In the UK, Helvellyn Group, a developer of a "high-energy, low environmental impact solid fuel" designed to replace coal without modification to existing fuel handling and combustion equipment, has announced that it has appointed Saxlund International Ltd to supply and install the material handling and storage process equipment at its inaugural production plant in Leeds.
The production plant, located in Leeds, is the first of a planned twenty UK production facilities which will be producing 1.2 million tonnes of “renewable coal substitute fuel” by 2022. Each production facility relies on the continuous movement of material, from the initial preparation through to final discharge of finished product for dispatch, in order to maintain an output of 60 000 tonnes per annum of consistently high-quality renewable coal equivalent fuels.
Under the contract, worth around GBP1.7 million, Saxlund International, a subsidiary of Sweden-headed bulk solid handling and bioenergy combustion specialists Saxlund Group AB, is responsible for the design, installation, and commissioning of a system to convey and store the material in a bunker before it is discharged and distributed to the Helvellyn’s processing units. Saxlund’s system then collects the processed fuel and loads trailers for shipping to Helvellyn’s clients.
The Saxlund team has shown a deep understanding of the challenges we faced in handling different materials throughout the production process and have been fundamental to the final design of the plant. Their ability to collaborate with others on each part of the process has given us great comfort that they are the best partner for us as we roll out our UK site programme, said Frank Harris, CEO of Helvellyn Group.
Central to the design is Saxlund’s state-of-the-art Push Floor bunker discharge technology which ensures ‘first in, first out’ housekeeping principles limiting the opportunity for the feedstock to degrade or compact. The Push Floor’s reciprocating action across the floor of the bunker continuously breaks up the material, preventing any build-up or bridging, ensuring consistent and measured delivery of feedstock to the discharge point.
We are really excited to be involved in such an important project to reduce landfill of unrecyclable material and convert this to a useful fuel. Continuously developed over many years and in use at dozens of waste-to-energy sites across Europe, Saxlund’s Push Floor and conveying technology is ideal for handling waste materials and we are completely focused on delivering a highly resilient, robust and reliable solutions for the Helvellyn Group, said Matt Drew, Managing Director of Saxlund International.
