Biomass Energy Renewables LLP

Back in 2019 we were approached by a company who designed a bio energy plant that is based in the middle of Scotland’s country side.

They cut down the trees that are grown around the site (which they re- plant) these are then turned to wood chips and stored and dried out in bunkers (see photo below)

 From here they get fed into an incinerator and burnt – When burnt the gases given off run a generator that creates electricity. This is the first of its kind in the country.

The bunkers that store the chips need to be kept dry and weather proof. That’s where we came in. What they were looking for were roller shutters/retractable covers that would be weather proof but also fire rated due to the heating process inside the bunker. The Fire rating itself also added a problem we had to combat as there is no company in the world that can offer this design in a horizontal like set up with a fire rating

Due to the weather conditions in Scotland and the snow load a totally 90 degree horizontal shutter would not work as it would buckle under the weight of the snow. We would have to create a mechanism that would run effortlessly on a calculated angle to allow the snow not to build up but not too steep for the motor to burn out trying to lift a 7x7m shutter curtain which added to the complexity of this project as the material used on the curtain would have to combat the deflection caused by a span of 7m.

The motor itself would have to be able to work in artic like conditions so we have to work closely with the motor manufactures in German to allow for a motor to operate with should big doors, Woking against the constant force of gravity plus the weather conditions.

After many hours designing, drawing and many visits to Scotland, We built the first prototype in the factory and the custom came down to test and inspect to see if it suits their needs. It turned out that they were so impressed that the porotype would actually be used on site. 

Because of the bespoke design and first of its kind in the UK, changes and alterations were made but due to the expertise of UK Roller shutters these were made speedily. 

The project was a great success and now with all 7 shutters in place and fully operational for several months now a service and maintenance contract has been set up to make sure these will be safe and fully operable in the future.