Successful start-up of Ircon-Solaronics gas infrared UniDryer® systems on a board machine of one of the largest paper manufacturing groups in China.

In 2022, Ircon-Solaronics received the order for the supply of three gas Unidryer systems to replace existing old inefficient electrical IR dryers installed on three coaters (pre-coat, back coat, top coat) of the 6.7 meters width board machine. In March 2023, Ircon-Solaronics successfully started up the gas infrared dryers.
The non- contact dryer solution included three UniDryer® systems equipped with 4 rows of last technology high power and efficiency GEM12-Hi infrared emitters. To further optimize the overall energy efficiency, Ircon-Solaronics supplied an Energy Recovery System (ERS) between the gas infrared UniDryer® and the existing steam heated air dryers. The ERS principle of Ircon-Solaronics ERS solution consists of using a major part of the hot exhaust air from the UniDryer® hoods as make-up air for the air-dryers. This significantly reduces the energy consumption of the Air Dryers and thereby the energy economy of the total drying is improved as well.

Illustration: 4rows UniDryer® with two rows ignited

The performance test was realized in June. Guarantees on both energy savings and production increase were reached successfully giving the opportunity to the customer to produce high-quality product with optimized operating and energy consumption.