ATEX process package solves biodiesel plant problems 02 July 2010

Biodiesel equipment manufacturer Green Fuels is partnering with Bürkert Fluid Control Systems for its new generation of automatic biodiesel production plants.

Designed to produce up to 20,000 litres per day of high quality biodiesel, Green Fuels' skid-mounted Fuelmatic is now attracting worldwide interest, with the 20th unit currently being commissioned in Mexico.

In its re-design for this latest Fuelmatic, Green Fuels stipulated working with a single source for all valves, sensors, flowmeters and positioners etc.

However, Green Fuels managing director James Hygate recalls that this posed a problem, because all the equipment had to be ATEX- approved EeX lA devices, powered via safety barriers.

Burkert, which had worked with Green Fuels on a previous project, provided a solution, since it has one of the widest range of ATEX products in the process market.

In brief detail, the new Fuelmatic is controlled by a PLC that interfaces with Burkert's 8640 compact pneumatic valve islands, each of which provides for the actuation of up to 24 valves. These provide actuation of Burkert pneumatic angle seat, globe and diaphragm valves, all with Type 1062 electric feedback switches, and the Type 2712 modulating globe valve with ATEX electro-pneumatic positioner.

ATEX-certified flow and displacement sensors, vibrating level switches, positive displacement flowmeters and conductivity transmitters complete the picture.

"Burkert has proved to be the ideal partner on this project. It has met all of our requirements in terms of a well known supplier, with global reach, allied to local service," says Hygate.

"Burkert was able to meet our demand for a single source supplier across a wide range of ATEX equipment, and at a cost that was in the realms of reality," he adds.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Burkert Contromatic Ltd

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