During the Spring Outage Season, the APM Boiler Canada team deployed in Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Québec, Canada, at Nordic Kraft Pulp and Paper Mill, responding to two failing smelt spouts. Smelt spouts are extremely critical to the chemical recovery process of the pulp and paper mill industry. Restoring the functions of this critical equipment as soon as possible was vital to our new customer.

The five-person APM Boiler Canada team assisted with replacement of the existing spouts with chromized smelt spouts, installation of a new shatter spray system, and provided various smelt spout hood modifications for the recovery boiler. APM, GE, and mill personnel worked closely to execute the task safely and with care. The close communication of the crews helped them to remain in sync, which resulted in completion of flawless work in a timely manner.

Our APM Superintendent Arthur Turcotte, effectively managed site safety with several Toolbox Talks and Job Safety Analyses, amongst other processes. With ZERO first aids and ZERO near misses, the team’s efforts proved to be highly successful at the new site where crews were required to adapt and familiarize themselves with the layout of the mill.

A smelt spout is a difficult part to install due to a number of circumstances that require skillful navigation such as elevation, refractory, and clearance. Installation of the equipment needed to be monitored carefully. APM was well equipped with a knowledgeable Superintendent, and GE, with a skilled engineer, who were both familiar with the critical equipment.

The customer reported no issues with the installation once the unit was back up and running. Three months after completion of the project, the unit is operating in a stable manner and running at a higher load. The waste product that is burned by the boiler also generates steam to help generate electricity. Based on the flow, there is an increase in electricity production from 28-29MW to 33-36MW, a significant improvement in comparison to the other original equipment manufacturer.

Congratulations to APM and GE in their successful efforts to respond with maintenance solutions while delivering excellence in safety and quality for our customers!