COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT

SASL I existing unit was built in 1999, it was renovated to eliminate the impacts of uranium mining. The unit includes 3 identic evaporators technologies designed to concentrate the feed stream. The loop of each evaporator is a compressor of vapors recuperation.

After the accident of the original compressor in the “C” evaporator loop, the evaporator technology could not be operated anymore, a new one-stage radial fan replaced broken compressor in 2013. The working point of the newly designed compressor has been better adjusted to the current input solution parameters. Instead of the suction throttle valve the compressor performance is controlled by compressor speed control via frequency converter. This has resulted in the reduction of the new compressor energy consumption and achieved a return on investment after 4.5 years of compressor operation.

Due to the significant energy savings and trouble-free operation of the compressor the investor decided to change the further compressor position in 2016. The new fans are driven by an electrical motor equipped with a frequency convertor.
An OPM (Operating Point Monitor) was also a part of the project. It is a unit monitoring actual values of the operating parameters. OPM also blocks the fan if it operates outside its allowed operating range.