Project Background
VINA Kraft Paper Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between SCG Group and Rengo Group, located in Binh Duong province, Vietnam. The company produces high-quality packaging paper products with a capacity of 220,000 tons per year.
About SCG Group
SCG (Siam Cement Group) is one of ASEAN’s leading business conglomerates, recognized for over 100 years of innovation, corporate governance, and sustainable development. Founded in 1913 under a royal decree of His Majesty King Rama VI of Thailand, SCG started by producing cement — the key building material for national infrastructure projects.
Today, SCG operates across three core businesses:
- SCG Cement-Building Materials
- SCG Chemicals
- SCG Packaging
Through its strong foundation of learning and continuous improvement, SCG has become a regional model of resilience and sustainability.
About Rengo Group
Founded in Japan in 1909, Rengo Group pioneered corrugated board manufacturing and has been dedicated to developing value-added packaging solutions ever since. With a mission to contribute to society through innovation, Rengo continues to enhance product flow efficiency across industries worldwide.
Project Introduction
At VINA Kraft Paper, the co-generation plant supplies low-pressure steam for the paper drying process and electricity to power the facility. During production, cooling water is used — and typically, a significant amount of waste heat from this water is lost due to its lower temperature compared to the system’s make-up water.
To recover this wasted heat, a BROAD absorption heat pump was introduced. The system captures waste heat from the cooling water and uses it to heat make-up water, effectively reducing steam consumption and improving energy efficiency.
Moreover, by using exhaust steam as the driving source, the project required no additional energy input, achieving energy savings and lowering the system’s overall steam demand.
System Overview
Before Retrofit:
- Make-up water (65°C) was fully heated using steam from the boiler.
- Cooling water heat was discharged into the atmosphere via the cooling tower, wasting valuable thermal energy.
After Retrofit:
- The BROAD Absorption Heat Pump recovers waste heat from the cooling water.
- This recovered heat is transferred to preheat make-up water, reducing the amount of steam required for the process.
- No extra energy is consumed — only the existing exhaust steam drives the absorption heat pump.
Value of the Project
- Steam Consumption Reduced by 1 Ton per Hour
- Previously, make-up water was heated entirely using steam.
- After installing the absorption heat pump, recovered waste heat now preheats the water, resulting in a 1 ton/hour reduction in steam demand.
- Free Cooling Power Savings: 593 kW
- The previous cooling system released 593 kW of heat into the atmosphere.
- Now, this heat is recovered and reused, reducing the cooling demand by 593 kW.
- Water Savings: 1 Ton per Hour
- In the past, the cooling tower required approximately 1 ton of water per hour for evaporation.
- By eliminating this heat rejection, the project saves 1 ton/hour of water, further enhancing sustainability.
Key Benefits
- Significant energy savings through steam and heat recovery
- Reduction of CO₂ emissions by optimizing thermal energy use
- Lower operational costs for heating and cooling
- Improved system efficiency without additional energy consumption
- Contribution to sustainability goals and environmental responsibility
Conclusion
The BROAD Absorption Heat Pump project at VINA Kraft Paper demonstrates how a small retrofit can deliver big savings. By recovering waste heat and reducing steam consumption, VINA Kraft Paper has achieved measurable energy efficiency improvements while supporting SCG Group’s and Rengo Group’s sustainability commitments.
This successful project reinforces BROAD’s mission to deliver innovative, low-carbon HVAC and energy solutions for industries seeking to enhance efficiency, reduce emissions, and build a greener future.