Certificate in Mining Studies
MINERAL PORTS
Perspective on mineral port 3D radar sensor – newly installed( left) and in real operating conditions( right)
temperatures in northern Canada, this technology is key to improving efficiency says Manuel Dangela, Sales Manager at indurad:“ One avoided collision typically pays back the invested capital by repair cost. A loss of production of three days in iron ore can be rated easily at A $ 10 million or more. And collisions usually don’ t happen in sunshine during dayshifts, they happen in fog during a nightshift in winter. There is a clear need for a robust technology which also performs under the harshest conditions.” indurad technology is also a key technology for automation of stackers, reclaimers, and car dumpers, measuring volume as well as in controlling belt efficiency and shiploader collision avoidance, remote control and automation.
Geometrica domes address port stockpiles
Geometrica says that its geodesic domes cover any kind of stockpile regardless of shape, material and size to provide an economic, operation, and planet-friendly solution. Generally, the company says that stockpiles may be classified into four categories by their material handling method and shape: n Ring piles- formed by automated circular stacking / reclaiming equipment with a fixed drop. n Conical piles- material is dropped from the end of a fixed conveyor belt. n Free form pile- irregular piles shaped with
moveable conveyors or trucks and reshaped with front end loaders. n Longitudinal piles- long, prismatic piles loaded with a side stacker, or tripper car from above. The most common shape used to store a large volume of bulk minerals is the longitudinal pile. Geometrica’ s barrel vaults start at 40 m and can span up to 150 m. Barrel vaults enclose long, prismatic piles and provide clearance for the equipment that stacks and reclaims the pile. Piles are typically formed with a side stacker or, an overhead tripper conveyor, and reclaimed with a scraper or front end loader.
“ Geometrica offers barrel vaults that suit virtually any operational condition. To fit the specific site requirements and maximise storage volume, we can design parabolic, circular, acute, bent and compound curve profile structures. Parabolics work best for the longest spans with heavy gravity loads, and moderate wind loads.” The company has supplied this type for limestone storage in Mexico. A circular type has been used for coal storage in Tunisia; and acute in mineral ore storage in Peru. The acute geometry is designed to carry concentrated loads such as walkways or tripper cars.
The bent profile is selected when the footprint space is very constrained and has been used in raw material storage in Chile. The compound curve is an alternative to the bent profile when space is constrained and has been used in coal and limestone storage in Mexico.
The company concludes with a note on ease of construction.“ Geometrica’ s assembly process ensures a fast, safe and easy installation at every job site. With on-site expert guidance, our
structures are installed with locally-sourced labour. All of the structure’ s connections are mechanical, so no welding is required. To build the vault, we usually start near the centre. Half arches are pre-assembled on the ground, then lifted with cranes and joined at the apex to make one rib. Additional ribs are added and joined or‘ stitched’ together. This process is repeated and continued towards each end. When the main section is complete, ends are then built and lifted into position, if required. Cladding is added and the structure is complete.”
Structures may be designed so that installation is done while the pile is in operation.“ Our goal is to seamlessly connect bulk storage solutions with operations – and, importantly, with zero down-time.”
Ensuring bulk materials maintain consistent properties over time without varying chemical composition is one challenge. Storing corrosive bulk materials such as coal and a number of mineral products, presents challenges. These may include corrosive attack on a structure’ s metallic components or, because of combustibility, present a high explosion risk.“ Our barrel vaults are the answer to a host of challenges. There simply is no substitute for a structure custom designed to protect raw materials from the elements, and conversely, the environment from the stockpile. Geometrica tames hazardous atmospheres with a combination of corrosion resistant materials suited for a particular site and application. For instance, steel tubes are always galvanised, and may be powder-coated over the galvanising. Vaults may also be fabricated with aluminium tubes. And, interior cladding may also be added to the structure. For the most aggressive interior environments, fibrereinforced polymer( FRP) cladding can be applied to help control combustible coal dust or caustic stockpiles.”
Dome Technology delivers for China Coal
China Coal originally approached Dome Technology representative Bradley Bateman wanting a high live-reclaim system at an
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78 International Mining | APRIL 2017