drying system with constant water evaporation in the Alps
Energiepark z'Brigg AG, Switzerland
Sector: Timber industry
Challenge: Vehicle access to the construction site, particularly for lorries, was very difficult due to the Alpine location.
Solution: Somewhat unusual assembly solutions for erecting the drying system by helicopter guaranteed safe installation.
Dryer used: Belt dryer type BTL 1/3000-9
Product to be dried: Wet-ground wood chips
Challenge
Efficient drying in the Alps: STELA solution for wood chips with logistical challenges
Our customer from the timber industry wished to reduce the amount of wet-milled wood chips with a high moisture content from 40% to 10%. The dryer was installed in the Swiss Alps, near the Italian border. This location presented particular logistical challenges, especially due to the construction site’s limited accessibility for lorries and other vehicles. In addition, formal deployment regulations for fitters had to be taken into consideration, as Switzerland is not part of the EU. This issue would impact working hours and legal requirements.
Solution
To meet the requirements, a STELA BTL 1/3000-9 dryer was selected in co-operation with the sales partner Friedli AG, which has already realised several drying system projects in Switzerland. As its energy source, the drying system uses hot water from an on-site hydroelectric power station. The tried-and-tested belt drying system was designed to provide the required water evaporation capacity at any time of year. In close collaboration with the end customer and Friedli, a special roof duct for the extract air chimney was also planned and implemented to ensure ventilation.
Manufacturing and assembly
During production, the mechanical components and purchased parts were manufactured and delivered on time. The construction site’s accessibility posed a major challenge, however, which is why special installation solutions were required. The extract air chimney, for instance, was installed using a helicopter to compensate for the limited transport options on site. Thanks to the close co-operation of all partners involved, installation was completed successfully despite the difficult conditions.
Conclusion and outlook
The customer is very satisfied with the integration of the STELA drying system and its control system into the plant. The dryer achieves a water evaporation capacity of approximately one tonne per hour and fully meets the customer's requirements. Due to the successful co-operation and positive experiences, further projects will likely be implemented in cooperation with Friedli in Switzerland in future. Service calls and technical support will be provided as needed to ensure the long-term performance of the system. Additional personnel will also be trained, if necessary.
Mr Willy Weren, Managing Director of Energiepark z'Brigg AG, comments as follows:
Energiepark z'Brigg AG produces wood pellets in Ernen, Switzerland. Only wood from regional protected forests is used for this. What is special about the plant in Valais is that there is no heat or material storage in the entire production line. It is therefore essential that the heating, belt dryer and pelletising systems function reliably and evenly and are well coordinated. If one part of this fails or malfunctions, the entire system comes to a standstill. Our project planner (Friedli AG) recommended Stela as the supplier for the belt dryer. We have not regretted our decision: both in the project planning phase and during delivery and commissioning, Stela responded to the customer's wishes, met deadlines and delivered flawless work. The dryer does its job reliably and we are completely satisfied with it.
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