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FILTRATION
Eclipse Magnetic's Filtramag: key to
coal power station filtration systems
Eclipse Magnetic's Filtramag is the key filtration system for the heavy-duty gearboxes fitted
to the Drax coal pulverising mills. It’s why the Drax coal-fired power station in
North Yorkshire, is the cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK.
It’ sa fact. The Drax coal-fired power
station, near Selby, North Yorkshire, is
the cleanest and most efficient coalfired
power station in the UK. The output
capacity of the site's six turbo-generators
is an impressive 4000MW, and it currently
provides enough power to meet 7% of the
UK's electricity needs.
Each turbo-generator is supplied with
superheated steam from a dedicated
boiler, which burns pulverised fuel
supplied by 10 grinding mills.
To ensure that maintenance downtime
was minimised, an Eclipse Magnetic
Filtramag filtration system was fitted
along with a circulation pump, a
motorised cooling fan and a thermostatic
temperature control, onto an interchangeable
transportable platform, containing
quick release couplings.
The filtration element can easily be
exchanged for a cleaned unit. Where
maintenance is required, the platform can
simply be uncoupled from any given
pulverising mill and quickly exchanged
with a replacement platform.
Andrew Wilkinson, the Drax Engineer
who oversaw the successful project, told
WIP: “Efficient filtration has been proved
to considerably extend the working life of
each pulverising mill's heavy-duty
gearbox.
"Previous company trials of magnetic
filtration systems, conducted in the
1980s, had proved to be inconclusive, but
the considerable progress made in the
field by Eclipse Magnetics convinced us
that Filtramag's outstanding filtration
capability, maintenance-friendly
characteristics and short investment payback
period exactly matched our needs.”
In line with the company's commitment
to minimise environmental impact, over
the past three years the new Eclipse units
have helped to improve recovery of
contaminated debris entrained in the
lubrication system, allowing better
management of toxic waste.
Eclipse Magnetics has also developed a
wide range of high-intensity, superefficient
filtration products which are
designed for use across many industrial
sectors. Boasting sub-micron filtration
capability, the design of the new Eclipse
products enables the efficient removal of
ferrous and paramagnetic particles from
fluids such as cutting oils, re-circulating
coolants and quenching oils.
Each of the Eclipse filtration systems
incorporates rare earth magnetic material
to ensure extremely high magnetic flux
fields.
Whilst passing through these extremely
strong magnetic fields, the design of the
Eclipse Magnetic's filter chambers alters
the characteristics of the fluid's flow,
maximising both the surface area and
time available for the magnets to attract
and retain all suspended ferrous particles.
There are many benefits currently being
enjoyed by users of the Eclipse Magnetics,
says the manufacturer.
Benefits of the high-intensity filter
system include - no running costs, no
maintenance costs, an end to the downtime
normally associated with the
changing of filter media, and no fluid loss
due to changing sodden cartridges.
The system has been designed to
produce no back-pressures - even when
the magnetic cores are totally saturated
with fluid. In this way, Filtramag provides
an extended machine tool, cutting tool
and coolant/oil life.
Internet link
www.eclipse-magnetics.co.uk
WIP
28
JUNE 2010 • WORLDWIDE I NDEPENDENT P OWER