Steam Boilers for Paper Mills – Types, Advantages, and Selection Guide for Papermaking Industry

Paper Processing Industry

As we all know, papermaking is one of the four great inventions in China. With the continuous development of the times and technology, the papermaking process has gradually formed a complete set of manufacturing processes, and the boiler is an indispensable equipment in the papermaking industry.

The paper processing industry relies heavily on steam to power a variety of production processes. From drying freshly formed sheets to corrugated paper manufacturing and adhesive preparation, steam plays a crucial role in ensuring product quality, production efficiency, and operational consistency. A reliable steam boiler is therefore an essential component in any paper or corrugated paper plant.

Paper Processing Industry

It can be seen that steam boilers are the core equipment for power output in the paper industry and play a vital role. So what are the available steam boilers for paper mills and what are their advantages?

01. Oil/gas fired Steam Boiler High thermal efficiency; high combustion efficiency, no fouling in the furnace, clean combustion, no pollutant discharge, extremely environmentally friendly; reasonable structure design, safe and reliable operation; simple operation.
02. Multi Fuel Chain Grate Biomass Boiler Low energy consumption; full combustion, high efficiency, clean and pollution-free.
03. Circulating fluidized bed boiler High combustion efficiency, good desulfurization rate; wide adaptability of coal types; low operating cost

Boiler selection

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How to choose the right boiler for paper industry

1.Determine Boiler Capacity

The first step is to define the saturated steam parameters required by your production process.
Why saturated steam? It maintains a constant temperature, which is ideal for drying processes in papermaking.
The boiler's capacity should align with your plant's peak steam demand to ensure stable operation without excessive fuel consumption.

2. Determine Boiler Pressure

Boiler operating pressure must be higher than the production steam pressure to compensate for system losses. Pressure margin: Actual production pressure + pressure drop from piping + 25–30% margin is typically sufficient. Avoid overspecifying boiler pressure, as this can increase equipment cost and energy consumption without improving performance.

3. Choose the Boiler Type

The type of boiler depends on your fuel availability, emission requirements, and efficiency goals:

Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boilers – Increasingly adopted in modern paper mills for high combustion efficiency and low emissions.
Biomass Boilers – Suitable for mills with access to wood chips, rice husk, or other biomass residues.
Oil/ Gas Fired Boilers – Offer cleaner combustion and lower maintenance, but require stable fuel supply.
Corner Tube Boilers – High efficiency and suitable for large-scale continuous production.
Traditional Coal Fired Boilers – Still in use in some facilities, but generally less efficient and more polluting.

4. Consider Boiler Structure & Design

Beyond capacity and pressure, structural and operational factors can influence long-term performance:

Boiler dimensions – Must fit the space in the existing or planned boiler house.
Load fluctuation handling – Choose designs that cope well with variable demand.
Water quality requirements – Ensure your water treatment system matches the boiler's needs.
Automation level – Higher automation improves safety, stability, and reduces labor costs.
Environmental compliance – Select a design that meets local emission standards.

5. Match Capacity and Model for Operational Efficiency

When selecting multiple boilers: Choose boilers with the same model and capacity where possible to simplify operation and maintenance.
If mixing models or capacities, ensure the equipment layout and piping system are designed to allow balanced load sharing and efficient management.