Good morning, I’m Riccardo Tebaldi, CEO of TZT, a company operating in the field of thermal energy recovery. In 1982, I first produced the first steam boiler for the Vigolungo family. After many years, we met the Vigolungo family again to carry out this ambitious thermal energy recovery plant from the production process.
Today, Vigolungo produces plywood panels using saturated steam. Steam is produced with a boiler. The plant burns all waste and by-products from wood processing activities. These include treated log barks, trimmings, sawdust, and more.
It is a natural fuel derived from raw materials that have undergone only mechanical cutting treatment, no chemical treatment.
It is used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The combustion of woody biomass heats the boiler and produces saturated steam. This steam is used by Vigolungo to heat and dry wood, which is then reduced to sheets and glued to produce plywood panels.
Our activity involves the thermal recovery of the production cycle. Biomass, usually waste, is used in the form of thermal energy, and it produces steam. Steam production usually generates condensation, which is dispersed into the environment. Heat and precious water are lost.
Thanks to the District Heating project, we have managed to avoid a loss of water and steam into the atmosphere of about 120 thousand liters/day. The adopted solution includes a condensation and hot water production system, which feeds the village’s district heating system.
The entire process allows for significant water recovery, which is very important from an environmental perspective. From an economic standpoint, thermal recovery generates a virtuous system because thanks to the new boiler, hot water is produced, hot water generates heat, and the shared heat benefits the community.
