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Eclipse Magnetics's Filtramag has been selected as the
filtration system for an essential component of Britain's largest
coal-fired power station.
The six turbo-generators of Drax Power Station, near Selby, North
Yorkshire, currently supply around 7% of the UK's electricity needs.
Each turbo-generator is supplied with super-heated steam from a
dedicated boiler which burns pulverised fuel supplied by 10 pulverising
mills.
After extensive trials, and in the face of stiff competition, the Filtramag has been selected as the filtration system for the lubrication oil of the heavy-duty gearboxes fitted to these mills.
Filtration considerably extends gearbox life
Andrew Wilkinson, the Drax Engineer who oversaw the installation, explained why Drax chose Filtramag:
"Efficient filtration has been proven 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 pay-back period exactly
matched our needs."
To ensure that maintenance down time is minimised, an Eclipse Magnetics Filtramag
filtration system is fitted along with a circulation pump, a motorised
cooling fan and a thermostatic temperature control onto an
interchangeable transportable platform containing quick-release
couplings. When full 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.
As part of a rolling programme, less efficient filters still used on
many of the company's pulverising mills will be replaced by advanced Filtramag units as each mill undergoes major maintenance work.
In line with Drax's commitment to minimise environmental impact, the
new Eclipse Magnetics units will help improve recovery of contaminated
debris entrained in the lubrication system allowing better management
of toxic waste.
More information about Filtramag. A fact sheet is available from our downloads section.
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