Biomass Plant Damper Actuator Recommissioning

Inspecting and recommissioning Beck drives after damper maintenance

At biomass power plants across the UK, IPT Engineering has inspected and recommissioned Beck electric actuators on combustion air dampers and valves after damper maintenance. These are the drives described on our biomass plant applications page.

When a damper is overhauled, its actuator has to be disconnected and then reconnected, and the linkage, stroke and end positions set again. Done well, the actuator goes straight back to accurate modulating control. Done badly, it can bind, overrun or lose resolution.

The Work

Inspection of each Beck actuator before and after the damper work
Reconnection to the overhauled damper, with linkages and crank arms reset
Stroke, end positions and control signal recommissioned and checked
Applications included FD fan dampers, overfire and underfire air dampers and gasification air flow control valves

The Actuators Were All Good

Every Beck actuator inspected was in good condition and returned to service without needing replacement, despite years of continuous modulating duty in dusty, high-temperature combustion air applications. It is the fit-and-forget performance we see on power stations and glass furnaces.

Beck electric actuator on an FD fan damper at a UK biomass plant — Beck actuator on its pedestal driving an FD fan damper

Beck electric actuator on a biomass boiler underfire air damper — Beck actuator and linkage on an underfire air damper

Beck electric actuator linkage on a gasification air flow control valve — Beck actuator and linkage on a gasification air flow control valve

Beck electric actuator on a gasification air valve — Beck actuator on a gasification air valve, working in a confined space

Replacement Overfire Air Dampers

Drop-in AMMTech dampers

At a number of plants, the original overfire air dampers supplied when the plants were built failed because of the harsh environment they worked in.

They were replaced with AMMTech dampers, designed as drop-in replacements for the originals. IPT checked the replacement dampers over as part of our work on the plants. They have now run for three to four years without any maintenance.

Replacement AMMTech overfire air damper at a UK biomass plant — Replacement AMMTech overfire air damper

AMMTech drop-in replacement overfire air damper on a biomass boiler — AMMTech damper, a drop-in replacement for the original supplied with the plant

Biomass Plant Applications

ID and FD fan dampers
Overfire (OFA / BOFA) and underfire air dampers
Secondary and primary air dampers
Gasification air flow control valves
Fuel route diverter and isolation valves

See our biomass plant applications, the power station case study, Beck Link-Assist™ for setting linkages, and our industrial dampers.

Discuss Your Application

Planning damper or valve maintenance on a biomass or power plant? Send us the actuator details or a photograph and we will help plan the inspection and recommissioning. Contact us or send us the details.