Heat transfer specialist Fulton will be using Foodex to showcase its range of fuel-fired and electric steam boiler solutions, launching its all-new boiler sequencing control system and promoting the many solutions on offer from its aftercare division.
Launched at Foodex in 2018, Fulton will continue to promote the many radical features and benefits of the multi-award-winning VSRT vertical steam boiler – including the VSRT-250 due for launch this year – with the stand featuring a cut-away demonstration model of the VSRT-30 and a typical example of a skid mounted solution for food and beverage processing facilities that features a VSRT-15.
Fulton will also be using its stand to launch the company’s all-new boiler sequencing control system which, with many food processing facilities operating multiple steam boilers, can optimise installations to ensure energy efficient operation and improve boiler longevity. Using sequencing to provide redundancy and reliability, Fulton predicts that significant savings can be made by automating start-up and shut-down procedures, controlling and optimising main steam header pressure or temperature, ensuring steam supply is controlled precisely for the required process and by eliminating idle time at low-fire.
Beyond its product portfolio, the company will also be showcasing the many solutions on offer from its aftercare division, which can support Fulton’s own installations and those from other boiler manufacturers.
Commenting for Fulton, aftercare and business development manager Jeff Byrne says: “Since launch, the VSRT has proved extremely popular, especially within the food processing sector. So, while we continue to push the VSRT and promote its low total cost of ownership, we must also promote the many aftercare solutions Fulton offers.”
Fulton is renowned for its many gas-, oil- and electric-fired heat transfer solutions, but its service doesn’t just stop after a boiler is installed and commissioned. A food processing facility depends on its heat transfer equipment to maintain a regular supply of steam and, in many cases, during every hour of every day. So, when a boiler needs start-up, aftermarket parts, repair/maintenance or your operators require training, it’s essential that you use professionals that understand the often-complex capabilities of your processing equipment.
Using an analogy, Jeff explains that having invested in a new fleet of vehicles for its business, a company would be ill-advised to use unqualified mechanics or technicians to service them. “In the automotive industry, doing so would likely result in the manufacturer’s warranty being invalidated.” says Jeff. “But this is exactly what we’re seeing at facilities where boilers operators are often given little, poor or no training and are therefore unqualified and certainly unprepared when a fault occurs, or regular maintenance is required. A poorly maintained and serviced boiler could result in failure, significant process downtime and potential revenue losses.”
As well as offering boiler spares and repair service for all makes and types of heat transfer equipment, Fulton’s aftercare portfolio also includes accredited boiler operator training to INDG436 and BG01-R2, technical boiler house risk assessments, boiler and water treatment service contracts, water treatment training to BG04 and EN12953, steam trap surveys, site mass balance assessments and system design, etc.
For further information on the VSRT, boiler sequencing system or Fulton’s aftercare solutions, visit stand R269 at Foodex, call +44 (0)117 972 3322 or click www.fulton.co.uk.
Having recently announced a series of appointments for its aftercare/service department, leading heat transfer specialist Fulton is continuing to strengthen its UK team with a number of senior roles changes.
Having joined Fulton in May 2017, Leigh Bryan has assumed the role of national consultant specialist at the company.
Commenting on the new role, managing director Carl Knight says: “In his previous role, Leigh was instrumental in successfully integrating the VSRT into Fulton’s current portfolio and introducing it to the UK market as the most radical change to vertical steam boiler design since Fulton pioneered the vertical tubeless boiler in 1949.
“In his new role, Leigh will remain an integral member of the management team and, thanks to the success of the ultra-low NOx VSRT steam boiler since its launch, will provide specification support, documentation and CPD training to specifiers and consultants across numerous markets.”
Ruth Price, who joined Fulton in 2012 as area sales manager for the North of England and North Wales, has also been promoted and, in her new role as senior sales engineer, will work closely with new and existing customers across the UK to advise on optimum boiler and steam systems specifications for their project.
For further information on the VSRT steam boiler or training available from Fulton, call +44 (0)117 972 3322, email sales@fulton.co.uk or visit www.fulton.co.uk.
Fillongley Spring Water boasts one of the UK’s most efficient bottling facilities and offers a high-speed and cost-effective way for bottled water cooler distributors to access the high-quality product demanded by their customers. But with the demand for bottled cooler water increasing, Fillongley needed a new bottling line. However, with the two existing Fulton boilers not having the capacity to reach the target temperature for the new plant’s washing line, Fillongley started looking at alternative steam raising solutions.
Commenting for Fillongley Spring Water, technical and quality manager Martin Whitehead says: “We looked at several alternatives – including vertical and horizontal firetube boilers – but, with advice from our main contractors and installer, a decision to specify one of Fulton’s recently-launched VSRT-30 steam boilers was taken and, overall, the results have exceeded expectations!”
Instead of running two boilers for the washing line, a single VSRT boiler is now being used to achieve an increased target temperature of 60°C for the detergent. The combination of the new line and Fulton’s energy-efficient VSRT also means the company has been able to increase the throughput of the line by 40% – from 1,200 bottles per hour to 2,000 – and Fillongley has reduced its gas consumption by about a third.
“A reduction in gas consumption wasn’t something we set out to achieve, so this is a real bonus for the company and means the payback period for the bottling line is reduced.” says Martin.
It is within the bottle washer that, via a heat exchanger, steam from Fulton’s VSRT vertical boiler is used to heat the detergent. The company also took the decision to retain the existing vertical steam boilers for duty-standby purposes.
The VSRT is the first steam boiler to emerge from Fulton’s new ‘PURE Technology’ approach, an initiative that’s resulted in a world-first design that is durable, long-lasting and boasts the highest efficiencies and ultra-low NOx emissions as standard. This new approach aims to enhance heat transfer, provide class-leading efficiencies, improve steam quality and reduce NOx emissions.
Rather than further-improve products like its J Series to achieve these goals, PURE Technology – the culmination of Fulton’s clean slate approach to design – challenges the industry status quo on conventional boiler design by engineering solutions that are fit-for-purpose and fully-optimised for all applications.
Launched in 2018, Fulton’s VSRT steam boiler is unlike anything the industry has seen before. And because of its radical, world-first design that is durable, long-lasting and boasts the highest efficiencies and ultra-low NOx emissions as standard, it’s also catching the eye of those judging product and innovation awards.
At the recent Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers’ (IGEM) Gas Industry Awards 2019 at the London Hilton on Park Lane, Fulton’s VSRT continued its winning streak by claiming the Product of the Year award, the vertical steam boiler’s third award in six months.
Commenting for Fulton, managing director Carl Knight says: “The double-award-winning VSRT becomes a multi-award-winning steam boiler and we couldn’t be more delighted with this Product of the Year award. It was up against some stiff competition, which we hope proves just how impressive this next-generation boiler is and how much hard work has gone into developing the VSRT.”.
With over 15 patents pending in three continents, the VSRT’s spiral-rib heat exchanger is a world first. It attains industry-leading heat transfer rates thanks to its unique spiral design, which achieves low stack temperatures by passing the flue gases through a spiral-wound heat exchanger that is fully immersed in water.
“The PURE Technology approach adopted for the VSRT aims to enhance heat transfer, provide class-leading efficiencies, improve steam quality and reduce NOx emissions.” says Carl. “Rather than simply try to improve existing products to achieve these goals, PURE Technology challenges the industry status quo on conventional boiler design by engineering solutions that are fit-for-purpose and fully-optimised for all applications.”.
Fulton is delighted to confirm that its VSRT Steam Boiler Operation & Maintenance course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to the continuing professional development principles.
The news follows the company’s announcement in late-2018 that it had achieved similar CPD Certification status, but for its Vertical Steam Boiler Operation & Maintenance course.
Commenting for Fulton, aftercare and business development manager Jeff Byrne says: “You could be forgiven for thinking that achieving certified status for the VSRT course was easy as we had recently achieved similar for our vertical steam boiler course. However, given the radical design of our double-award-winning VSRT steam boiler and the fact that it was only launched in early-2018, it took months of extra assessments to achieve. We are therefore delighted to have gained certification for the training course so quickly.”
Designed for boiler operators, the one-day VSRT Steam Boiler Operation & Maintenance course covers basic monitoring and day-to-day operation of steam boilers to provide employees with the knowledge required to ensure boilers are running safely and efficiently. It also focuses on the VSRT’s use of state-of-the-art controls and technology, looks in-depth at its patented spiral heat exchanger and includes training in operational procedures, daily blowdowns and the checking of water levels, alarms, etc. Finally, it examines the importance of correctly treated feedwater and what boiler inspectors will look for during routine insurance inspections.
Further information on Fulton’s training courses can be found on their website, by calling +44 (0)117 972 3322 or emailing training@fulton.co.uk.
Fulton will be using Stand X291 at Foodex to showcase the VSRT, the company’s all-new range of gas-fired, vertical spiral-rib tubeless steam boilers.
The VSRT is the first range to emerge from the company’s new ‘PURE Technology’ approach, an initiative that has resulted in a world-first design that is durable, long-lasting and boasts the highest efficiencies and ultra-low NOx emissions as standard.
Commenting for Fulton, sales and marketing manager Leigh Bryan says: “Our products are already proving themselves in food processing applications in the UK and around the world; and we’re really looking forward to promoting the VSRT and its benefits to other companies at Foodex.”
He goes on to say that Fulton’s PURE Technology approach aims to enhance heat transfer, provide class-leading efficiencies, improve steam quality and reduce NOx emissions.
“Rather than further-improve products like our renowned J Series to achieve these goals, PURE Technology – the culmination of Fulton’s clean slate approach to design – challenges the industry status quo on conventional boiler design by engineering solutions that are fit-for-purpose and fully-optimised for all applications.” says Leigh.
With over 15 patents pending in three continents, the VSRT’s attains industry-leading heat transfer rates thanks to a unique spiral-rib heat exchanger, which achieves low stack temperatures by passing the flue gases through a spiral-wound heat exchanger that is fully immersed in water.
The VSRT’s combustion technology achieves ultra-low NOx emissions of <20ppm and features a fully-matched modulating burner and furnace that have been purposely-designed as a single component. This helps to achieve up to 10:1 turndown capabilities and industry-leading performance of up to 82.5% gross thermal efficiency with 99.75% steam quality. At launch, the VSRT is available with outputs from 160 to 960 kg/h and its pressure vessel and burner are backed by a five-year guarantee as standard.
For applications where contaminated air can reduce boiler uptime the VSRT’s cyclonic air filter effectively separates debris and damaging particles from the combustion air and, because it won’t clog over time, eliminates the need for replacement filters.
The all-new gas-fired, vertical spiral-rib tubeless steam boiler from Fulton, the VSRT, is the first range to emerge from the company’s new ‘PURE Technology’ approach, an initiative that has resulted in a world-first design that is durable, long-lasting and boasts the highest efficiencies and ultra-low NOx emissions as standard.
By adopting a systems-engineering approach to design and implementing PURE Technology – the result of a clean-slate design approach that combines new people with new skills bringing a new approach to the design and optimisation of heat transfer solutions – Fulton’s VSRT radically challenges the heat transfer and mechanical design principles of traditional steam boilers. It is also claimed by the company to be the most radical change to vertical steam boiler design since Fulton pioneered the vertical tubeless boiler in 1949 and, for the right application, a worthy successor to the company’s renowned J Series.
Commenting for Fulton, sales and marketing manager Leigh Bryan says: “To meet ever-more stringent industry and environmental standards, our PURE Technology approach looks to enhance heat transfer, provide class-leading efficiencies, improve steam quality and reduce NOx emissions. So rather than improve existing products to achieve these goals, PURE Technology radically challenges conventional boiler design by engineering solutions that are fit-for-purpose and applications.”
With over 15 patents pending in three continents, the VSRT’s spiral-rib heat exchanger is a world first. It attains industry-leading heat transfer rates thanks to its unique spiral design, which achieves low stack temperatures by passing the flue gases through a spiral-wound heat exchanger that is fully immersed in water.
“This all-new spiral-rib design benefits from an extended heat transfer path and dual-direction heat flow, with the spiral annulus designed and optimised to create high heat transfer rates.” says Leigh. “This optimises heat transfer to create a longer-lasting boiler that we believe will beat the competition in every category of durability!”
The ground-breaking spiral rib heat exchanger design not only allows Fulton to improve boiler efficiency but, with virtually zero thermal stress, a thick walled construction and featuring vertical tubeless design architecture, the VSRT is one of the most durable steam boilers available.
It features a fully water-backed pressure vessel, which is wrapped in high-density insulation to achieve minimal thermal losses and low outer surface temperatures. The tubeless design has also enabled Fulton to create a compact boiler with minimal footprint. No refractory also means significantly lower weight (compared to traditional vertical steam boilers) for ease of installation.
Ultra-low NOx emissions of less than 20ppm are achieved thanks to the VSRT’s combustion technology, which features a modulating burner and furnace that have been purposely-designed as a single component and fully-matched with the VSRT in mind. This has helped Fulton to achieve up to 10:1 turndown capabilities and industry-leading performance of >82.5% gross thermal efficiency and 99.75% steam quality at 8 bar. When correctly sized for applications, the exceptionally high turndown will result in savings above and beyond those gained from the stated efficiencies.
With features including a tubeless design, no internal refractory and revolutionary cyclonic air filtration, the VSRT is extremely easy to maintain and operate. For applications where contaminated air can reduce boiler uptime – such as laundry and dry cleaning – the VSRT’s cyclonic air filter effectively separates debris and damaging particles from the combustion air and, because it won’t clog over time, eliminates the need for replacement filters. Maintenance is further improved compared to other vertical boilers thanks to the VSRT’s industrial control platform and easy access to the pressure vessel.
The VSRT is currently available with outputs from 160 to 960 kg/h, complies with the City of London Air Quality Strategy and anticipated MCPD regulations, is constructed to BS EN 12953 and CE marked to PED. Its pressure vessel and burner are backed by a five year guarantee as standard.
For further information on the VSRT Series, call Fulton on 0117 972 3322, email sales@fulton.co.uk or visit www.fulton.co.uk.
