Robson Helps Green Power Revolution

• 
• 24th November 2008
• Materials Handling
 

 

Darnall based Material Handling Company Robson has secured an £11 million order to supply Biomass Handling Equipment to Drax Power Station.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) Ltd
Coleford Road
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S9 5PA
UK

T: 0114 244 4221
F: 0114 243 3066

www.robson.co.uk

Associated Links

• Hub-4 Profile of Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) Ltd
• Geo Robson & Co (Conveyors) Ltd Company Website