Continued development and testing of EPS technology has produced new features that:
- increase production speeds
- yield an even cleaner surface, and
- reduce scheduled maintenance
These features are collectively being released as EPS Cell Version 2.2. All new full size EPS Cells will be Version 2.2 (a full size cell consists of 8 Slurry Turbines). Each of the new Version 2.2 features can also be retrofitted to Version 2.0 and 2.1 EPS Cells currently in operation.
INCREASED PRODUCTION SPEEDS
Version 2.1 introduced the Curved Turbine Blade which allowed Slurry Turbines to deliver a greater volume of grit with each revolution. In Version 2.2 we modified the slurry spout design to deliver higher volumes of grit to the new curved blades. The higher grit flow equates to faster line speed.
A CLEANER SURFACE
| In advancing EPS technology we strive to get the processed strip as clean as possible. One way we do this is to install a scale breaker ahead of the EPS Cells. The scale breaker improves cleanliness because it prevents a considerable amount of loose scale from entering the EPS cells in the first place. |  |
To improve the cleanliness even more, we have designed and implemented a small ‘Post Rinse‘ station positioned after the last EPS Cell. In testing the new Post Rinse at EPS production locations, we found that it did, indeed, leave the strip surface even cleaner and brighter. This Post Rinse station will be standard on Version 2.2 EPS Cells and available for retrofit to earlier versions.
 | REDUCED MAINTENANCE The abrasive nature of Slurry Blasting would, over time, wear away the inner liner of the Turbine Chamber that is exposed to blast stream residuals. Hard replaceable liners have been used to protect these surfaces. The liners must be regularly inspected and replaced when they become excessively worn. Our EPS Technology Team hit upon an innovative alternative design for the liners: add magnets to the liners ! |
The idea is that as grit particles hit the magnets they would stick to them and build up successive layers of a protective shield of grit.
Testing proved out the idea. The photo on the left shows a magnetic liner before and after exposure in the EPS Turbine Chamber. The matrix of small magnets (BEFORE) become covered with grit particles which build up like a cushion (AFTER) to a self-limiting thickness which protects the interior surfaces. The magnetic liners have no practical limit on their useful life and, therefore, are not expected to need replacement. They will be standard on Version 2.2 EPS Cells and available for retrofit to earlier versions.
SUMMARY: EPS CELL VERSION 2.2 ECONOMICS
The new design features of EPS Cell Version 2.2 combine to extend EPS’ economic advantage over acid pickling. The interactive EPS Cost Calculator has been updated to reflect Version 2.2′s faster processing speed and reduced maintenance costs. We encourage you to try out the Cost Calculator and analyze various scenarios to see how the economics of EPS processing can work to your advantage.