Hutchings Timber has established themselves, over the last 30 years, as the south east’s premier timber merchant, due in part due to the expansive portfolio and also to continued investment in their production capabilities.
During their latest round of investment, rather than look at any one, singular, aspect of their production, they took a satellite view of their entire operation, to ensure their clients were serviced with the broadest range of products, with the smallest possible production carbon footprint.
With a brief to improve their dust extraction systems, bulk handling facilities and optimise the performance of their automated biomass heating system and use all production waste materials, Hutchings Timber engaged Fercell.
Following a series of site surveys and client consultations, Fercell presented their recommendations and design. A solution, where Hutchings Timber’s MDF production waste was kept separate from their timber waste and the wood waste generated in the summer months was converted to solid fuel was selected.
At the heart of the new system was the Fercell supplied MVD silo filter, with a buffer storage capacity of 12m³.
While the MVD would deal with the majority of the production waste, the Fercell supplied UF-Series filter would control the MDF dust, collecting filtered waste in multiple poly bags.
Along with the production dust, other production waste, in the form of offcuts, scrap and pallet materials were converted, by the Weima WL13, single-shaft shredder, supplied by Fercell, into uniform chip as biomass for the heating system.
The WL13 shredder is perfect for shredding all types of wood waste, including linear to lump wood waste, where high-throughput, efficiency and reliability are required.
Whether from the production mill or the shredding plant, the material is captured at source, and transported through the centralised ducting system to the externally sited MVD silo filter.
The MVD, configured as a negative-pressure, has the fan set located on the clean side of the filter, which kept it away from the waste materials, increasing service life, while reducing both energy-consumption and noise.
Coupled to this, the system performance is automated, with filter monitoring and cleaning, and suction based upon demand. Air-volume ramps up and down, according to the number and type of machine tools in operation, at any one time. All of which, optimised performance, reduced maintenance costs, and minimised sound output and power usage.
Along with performance aids, the MVD has a package of safety features including, certified ATEX explosion relief panels, a non-return explosion valve and H20 sprinkler system.
Although, the MVD can accommodate up to four discharge points, Hutchings Timber utilise three. One discharging to the biomass heating system fuel store, via a pneumatic transfer system. Another, to plastic collection sack, as a contingency if other elements of the system are ever inoperable and the third, to a Fercell supplied, Weima, briquette press, via a screw-conveyor.
Considering the material and volumes, the TH820 Briquette Press was the ideal solution. Designed for high-volume wood briquette production, this was the perfect addition. It doesn’t require additives or thermal treatment, it simply uses the power of compression, to reduce dust and chipped material volume by up to 90%.
In the summer months, material is delivered to the briquette press, with output stored, until the winter months.
During the winter months, the production waste is directed to the biomass system, when the stored briquettes are loaded into the shredding system and directed to the biomass heating system to supplement fuel.
Along, with the intrinsic benefits of briquetting, profitable secondary commodity, reduction in volume of wood waste, maximising valuable storage space and minimising fire/explosion risks, for Hutchings Timber the arrangement makes the absolute maximum of their production waste.
Ensuring Hutchings Timber achieve the benefits for all of the colder months, without running out of fuel and rather than burning it in the warmer months, to simply dispose of the material and discharge the heat to atmosphere.
Fercell has been successfully delivering complete industrial recycling and size reduction systems and industrial ventilation equipment for over 47 years. Fercell can design a solution to meet customers’ exacting requirements.
01622 791414
www.fercell.com
