Babcock Engineering have designed and constructed a Multi-fuel boiler for Mondi Business Paper in KZN, to facilitate an environmental solution to the utilization of their residual process materials (RPM) and for the generation of steam and power to reduce dependency upon the national grid. The presentation will outline the project scope, interesting difficulties experienced with the Multi-Fuel nature of the plant and the successes achieved in identifying and overcoming these. This boiler operates using a Bubbling Fluid Bed specifically designed for the unique range of combustion requirements determined by the fuels mix and the variation of properties that naturally occur. The fuels available include bark, sawdust, sludge (mixed virgin and de-inking), fly-ash, coarse-ash, with coal (optionally gas) as an auxiliary fuel, whilst start-up is on Natural gas. The location of the plant dictated that the emissions were low, including gaseous discharge of SOx, NOx and CO. During the course of commissioning, many interesting and challenging occurrences were experienced, both in relation to the combustion of the various fuels and on their handling. The project is today delivering the expected fuels performance, with reliable operation.

Presented by David L Brook Technical Director Babcock Africa

Graduated from Witwatersrand University, with a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering. Joined Babcock in 1983, in the capacity of a design engineer, spending time in their UK offices gaining experience in the design of Industrial boiler plant, whilst being exposed to Utility power plant and manufacture. Like many engineers of the day, he was seconded to construction projects and learned first hand the realities of translating design intent to hard steel and machinery.

Lead much of the Babcock work with Eskom through the Life Extension period of the 1980's, together with the development of maintenance and manufacturing capability, before moving into management, becoming a Director in 1994, with portfolios that have included all aspects of the company business from Maintenance and Construction, to Engineering, Sales and company leadership.

Today, as the Babcock Africa Technical Director, he maintains an active role in the Engineering company on special projects.