Applied partnering with QRail and BMA to suppress dust.
QRail National has been working on an ongoing research and development partnership with Applied Australia and BMA, to develop strategies to minimise coal dust background emissions from coal trains. Trials began at Boorgoon mine in the Blackwater System last year, and have been extremely successful with Applied Australia awarded the tender contract to supply chemicals. The first major breakthrough for the project was when Applied Australia successfully combined two products to create a new biodegradable chemical, Applied DMT-C, that forms a flexible and impermeable membrane, when uniformly sprayed over the surface of coal loaded into wagons. A brief product description follows:
Applied DMT-C is an elastic membrane film formulated to suppress background emission of coal fines from loaded coal wagons, and can be utilised in conjunction with the Applied maintenance program, for the long term storage and stockpiling of coal at coal terminals.
When sprayed onto the surface of a loaded coal wagon, at the train load out; the liquid phase of the Applied DMT-C evaporates leaving a flexible film. This flexible film then binds the coal particles together. Applied DMT-C is particularly effective in binding the coal particles along the edges of the coal profile on the loaded coal wagon, which if untreated tend to lift off when the consist reaches a maximum speed of 80km per hour.
The results of the initial Blackwater trial have been truly outstanding and Rollingstock Technical Project Officer, John Croce, suggested that the trial needed to be duplicated on the Goonyella rail system. "The trains are longer and the average speed travelled is faster because it's a dual track system," John explained. "It was also important to test the product on a very different type of coal because the moisture content can vary considerably," he said.
Haig Allalemdijan from BMA said that South Walker Creek mine was keen to get involved. "During local community consultations we have had concerns raised about dust blowing off the many coal trains passing through the local area," Haig revealed. "But up to now, there really haven't been any effective solutions that could potentially address these concerns," he said.
South Walker Creek Mine trialed the dust suppression spray system for 12 months. QRail National used real time mobile aerosol monitors to measure dust emissions dust emissions from the trains and compare it against baseline data collated before the trial began. "The results demonstrate that Applied DMT-C combined with the application system, effectively suppress dust in this region. QRail National will investigate the feasibility of installing the system at other mines in the Goonyella corridor," John Croce said. "Apart from the community concerns, a significant amount of coal is lost from trains in the Bowen Basin every year, in the current market that adds up to a lot of money," John said.
Development Update - Following the successful South Walker Creek trial, QRail tendered for supply of a Dust Suppression System for Ensham Resources during January 2006. Fifteen companies tendered for this contract, and once again Applied Australia was successful in winning supply with their Applied DMT-C System.
Applied Australia will now supply their proven Applied DMT-C Dust Suppression process for an initial period of two years, treating approximately 130,000 wagons per annum. The Applied system combines the above process with regular service using Aerosol monitors to ensure the Background Coal Dust parameters are to specification.
The Applied DMT-C dust suppression membrane, is another innovative technical solution, formulated by Applied Australia. For more information on Applied Australia please browse our web site or contact Customer Service on 1300 554446.
