Product category:
Compressors and Air Treatment
News Release from: Beko Technologies | Subject: Bekosplit 12 package
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 07 December 2001
Emulsified oil separated automatically
at Westland
GKN Westland Aerospace is using Beko on-site processing equipment for separating, collecting and processing the emulsified oil content from its compressor system's blowdown
GKN Westland Aerospace is helping to protect the environment by using on-site processing equipment for separating, collecting and processing the emulsified oil content from its compressor system's blowdown The equipment was provided by Beko Technologies in the form of a Bekosplit 12 package
Before the Beko equipment was installed in 1997, GKN Westland Aerospace used to blow down the compressor into a closed tank every night.
An operator would then try to drain off the water and separate the waste oil floating on top.
The oil was then taken out to a storage tank in the yard for subsequent collection and disposal by a third party company.
This arrangement was far from ideal as it was time-consuming, manual and involved heavy lifting.
It was also messy and not very accurate.
Furthermore, it was difficult to guarantee the ecological standards because the disposal was being carried out by a third party.
"As a major manufacturer in this part of the country we are aware that we must take full responsibility for our environmental impact," says David Palmer, GKN Westland Aerospace's mechanical foreman.
"One of the many initiatives we have taken to monitor this aspect of our performance is regular reporting by our internal quality work group.
It was one of the group's members that originally suggested that we should automate the emulsion separation procedure." GKN Westland Aerospace put the task of commissioning and installing the equipment out to several potential suppliers/partners for competitive tender.
Ultimately it chose to go with the compressed air specialist Motivair, which had based its proposal around the neat, compact and well-respected Bekosplit equipment.
In operation the Bekosplit takes the emulsion into a primary feed tank via a unique pressure relief chamber where free oil is gravitationally separated.
The remaining waste water and associated emulsion is then pumped into a reaction chamber, where a non-toxic splitting agent is added in precise measures.
This works by encapsulating oil and dirt particles to form 'microflocs' which are easily filtered out.
The remaining processed water is guaranteed to be sufficiently pure for discharge into the industrial water or sewage network.
The Bekosplit is packed with electronics for checking every step of the process, ensuring that air, water, oil and emulsion are all fully treated and never allowed to enter and contaminate the wrong parts of the plant.
It is manufactured in a range of sizes from the '11' which can process 15 litres per hour, to the '14' which has six times the capacity.
GKN Westland Aerospace uses a 30 litres per hour unit, designated the '12', which gives the company some spare capacity in case of emergencies.
"Since its installation the Bekosplit has been in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week," says David.
"It has been 100 percent reliable, so we are confident of our positive contribution to protecting the ecology and environment in this area. Request a free brochure from Beko Technologies ...
The equipment has also had financial benefits for GKN Westland Aerospace as the system looks after itself which means the staff can spend their time elsewhere.".
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