator presence near hazardous smelt spouts by cleaning spouts automatically without human presence. Operators still visit the area for maintenance tasks on other equipment, but not for frequent spout cleaning.
These improvements are driven by automated spout cleaning technology and non-contact robotic precision, alongside continuous collaboration between ANDRITZ experts and the mill's teams. All of this aims to significantly reduce operator exposure on the spout deck, prevent plugged spouts, minimize thermal cracking, and maximize boiler availability, green liquor stability, and overall workplace safety across the recovery boiler operation.
Explore ANDRITZ' Automation and Digitalization solutions for the Pulp industry, specifically for the Recovery Boiler process area.
ANDRITZ offers technologies for producing steam and electricity from renewable fuels as well as the efficient use of traditional fossil fuels (coal, biomass, process gases, black liquor, and refuse-derived fuels). Auxiliary systems, including fuel feeding, ash handling, and air pollution control are part of the total offering.
ANDRITZ provides chemical regeneration processes for all pulping technologies.
Explore ANDRITZ's Intelligent Instruments - Smart Series portfolio. It includes a comprehensive range of measurements, analyzers, machine vision systems, condition monitoring solutions as well as robotics and mechatronics. These solutions give customers an intelligent instrumentation foundation, paving the way toward process optimization and autonomy.
