Tag: Innovation

Air pollution mitigating measures for steam boiler operation at palm oil mills

Post author By KM
Post date 28/02/2019
No Comments on Air pollution mitigating measures for steam boiler operation at palm oil mills

Do we just take a pain-killer? Why not treat the root cause of the pain?

Black smoke emissions into the atmosphere from boiler flue-gas stacks is a common sight in rural Malaysia, where the majority of palm oil mills are located. More so than the visible black smoke emissions are the invisible gaseous and particulate matter spewing out from the flue-gas stack. The main pollutant of concern is the particulate matter present in the stack discharge that gives rise to suspended atmospheric particulate matter at ground level in the surrounding areas of the palm oil mills. This poses serious health concerns among the mill workers and residents who live or work in the neighbourhood around the mills.

Tags EE, Innovation

Climate Change

Piercing the Veil of Zero Waste: What does it (really) mean for the Palm Oil Industry?

Post author By KD
Post date 18/05/2015
2 Comments on Piercing the Veil of Zero Waste: What does it (really) mean for the Palm Oil Industry?

Experts may differ on the definition of ‘Zero Waste’ but one thing they all agree upon is that it means different things to different industries.

When we were children growing up, elders used to say, “Waste not, want not.” Meaning the wise use of one’s resources will keep one from poverty.

In recent years however in the light of global warming, climate change and sustainability this philosophy has expanded into the concept of ‘Zero Waste‘, which has emerged as a key solution for a low-carbon economy. It represents a shared vision for the future that’s good for people, the planet and profits.

The popular concept of Zero Waste refers to the elimination and management of wastes and calls for wastes to be treated as valuable resources. It is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused and little or no trash is sent to landfills and incinerators. But as we explore further in this article, we shall see that this is a ‘narrow‘ interpretation of this concept which leads to limitations.

Tags EE, Innovation, Sustainability

Oil Palm

The Air-Void, a ‘drop-in-place’ retrofit solution for air-free sterilisation

Post author By KM
Post date 14/03/2015
3 Comments on The Air-Void, a ‘drop-in-place’ retrofit solution for air-free sterilisation

Inefficient air removal – the culprit.

Steam management and boiler operational issues at palm oil mills continue to remain problematic and have yet to be satisfactorily resolved. The root cause can be traced to the inefficient method of air removal at the steriliser station.

Inefficient usage of process steam arising from using outdated and inefficient methods to evacuate residual air in the steriliser vessels is the main cause of unrelenting problems at palm oil mills, particularly those affecting boiler operation – currently widespread at palm oil mills.

The Air-Void® has been created specifically to solve the above-mentioned problem.

Tags EE, Innovation, Steriliser

Oil Palm

New Technological Innovation to Drive Efficiency, Creativity and Profitability at Palm Oil Mills

Post author By KM
Post date 14/03/2015
1 Comment on New Technological Innovation to Drive Efficiency, Creativity and Profitability at Palm Oil Mills

The Dream Mill

Can life for palm oil mill Managers and Engineers be (ever) made ‘easy’? Actually, yes. With a solution that is both easy and simple. Just picture this… managers and engineers focusing on mill processes and production matters rather than tending to persistent mill utility issues, thereby enriching their daily working life and enhancing the core business of their company.

Today, technological innovation has given a boost to palm oil mill operations. New technologies are available to re-engineer the design of existing palm oil extraction processes to achieve the above.

Tags EE, Innovation

Oil Palm

Re-engineering palm oil mills into centres of energy efficiency

Post author By KM
Post date 14/03/2015
No Comments on Re-engineering palm oil mills into centres of energy efficiency

Palm oil mills can unleash renewable energy at enormously high energy efficiency levels arising from the unique characteristics of their operating parameters.

Palm oil mills are in an enviable position to harness increased quantities of renewable energy at very high efficiencies, the potential of which remains largely unrealised.

At the moment, palm oil mills tend to focus on milling operations. They are predominantly concerned with the core business revolving around the processing of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and oil extraction rates. However, a new premise envisions mills operating as centres of energy efficiency.

The bulk of the FFB mass from the field transported to the mill for processing is discharged as biomass residue. Of this residue, the energy content of the mesocarp fibre and palm kernel shells are being used in inefficient ways to provide the energy needs of the mill. In actual fact, palm oil mills can unleash renewable energy at enormously high energy efficiency levels arising from the unique characteristics of their operating parameters.

Tags EE, Innovation

Energy Efficiency

Palm Oil Mills, in the Perspective of National Resource Efficiency

Post author By KD
Post date 31/03/2014
2 Comments on Palm Oil Mills, in the Perspective of National Resource Efficiency

Biomass Residue and Renewable Energy, Resource Efficiency at Palm Oil Mills

Apart from palm oil, biomass residue and the renewable energy derived therefrom are among two important products, sometimes overlooked, of palm oil mills in the oil palm industry. It is imperative that palm oil mills are recognised in the context of national resource efficiency for efficient utilisation of these products in order to maximise their contribution to the industry and national economy.

Despite the energy-efficient cogeneration technology currently employed at palm oil mills, most of the prime biomass residues at palm oil mills is presently consumed merely to provide heat and power to its processes. A truly energy-efficient design of a palm oil mill incorporating readily available innovative technologies can reduce its biomass residue consumption to less than half of the present consumption. The biomass thusly saved could be utilised elsewhere for useful purposes. In addition to large quantities of surplus prime biomass conserved at the mill for export, surplus electricity can be more efficiently generated within the mill for export to the grid, where grid access is available.

Tags Climate Change, Innovation

Energy Efficiency

Selection of Sterilizer Technology for Energy Efficient Operation of Palm Oil Mills

Post author By KM
Post date 14/08/2013
9 Comments on Selection of Sterilizer Technology for Energy Efficient Operation of Palm Oil Mills

Sterilizer Technology Affects the Overall Energy Efficiency of Palm Oil Mills

The type of sterilizer technology utilised in the palm oil mill greatly affects steam and power demand, and performance of the sterilization process. With the growing demand for energy efficiency at palm oil mills, the selection of sterilizer is based mainly on its relevance to steam and power consumption because this will influence the overall energy efficiency of the palm oil extraction process.

The efficient use of energy at a palm oil mill is a major factor that reduces the carbon footprint of palm oil and impact on global warming trends and thus helps prevent climate changes. Utilizing biomass residues generated from the palm oil production process for its energy yield efficiently and productively further determines carbon emissions levels and the sustainability of palm oil production.

Tags EE, Innovation, Steriliser

Energy Efficiency

Innovative Technologies and Sustainable Solutions to Overcome the World’s Biggest Challenges – Energy & Climate Change – at Your Palm Oil Mill

Your Local Solution to Curb Global Warming via Efficient Energy Use

Energy is fundamental to the quality of our lives. We cannot conceive of development without supply of sustainable energy. But it is becoming increasingly clear that we need sources of energy that have no adverse impact on our environment. The prospect of irreversible climate change coupled with energy security issues necessitate an urgency to shift rapidly to low-carbon, efficient and environmentally-friendly energy systems, regardless of the industry involved.

In such energy systems, energy will come primarily from renewable resources, which are naturally replaced. Thus it is not surprising that the search for energy alternatives involving locally available and renewable resources is one of the main concerns of governments, scientists and business people worldwide. Usually, however, technological innovations are required to harness these renewable energy resources.

Tags Climate Change, Innovation