Optimizing water and energy efficiency in the pulp and paper industry with FlowControl’s SZ8 SealCooler™

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Optimizing water and energy efficiency in the pulp and paper industry with
FlowControl’s SZ8 SealCooler™
Robert Clayhills, CEO, Nipman Paper Technology
INTRODUCTION:
Revolutionizing Seal Water Management: In the pulp and paper industry, efficient use of water and energy is increasingly critical.
One area where significant savings can be achieved is the sealing water used to lubricate mechanical seals in pumps. Traditional sealing
systems operate in an open-loop setup, continuously flushing clean water through the seals. This water is typically discharged to the drain,
adding to the mill’s wastewater volume and treatment load.
A single paper machine may have around 100 pumps, each consuming 4 litres of water per minute. That adds up to over 570,000
litres of clean water per day—just for sealing purposes. Now imagine if that 昀椀gure could be cut to almost zero.
A Finnish Innovation: The FlowControl SZ8 SealCooler™
FlowControl, a Finnish company with long-standing expertise
in industrial lubrication and sealing systems, has developed a
breakthrough solution to this challenge. The SZ8 SealCooler™ is
a closed-loop thermosiphon system designed for use with double
mechanical seals. Instead of relying on continuous water flow, it
circulates a small amount of sealing fluid within a self-contained
system.
This thermosiphon-based design ensures that the seal
remains lubricated and cooled, preventing dry running and extending
the life of the seal. The result is a drastic reduction in water usage,
lower energy consumption for water treatment, and increased
reliability of the sealing system.
Timo Huhtala of FlowControl explains:
“Water consumption can now be radically reduced. This
helps both the environment and the mill’s energy footprint. It’s a
simple change with a large impact.”
Figure 1: (Left) SZ8 SealCooler system installed in a mill in
Sweden.
Efficency Gains That Go Beyond Water Savings
The SZ8 SealCooler system doesn’t just save water—it
also improves process stability. By maintaining optimal lubrication
conditions, the seal’s operating life is extended, reducing unplanned
downtime and maintenance frequency. This leads to increased
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), enhancing overall plant
reliability.
The design is robust and 昀椀eld-tested, with over 4,000
units already delivered and in operation across the pulp and paper
industries. Installation is straightforward and can be carried out
by mill personnel following the provided instructions. Units are
shipped directly from FlowControl’s facility in Muurame, Finland, fully
assembled and ready for deployment.
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