Lybover METAL, in cooperation with BEP Europe, has produced two containerised generators for the Tredi incineration plant in France. Together, the two plants can supply 90% of the company’s electricity needs.

The Lybover way

BEP Europe used to be part of Fabricom and is located on the edge of the Lappersfort forest in Bruges. Since 1995, high-end test machines for the automotive industry have been developed and produced there. Before cars leave the car factory at the end of the production process, they are tested on the spot for wheel alignment, braking power, engine power, etc. These tests are done by BEP’s end-of-line test installations. BEP has a global market share of 30%. In order to be less dependent on one product type and one sector, a new product based on ORC (Organic Ranking Cycle) was developed in 2009 and is marketed under the name E-RATIONAL.

These are installations that convert (residual) heat in industrial processes into electricity. The principle is based on that of a classic power station, where a heat source (e.g. combustion of wood, coal, waste, …) converts water into steam. This steam drives a turbine and a generator and electricity is generated. This process requires high temperatures of 500 to 600°C. By replacing the water with a coolant that boils at a lower temperature, this process can also be applied at low temperatures, from 80 to 150°C. The efficiency of this application is lower than that of a steam turbine because lower temperatures are used, but that does not make it less interesting. ORC applications produce 100% green energy without the use of fossil fuels, CO² emissions or fine dust.

Organic Ranking Cycle project for incenration plant Tredi

BEP in cooperation with Lybover METAL delivered an ORC project at the customer Tredi in Strasbourg, France. Tredi has two incinerators where hazardous industrial and medical waste is burned. The water used to cool the incinerator reaches a temperature of 160°C. Before the ORC machines were installed, this heat was cooled off and the energy was completely lost. With the two ORC installations, this residual heat is now partly converted into electricity. Each plant produces 320kW. Together, this is good for 90% of the company’s electricity needs. Each installation consists of two containers with generators and condensers. Lybover METAL has performed the following for this installation:

  • The piping of the machine itself, according to the PED directive (Pressure Equipment Directive)
  • the steel construction,
  • the insulation and equipment of container generators,
  • the on-site piping between the ORC installation and the condensers,
  • the landings according to FPC2+ to place the condensers on.
  • the assembly of all components on the Strasbourg site
It was important that Lybover METAL, as a supplier, could produce things in its own workshop as well as assemble them on site
– Guy De Graeve, Project Manager BEP

All expertise under one roof

One of the reasons why BEP chose Lybover METAL is that our business unit has the necessary welding certificates and has experience in PED (European Directive for pressure equipment). During the production process Lybover METAL took care of the work preparation, sawing, welding, piping, radiographs, pressure testing and assembly. Once all container generators were designed and tested in the Lybover METAL workshop, the installation was transported to BEP for the electrical and mechanical finishing. Then the container generators were transported to the customer’s yard, where Lybover METAL assembled them. The customer TREDI falls under the SEVESO regulation. Therefore the strictest safety regulations had to be met.

All employees of Lybover METAL put in a great deal of effort to keep the project on track
– Rik Dierckens, Productie Manager BEP