Spirax Sarco, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of
steam equipment and services, has opted to install Babcock
Wanson steam generators into the central boiler house of
its Cheltenham-based manufacturing facility

Spirax Sarco is investing more than £25
million to consolidate and modernise
its Cheltenham manufacturing
facilities to improve customer service
through better product availability while also
looking at making all aspects of construction
and operation more environmentallyfriendly.

This has included the installation of
a more efficient and comprehensive steam
raising plant for general site services and for
testing and developing the Spirax Sarco
range of equipment.

Following a
competitive tender, in
which Babcock Wanson
was recognised as an
expert in this type of
boiler technology, the
new boiler house was
designed to include three
steam generators. The
contract was awarded to initially supply two
vertical coil type steam generators from
Babcock Wanson’s VPX RR Series, with a
third to follow. Project Manager Tom
Hewlett comments on Spirax Sarco’s
decision: “We were very impressed with the
technical information and Babcock Wanson’s
clear presentation of a solution to meet our
requirements. The new boilers will help us
greatly improve the production process.”
The Babcock Wanson VPX5000RR60
boiler will be operated at Spirax Sarco’s
Cheltenham site to provide up to 5000kg of
steam per hour at 60 bar pressure. A further
specialist version – the VPX1000RR110 –
will provide 1000kg/h of steam at 110 bar. A
special boiler – the VPX1000RR110 – will
provide a dedicated steam supply to Spirax
Sarco’s R&D department.

The VPX RR range of vertical coil steam
generators feature three full gas passes plus
an in-built combustion air pre heater to give
high operating efficiency. With availability of
steam from cold start in as little as 3min and
a low volume of water under pressure, the
VPX RR steam generator combines efficiency
with safety, even at very high working
pressure. Units are rugged in construction
and compact.

The pressure containing coil design of the
VPX steam generator forms the main
combustion chamber with the second and third
passes for the gases going between the windings
to ensure high gas velocity with good heat
transfer and self cleaning of the smoke side.

Accurate flame dimensions are important for
any combustion device and the use of a
purpose-built and matched Babcock Wanson
burner ensures long life and simple
operation. The feed water system is simple
in operation and easy to maintain, consisting
of either a multi piston or diaphragm type
positive displacement pump driven from
inverter controlled motor for both accurate
control and low electrical demand.

As there is no discernable water level with
a coil type boiler, the need for gauge glasses
and other devices normally associated with
fire tube boilers is eliminated with the
associated reduction in boiler house manning
demands. All functions can be remotely
monitored for further peace of mind.

Babcock Wanson VPX RR steam generators
form part of the company’s range of products
and services for boiler houses – from steam
boilers, thermal fluid heaters, rapid steam
generators and hot water boilers to VOC and
odour treatment by thermal oxidation, water
treatment or process air heating solutions.