Multi-Criteria Optimization of the Paper Production Process Using Numerical Taxonomy Methods: A Necessary Condition for Predicting Heat and Electricity Output in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System

Daria Polek, Tomasz Niedoba () and Dariusz Jamróz
Additional contact information
Daria Polek: Polenergia Obrót S.A., ul. Krucza 24/26, 00-526 Warszawa, Poland
Tomasz Niedoba: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resources Management, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Dariusz Jamróz: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: The subject of this study is the optimization of the paper production process in one of Poland’s leading paper mills. In addition to its primary objective of paper production, the company generates heat and electricity for internal consumption and external clients, including the local municipality. Surplus energy may be sold on the power exchange; however, this requires forecasting the quantity of energy to be sold 24 h in advance, which introduces an element of uncertainty. Production stoppages, often caused by random events such as paper breakage, force a power decrease in the CHP system, further complicating energy forecasting. To minimize the occurrence of such events, numerical taxonomy methods were employed to determine the optimal screen speed (V s ) and winding speed (V n ) for two paper machines, based on the type and weight of the paper produced. This analysis utilized detailed daily data collected by the company over the period 2015–2020. The findings contribute to minimizing the occurrence of paper roll tearing, thereby reducing the risk of inaccurate forecasts of the energy and heat produced by the CHP system. Furthermore, the methodology employed in this study may be effectively applied to other optimization problems in industrial processes.

Keywords: optimization; heat; energy; paper production; taxonomic methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5548/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5548/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:22:p:5548-:d:1515366

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().