21-12-2016

Neste Jacobs maximizes production of Forchem Oy tall oil distillation plant

Technology, engineering and project management company Neste Jacobs has implemented NAPCON Controller to Forchem Oy’s tall oil distillation plant. Forchem Oy owns and operates a world scale tall oil distillation plant in the city of Rauma on the West Coast of Finland. The main products are Tall Oil Rosin (TOR) and Tall Oil Fatty Acid (TOFA) and the plant is flexible in the sense that different types of Crude Tall Oil can be used as feedstock. The process is mainly based on a vacuum distillation technology originally developed and designed by Neste Jacobs, presently known under the trademark ArxPinus.

Many biochemical processes offer opportunities for substantial improvement in terms of increased production. In spring 2015 Forchem Oy already awarded Neste Jacobs a NAPCON Performance Analysis project for quantifying the benefits of Advanced Process Control (APC). The NAPCON Performance Analysis lasted for two months and Neste Jacobs was able to demonstrate already then a production increase of 9%. After implementation of NAPCON Controller, a multivariable, model-predictive APC, Neste Jacobs could increase production with further 8%.

“During NAPCON Performance Analysis and the subsequent NAPCON implementation we became convinced of Neste Jacobs’ expertise to carry out the production optimization with NAPCON Controller”, says Risto Näsi, CEO of Forchem Oy. “Neste Jacobs has proven their expertise to us in Tall Oil processing technology and engineering and are now combining that expertise with high-level automation technology. We are very excited about these great results, and the attractive payback of the investment in NAPCON. NAPCON has significantly contributed to the 200 000 tons per year capacity that our plant has today”.

“Neste Jacobs is happy to be the preferred partner for bio-industry and Forchem Oy tall-oil production process is yet another great example of the innovative technology co-development partnerships we have. NAPCON Controller is very suitable solution in order to increase production for different industries such as refining, biorefining as well as dairy sector”, says Jarmo Suominen, Managing Director of Neste Jacobs.