GOLDEN Clearing the air in Golden Louisiana-Pacfic installs state-of-the-art technology
WET PROJECT: Louisiana-Pacific’s new system uses water and an electic feild to scrub the air which virtually eliminated any airborne particulate mater from their veneer production plant —Greg Matic photo
A $2-million investment by Louisiana-Pacific (LP) Canada Ltd. in Golden is set to start paying off with benefits so clear you can’t see them. The newly installed pollution control system is designed to clean the air in the Golden area, allowing residents to breathe a little easier this winter.
LP’s Golden production facility recently completed the installation of a new wet electrostatic precipitator, or Wet ESP. The new system employs the latest pollution control technology to virtually eliminate any airborne particulate matter from LP’s veneer production plant.
The state-of-the-art technology was designed and constructed on site by A.H. Lundberg Systems of Vancouver, B.C., through its subsidiary, Geoenergy.
“It is the right thing to do for our valley to improve air quality. The Wet ESP is above the industry standard,” Michael Brygger, plant environmental manager for LP, told the Golden Star newspaper.
The article, which appeared in the Golden Star on September 20, describes the process as follows: “The Wet ESP takes the air from the dryers and processes it through a quenching system—which relies on water. The water scrubs the air and then uses an electric field to further clean the air, pulling out particles from the air before releasing from the discharge. The final waste removed, consisting of wood oils and tars, will be used as a fuel when mixed with wood and burned in the onsite co-generation boiler.”
Also part of the project was Airtek Pneumatics of Surrey and Systematic Mill Installations of Kelowna, who were involved in the supply and installation of specialized materials and equipment for the project.
Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. is Golden’s largest employer, with a workforce of over 450 people.
