Suzano has released the latest edition of its Cerrado Project bulletin, which provides comprehensive details about the new pulp mill in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The mill is scheduled to commence operations by the end of this month. The bulletin offered insights into the testing phases, progress updates, and additional information on the project.
Following the completion of the electromechanical assembly of the new factory, the commissioning phase began. This phase included a series of checks and tests to ensure the proper functioning of the installations before the start of operations. One key stage is the cold test, where equipment is operated for the first time. This involves testing motors, field instruments, electrical panels, and the control room, simulating factory operations as if the plant were active. Among the structures undergoing this stage are the turbines, which will generate energy to power the factory and provide an additional 180 megawatts to the market — enough to supply a city of over 2 million inhabitants.
WATER SIMULATION PROCESS
Another essential process during this phase is the water test. Specific tests are conducted for each type of installation, such as motors and pipelines, including cleanings and operational checks. This water passage simulates the operational process by circulating water through the installations, allowing for adjustments and testing of control systems and start-up sequences. Each unit has its own start-up sequence, with detailed analysis to ensure compliance with quality standards and operational efficiency. According to Suzano, the systems are tested both individually and collectively during the tests, ensuring the functionality of the equipment. If successful, the plant start-up with raw material is carried out according to a sequence appropriate to the unit and the context of the installed systems.
NOTEWORTHY DETAILS
The electromechanical assembly of the islands involved in transforming eucalyptus logs into pulp took approximately 16 months. In addition to the pulp production islands, the factory includes chemical plants and all necessary utilities — compressed air, water, effluents, and electrical energy — as well as chemical recovery islands that ensure sustainable production by closing the loop and reducing inputs for production.
One of the significant challenges in constructing the world’s largest single-line pulp mill was expanding the dimensions of the structures. Suzano had to assemble the largest Digester Vessel ever designed, measuring 81.3 meters in height, 14.5 meters in diameter, and with a capacity of 9,243 cubic meters. Inside this structure, comparable in height to a 25-story building, the continuous cooking of all chips transported by the factory’s intelligent conveyors takes place.
