Double A, one of Asia's leading pulp and paper producers, has selected ABB Ability™ Advanced Process Control (APC) for its pulp mill in Prachinburi, Thailand. The new contract includes full supply and implementation of ABB's OPT800 Caust and OPT800 Lime APC applications for better control of the causticizing and lime production processes.

Both APC applications leverage multivariable Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithms integrated into ABB Ability™ System 800xA distributed control system. OPT800 Caust stabilizes the white liquor quality by controlling the lime feed and green liquor, causticizing efficiency and production rate changes. OPT800 Lime optimizes kiln operations to reduce energy consumption and emissions, increase reburned lime availability and decrease residual carbonate variations.

"APC represents the future for the pulp and paper industry, with powerful applications to help reduce material costs while maintaining quality and productivity," explained Thanom Saenchompoo, Sales Manager, ABB. "One of the main benefits of APC is the ability for operators to make changes to processes, observe their impact and keep fine tuning until they are ready to implement those changes in the actual operation."

The installation and commissioning for the OPT800 Lime APC has just been completed while OPT800 Caust APC will take place by end of the first quarter in 2020.

Completing the order is an ABB Ability™ Collaborative Operations service agreement, which will help monitor and sustain the performance of the batch digester, lime kiln and causticizers.

Double A Public Co., Ltd. (doubleapaper.com), founded in 1991, is Thailand's leading paper brand and its main mill is located in Prachinburi, Thailand, producing 600,000 tons of pulp and paper each annually.

ABB (abb.com) is a technology leader that is driving the digital transformation of industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB has four, customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by the ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB's Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 144,000 employees.