PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL - Reducing water and energy consumption with Flow Control’s SZ8 SealCooler™ Closed-Loop Seal Water Technology helps pulp and paper mills improve sustainability and reliability. Robert Clayhills, CEO, Nipman Paper Technology - Paper Technology International 2026 - Book - Page 59

PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL - Reducing water and energy consumption with Flow Control’s SZ8 SealCooler™ Closed-Loop Seal Water Technology helps pulp and paper mills improve sustainability and reliability. Robert Clayhills, CEO, Nipman Paper Technology

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Figure 2: SZ8 SealCooler
Line Paper Mill.
Beyond the direct water consumption, every litre entering the
process ultimately increases wastewater treatment requirements,
placing further demands on plant utilities and
operating budgets.
Finnish Engineering Focused on Process
Ef昀椀ciency
Developed by Finnish engineering
specialist Flow Control Ltd, the SZ8
SealCooler™ replaces conventional 昀氀owthrough arrangements with a completely selfcontained thermosiphon circulation system.
Instead of continuously consuming
fresh water, mechanically or chemically
puri昀椀ed water the SZ8 circulates a small
volume of sealing 昀氀uid within a closed loop.
Natural thermosiphon circulation transfers heat
away from the mechanical seal while maintaining
stable lubrication conditions, eliminating the need
for continuous water supply.
The closed-loop design not only
conserves water but also provides more
consistent operating conditions for the seal itself.
According to Teuvo Huhtala, inventor of
the SZ8 SealCooler™:
“Water consumption can now be radically
reduced. This bene昀椀ts both the environment and
the mill’s overall energy footprint. It’s a relatively
simple change that delivers substantial results.”
Reliability Improvements That Extend Beyond
Water Savings
While water conservation is often the
headline bene昀椀t, the operational advantages
extend considerably further.
Maintaining stable lubrication conditions
reduces thermal shock and seal wear, helping
extend mechanical seal life and increasing Mean Time Between
Failures (MTBF). Improved seal reliability leads directly to fewer
maintenance interventions, reduced unplanned shutdowns and
greater process stability.
Because the system operates independently of continuous
plant water supplies, it also removes a common source of seal
failure associated with interruptions or variations in 昀氀ushing water.
The technology has already demonstrated its reliability
in demanding industrial environments, with more than 4,000
installations operating across the pulp and paper industry as well as
chemical processing, mining and other heavy industrial sectors.
Each unit is supplied fully assembled from Flow Control
Ltd’s manufacturing facility in Muurame, Finland, allowing rapid
installation during planned maintenance shutdowns. In many
applications, installation can be completed by the mill’s own
maintenance personnel without specialist support.
Reducing Wastewater at the Source
One of the most signi昀椀cant environmental
bene昀椀ts of the SZ8 SealCooler™ is its ability to
minimise wastewater generation.
Traditional seal water systems continuously
discharge contaminated water into the mill’s
wastewater stream. Industry
estimates indicate that seal
water may account for up to
10% of total wastewater
volumes in some
facilities.
By virtually
eliminating this
continuous discharge,
the SZ8 signi昀椀cantly
reduces both water
consumption and
wastewater treatment
requirements.
Lower wastewater
volumes also reduce pumping, treatment
and energy costs, creating operational savings that extend well
beyond water usage alone.
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