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garBage in, energy out
AVR is the Group’s largest EfW – Energy from
Waste – operation. A three-in-one operation,
they must monitor the inflow of garbage,
control and burn waste and then connect to
the energy grid. The product is combustible
and safety concerns are paramount.
Mr Joost van Rooijen, a 15-year AVR
veteran who has risen from operator to
head of the production department, gave
Sphere
some insights into what happens in
AVR’s control room.
one roomto rule themall...
According to Mr Rooijen, the complete waste
energy and biomass plant is controlled from
one single control room. There are no fewer
than five different systems controlled from
the one Control Room:
• 7 Energy fromWaste (EfW) boilers
including flue gas treatment and
cogeneration power plant (electric
and heat production),
• 4 vortex ovens for wastewater incineration,
• 1 Biomass plant including flue gas
treatment and steam turbine, the BEC
(Biomass Energy Plant) produces carbon
dioxide neutral electrical energy,
• Utility systems as cooling water and
instrument air for all sites, and
• Fire fighting systems.
The boilers produce the steam by the
incineration of the combustible waste, while
the vortex ovens burn waste water. The
resulting heat is fed into AVR’s heating grid.
Vortex ovens aren’t named for the shape
of the oven, but rather the shape of
the rotating flame. This gives the best
flammable mix of waste water and auxiliary
fuels, removing contaminants.
The BEC (Biomassa Energie Centrale,
“Biomass Energy Plant” in English), produces
100 per cent green energy, by burning waste
wood. The steam produced drives a turbine,
generating electricity.
The utility systems and fire fighting systems
must be maintained in top condition in the
unlikely event of a fire or other disasters.
Control Roomoperators have to knowwhere a
problem is long before it becomes a problem.
seeing proBlems Before
they happen
AVR not only draws power from the grid for
their operations – it feeds power into the grid.
Accordingly, it must have backups of backups
to ensure integrity across the system. AVR
has back-up panels of electrical rooms in the
plant fromwhich the staff can control most
important parts of the operations. Other
backup systems, like emergency generators,
are on standby in case of power drops. The
control system itself is completely equipped
with its own electrical back-up system.
Moreover, AVR has an “island mode” system
in which they can generate and provide their
own electrical supply in case there is an issue
in the external power grid.
The human element is crucial and AVR’s
efforts in emergency response aren’t purely
restricted to Control Roompersonnel. Crisis
teams manage fires, technical failures (such
as with a valve or pump), injuries or other
incidents. Mr Rooijen said, “We do emergency
drills in collaboration with local emergency
services such as fire department and police.”
the Control roomprofessionals
Who is qualified to work in this important
control room? Mr Rooijen described the
people who work in the control room as
skilled operators with a minimum of four
years’ experience on site. Most of them
are trained in thermodynamic physics.
Many have backgrounds in power and
transportation. The operators in the control
room need to be stress resistant and have
good communication skills.
“When I was an operator I was tested by a
Belbin (personality) test. For other jobs I had
assessments on personal skills. In some cases
people get personal coaching to improve
necessary skills,” said Mr Rooijen. In AVR,
the internal training of an operator takes
up to two years, including making a set of
reports on various plant parts, culminating in
an examination. Every five years all operators
are tested on their knowledge and skill levels.
Every year the operators get an appraisal
which is used by employer and employee to
improve personal performance. Cases that
needmore than average attention receive a
mid-term appraisal once every quarter.
moving targets
When being asked about the most
challenging part of his job, Mr Rooijen
explained that keeping the carbon monoxide
level under the national limits is the most
difficult part. Since the AVR fuel is from
waste and waste changes day to day, as
well as having seasonal trends, it is an
unstable factor. Practices must be monitored,
managed and adapted to continue to meet
national standards.
The variable nature of inputs also impacts the
mechanical workings of the operations. The
Control Room has to spot when bottlenecks
or impending problems are about to impact
the processes. “The plant consists of many
mechanical parts which require a lot of
attention. Obstructions on conveyors and
funnels are also common in this business,”
saidMr Rooijen.
A nimble and well trained staff is needed to
deal with unseen contingencies. Rigorous
selection combined with constant coaching,
training and testing ensure that AVR’s control
room operators will be able to manage the
difficult challenges involved with the complex
elements of their business.
Mr Rooijen himself is setting an example
showing how crucial continual personal
improvement is to excel on the job – today
and for the unknown future. “I have a bachelor
degree in thermodynamics, and at this
moment I am doing anMBA at TiasNimbas,
at Tilburg University to develop skills for my
current job and for possible future jobs.”
avr
SpHere
#34
2013
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