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| Robson
Helps Green Power Revolution |
| Securing
an £11 million order to supply Biomass Handling Equipment |
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Drax Power Station, the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired
power station in the UK is investing a massive £2 Billion in the use
of renewable fuel at three power stations. |
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| The
first being at Drax, Selby, where Robson is to supply fifteen Biomass
Airglide Conveyors, the conveyors are unique in design, by utilising
a cushion of air to transport the conveyor belt rather than the more
traditional rollers. This method reduces the friction between the
belt and the bed of the conveyor, reducing the power consumption significantly
and minimises maintenance by using fewer moving parts. |
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| Each
of the Airglide Conveyors is one metre wide with the longest at 120
metres long. Robson have designed and will be building the gantries
and towers to house the conveyors, along with the supply of other
equipment including conventional belt conveyors and screw conveyors. |
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| Robson
initially produced the Airglide Conveyors for the Sugar Industry;
there are similarities with Biomass and Sugar, such as the dust created
during processing is explosive so the conveyor has to undergo stringent
assessments to ensure any dust created cannot ignite to cause an explosion.
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| Each
conveyor has fully enclosed covers to protect the Biomass from the
elements and to keep any dust created contained and safe within the
enclosure. An added benefit of the sealed enclosures means that the
120m long 60m high gantries can have open sides rather than walled
sides. This also saves resources and extra transport, all counting
towards minimising the Power Plants carbon footprint. |
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| By
choosing the Airglide Conveyors, Drax have reinforced the Green Power
message, not only using renewable fuels but also ensuring any environmental
effects of the Conveying System is minimised. |
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| Biomass
is derived from Waste Wood, Grain Husks, Nut Shells, and Forestry
Waste and among many other natural materials. Ensuring the Biomass
is free from tramp metal, contaminants or foreign objects that may
damage the furnace or other equipment, metal detectors and sampling
equipment will be supplied by Robson. |
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| Although
Biomass and Alternative fuels are relatively new terms within the
home, within industry they were established in the 1980's. Robson
recognised in the early days that systems had to be designed or adapted
for the new fuels, consequently they have been at the forefront of
Research and Development of Biomass and Alternative Fuel Conveying
Systems for many years. With many recent installations, including
a £5 million Biomass Conveying System at Fiddlers Ferry Power Station,
Warrington and Tyre Feed Systems supplied to the top four cement producers
in the UK. |
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