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Port Of Tyne Installs Three Pellet Silos
Three major silos have been erected as the centerpiece of large-scale wood pellet handling facilities at the Port of Tyne in northeast England.
The structures, each 36 m (118 ft.) tall and 45 m (147 ft.) in diameter, have been built by Spencer Group as part of a contract awarded by Lynemouth Power Ltd. The silos will be topped off with “penthouse” structures housing the drive mechanism for the wood pellet conveyor system, taking the full height of the buildings to 45 m.
The facilities, at Tyne Dock in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, will handle up to 1.8 m tonnes of wood pellets annually to support the full conversion of Lynemouth Power Station on the Northumberland coast from coal-burning to biomass.
The project will enable wood pellets to be conveyed mechanically to one of three newly built silos, each capable of storing 25,000 tonnes of material. The pellets will then be discharged from the silos via two conveying streams to a rail-loading facility to take the material to Lynemouth Power Station by train.
To complete the project, Spencer will carry out modifications to the existing rail infrastructure to provide dedicated rail lines to serve Lynemouth Power Station and connect the new facilities to the 11,000-volts mains supply.
Gary Thornton, Spencer’s Managing Director, explains, “The project showcases Spencer Group’s ability to deliver significant projects of scale and positions us as a market leader in handling biomass. The completion of the three silos is a major milestone, as we now enter the final phases of the project.”
The first materials handling gantries have also been installed on site as part of the conveyor system taking the wood pellets from the quayside to the silos and, finally, the rail-loading facility. The gantry structures have been fabricated off site and are being pre-assembled on the port estate, prior to installation.
Project Director Derek Barr comments, “In terms of design and delivery this project is at the forefront of innovation in this field. We have a very experienced team on site, drawn from within the business, and we have expanded it because of the size and complexity of the project, with so many disciplines involved.”
The project continues a strong collaborative relationship between Spencer and the Port of Tyne which dates back to 2010 when Spencer worked with the port to design and build a rail-loading facility for wood pellets, which was then the first of its kind in the world.
Andrew Moffat, CEO of Port of Tyne, says, “We have been innovating processes, procedures and systems for the handling, storage and transportation of wood pellets since 2009, when we built the first facility, and even now we continue to research and develop improvements for effective handling of this material.
“As well as working with Spencer Group on site, we have been employing new technology in the design of specialist hoppers required for the new handling and conveying systems. These are currently under construction in Spain and are due on site in April.”
Hull-based Spencer is one of the UK’s leading privately-owned multi-disciplinary engineering businesses and has substantial renewable energy activities. Visit thespencergroup.co.uk.
MEGTEC Provides Clean Air Solutions
Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC (MTS Environmental GmbH) is a global supplier of turnkey clean air solutions that meet stringent emissions regulations, improve process performance, and protect thermal downstream equipment in the engineered wood products industry.
Its systems effectively control emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from dryers and press vents. Control technologies include a comprehensive suite of emissions products.
B&W MEGTEC provides ultrahigh efficiency regenerative thermal oxidizers and regenerative catalytic oxidizers for VOC control for OSB, MDF, plywood, particleboard, wood pelletizing and other engineered wood products, with particular expertise in solving the problems of media plugging and alkali attack associated with wood dryer exhaust. Designs are modular, operator-friendly and cleanable. It also supplies alkaliresistant ceramics and corrosionresistant materials of construction to suit the application.
Along with oxidation equipment, advanced solutions for particulate removal include wet and dry electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and scrubbers..
B&W MEGTEC wet ESPs provide high efficiency removal of particulate matter and “blue haze,” either as a stand-alone device or combined with downstream treatment systems like the CleanSwitch regenerative thermal oxidizer. The wet ESP removes sub-micron particulate including back-half salts (protecting the RTO), tar-pitch, ash and fiber from dryer and energy system gas streams. The design combines removal efficiency, low maintenance, low pressure drop, and a small footprint.
B&W MEGTEC also offers venturi and cyclonic pre-scrubber designs to ensure water saturation of the exhaust stream and to achieve considerable removal of coarse filterable particulates. The wet ESP can operate at a higher corona power for improved capture efficiency. Pre-cleaning of coarse particulates allows for a longer period between wash-downs.
Its dry ESPs can be used to control particulates for biomassbased heat generators for drying of wood and wood products. These systems feature a collector plate design, rigid discharge electrodes, and top-mounted electrically driven, externally maintainable collector and discharge electrode rappers.
The company also offers fabric filters (baghouses), SNCR Systems and Multiclone dust collectors along with solutions that address media plugging and alkali attack associated with wood dryer exhaust. Field support includes upgrades, parts and services for any air pollution control equipment. Visit megtec.com.
SEI Promotes WESP System
Southern Environmental’s upflow WESP technology eliminates the need for additional mist-eliminators, which are prone to plugging, increasing pressure drop across the system. The tubular geometry of the membrane collecting electrode and the SEI discharge electrode optimize power levels and current densities.
The SEI Membrane WESP design has the following advantages:
• Eliminates downtime: The system will eliminate downtime because it has redundancy built into the design. Each module can be isolated. Membrane collecting electrodes are inexpensive and easy to replace if a catastrophic process event occurred damaging the internals of the WESP. Two water filtration systems permit redundancy.
• Energy efficiency: State-ofthe- art high frequency power supplies and controls; state-of-the-art insulator compartment utilizing nominal compressed air.
• Very high collection efficiency during a flushing event.
• Fully compliant collection efficiency during a flushing event.
• Maintenance friendly: No need for weekly manual washing as collecting electrodes are continuously irrigated and flushed as needed.
Membrane WESP design is ideally suited for sticky particulate applications. Insulator compartments do not require purge air fan. Standard two-year warranty on all equipment. Standard 10-year warranty on collecting electrodes.
Systems include SEI inspections and maintenance recommendations during planned outages for the length of the base warranty period.
SEI is ideally suited to perform projects on an EPC basis as it will be managed under one roof with a single project management interface. All major elements of the project including engineering, fabrication and installation of these systems are based out of the corporate headquarters in Pensacola, Fla.
SEI is in the unique position of having at its disposal its own fabrication shop and open-shop mechanical construction teams. These assets ensure its clients that all designs and arrangements receive a thorough quality control design and constructability review before the components are fabricated or delivered. Additionally, all components manufactured in Pensacola are transported primarily by its own fleet of trucks, adding to the total project control philosophy of the company. Visit southernenvironmental.com.
Moisture Sensing In-Process, In-Lab
Manufacturing wood pellets requires the refining, drying and blending of wood waste prior to entering the pellet press. By integrating MoistTech’s IR3000 into the process, users can monitor 100% of their product quality, instantly and consistently. Measuring moisture throughout the wood pelletizing process will produce pellets at a specific moisture percentage. Additionally, pro-active adjustments can be made to the process, to optimize pellet manufacturing.
MoistTech’s new model 868 biomass lab moisture analyzer provides the user with high accurate moisture results within seconds on ranges of moisture between 0- 80%. Customers using MoistTech moisture instrumentation can improve product quality and reduce fuel usage by preventing excess drying together with a reduction of fire risk in many installations.
Ideal for laboratories or near processing lines MoistTech’s 868 sensor features a removable, rotating sampling dish, available in a variety of sizes that are designed for rapid moisture determination of non-homogeneous products and raw materials.
The 868 Sensor incorporates MoistTech’s wellproven IR3000 optics and electronics providing superb accuracy, and resolution of any similar technology gauge. Visit moisttech.com.
Niziolek Joins Morbark As VP Of Operations
Morbark has added Walt Niziolek to its senior management team as the company’s new vice president of operations and supply chain.
Niziolek joins Morbark at a time of continued business growth to take charge of supply chain and site operational requirements. His new post includes managing local, U.S. and overseas vendors and suppliers, all warehouse and distribution activities, quality initiatives and liaising with business unit engineering support.
Niziolek has previous senior leadership roles in manufacturing with companies such as CPG Building Products and Pride Mobility Products, where he specialized in deploying standardized work and other lean initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, supply chain management and cost.
Precision Husky Adds Rob’s Hydraulics
Precision Husky Corp. has added Rob’s Hydraulics to its dealer network. Rob’s Hydraulics has been serving eastern North Carolina since 1997 with a variety of services both in shop and on site for heavy equipment.
The RHI sales staff will be promoting and selling Precision Husky’s line of ProGrind horizontal and tub brinders, Precision Husky whole tree chippers, Husky knuckleboom loaders and the entire line of Precision sawmill equipment in the state of North Carolina.
Rob’s Hydraulics Inc. has two locations: 7765 Pitt Street, Grimesland, NC 27837, 252-752-1500; and 7868 US Hwy. 70, Clayton, NC 27520, 919-243-0631.
Mid-South Engineering Adds Office In Maine
Mid-South Engineering Co., an Arkansas-based, full service consulting engineering firm, has oppened its fourth office, this one in Orono, Maine. The new office, led by Walter Goodine, Director of Operations, allows Mid-South to better respond to its clients’ engineering needs in New England and the Maritime Provinces. Orono, the home of the University of Maine, is just north of Bangor.
“The addition of this location supports our firm’s commitment to build on the success we have seen in the New England area,” states Mid- South President Jeff Stephens. “The new office location is convenient to the building products, paper and bioenergy markets we serve and provides ready access to the professional talent to grow our staff.”
Peterson Pacific Adds Goodfellow, Border
Peterson Pacific, a Eugene, Ore.-based manufacturer of horizontal grinders, drum and disc chippers, blower trucks, and screens, named Goodfellow Corp. as its new distributor in Utah, Nevada and southern Idaho.
Goodfellow was established in 1960, and has seen steady growth in the aggregate crushing business. Adding environmental equipment such as the products that Peterson offers is a natural progression for the company for future growth.
Peterson Pacific also announced Border Equipment as its new distributor in Georgia.
Border Equipment, the local Case construction equipment dealer in Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah area, has a long tradition of serving the state of Georgia.
“We are very excited to bring on the Peterson line and are immediately stocking new grinders, chippers and screens to satisfy demand for these products here in Georgia,” says Brett Arrowood, Operations Manager for Border Equipment.
Baxley-LogPro Form Timber Automation
Baxley Equipment Co., LLC and Price LogPro, LLC (Baxley- LogPro) announced the formation of Timber Automation, LLC.
Subsequently Timber Automation announced the launch of Timber Automation Construction, a provider of complete end-to-end solutions. Timber Automation will provide Baxley Equipment and LogPro products alongside turnkey solutions.
John Steck has been named President of Timber Automation. Steck rose through the ranks by exceeding expectations at Danaher Corp. He received his education at University of Virginia with a BS in engineering and at the Darden School where he earned his MBA.
“John has the full support of an incredibly strong organization. Founding partners Chris Raybon, Russell Kennedy, Pat Conry and Jim Krauss will remain committed and active in operations,” according to a company statement. “With our combined resources, our increased investments in engineering, technology, quality and production, we will continue to exceed our customer expectations.”
TSI Controls Emissions At Dryer Island
TSI supplies complete systems for pellet and biofuel dryer islands. This includes the heat energy system, the dryer and the emission control equipment. The heat energy and dryer both produce emissions that need to be addressed to ensure that plants are in compliance with their air permit.
There are two broad classes of emission that are of concern: particulate and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). These are measured at the stack and depending on the location of the plant may be controlled by either absolute limits or by concentration. In some cases VOC may not be controlled at all, but in most U.S. states VOC will be regulated.
The primary strategy for reducing particulate is by use of cyclones after the dryer. TSI pays particular attention to the cyclone design to ensure maximum efficiency and even distribution of exhaust gas in the case of using multiple cyclones. On smaller plants this may be the only emission control equipment needed, but cyclones are not the best at catching really fine dust, so on bigger plants other equipment is required. TSI’s normal preference is to use wet ESPs (wet electrostatic precipitators) for particulate control and RTOs (regenerative thermal oxidizers) for VOCs.
The wet ESP is a complex, gas cleaning mechanism that utilizes high voltage to charge particulate in the gas stream that then precipitates to grounded stainless steel tubes. A wet system is used to flush the captured particulate for disposal.
VOCs are especially a problem with softwoods and encompass a wide range of hydrocarbon compounds and other hazardous air pollutants, many of which are generated even in low temperature drying applications. The RTO uses gas burners to oxidize these compounds and ceramic beds in conjunction with reciprocating gas flows to recapture the heat energy from the burners.
The combination of these two technologies gives, in the most stringent cases, the best results in terms of compliance. What TSI does is bring these technologies under one umbrella along with the dryer and heat energy system to ensure one supplier and one point of responsibility for what is really one contiguous process. Visit tsi-inc.net.
Diverter Valve Prolongs Equipment
Kice Industries offers an upgraded diverter valve available for Kice models 67Q2-2 through 67Q6-2 and 68Q2 through 68Q6 (2 in. OD – 6 in. OD line size).
“This improvement will help prolong the life of the equipment,” says Jeff Kice, Kice Industries. “The precise blade positioning reduces wear on the leading edge of the diverter blade. We also gave them highly visible position indicators to help operators easily determine proper diverting location without accessing the unit and taking the equipment offline.”
Another improvement is the new guard, which was engineered to remove potential pinch points, finger entry and equipment protection per safety standards ANSI B11.19-2010 and OSHA 1910.219.
Field conversion kits have been made available for operators, allowing for ease of conversion from a manually controlled diverter valve to an automatic valve.
Kice 67-series diverter valves and 68-series bin fill valves are heavy duty, cast iron valves.
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