Eliminating hang-ups in coal supply at power station

3 September 2015
Excessive moisture in coal increases the cohesiveness of the material, which in turn results in ‘hang-ups’ that disrupt the material flow. Leading rope access specialist Skyriders has assisted a large coal-fired power plant in successfully overcoming this issue.
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application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document iconEliminating hang-ups in coal supply at power station15.82 KBDownload
PreviewA total of 16 Skyriders rope access technicians completed the challenging project within one week at the end of July 2015.3.76 MBDownload
Previewthe Skyriders team was also responsible for the high-pressure washing of an internal silo surface3.7 MBDownload
PreviewTwo teams of highly-experienced rope access technicians used breakers and other mechanical means to remove the coal hang-ups284.8 KBDownload

A total of 16 Skyriders rope access technicians completed the challenging project within one week at the end of July 2015. Due to the sheer volume of coal hang-ups, Skyriders marketing manager Mike Zinn indicates that two sets of five-man rope access teams operated day and night shifts.

“Two teams of highly-experienced rope access technicians used breakers and other mechanical means to remove the coal hang-ups from the silo. If left unchecked, hang-ups hinder the free flow of coal, as it tends to block transfer chutes where coal is transferred from one conveyor to another. It also limits the storage capacity of the silo,” he explains.

The teams of technicians were each supported by a three-man Skyriders confined space standby rescue team, in order to ensure that the highest standards of safety were maintained at all times. Zinn asserts that a project of this nature is most suitable with the use of a rope access systems.

“Setting up the more traditional access methods can take hours or even days, and large equipment will not fit in to a confined work space environment. The rope access systems are highly-flexible and allow ease-of-movement around the silo, as well as quick exit when the conveyers run,” he adds.

In addition to the removal of coal hang-ups, the Skyriders team was also responsible for the high-pressure washing of an internal silo surface. “We successfully completed the project without any major challenges, due to the fact that we boast comprehensive experience in completing similar projects in the cement industry,” Zinn concludes.

 

Ends

Notes to the Editor
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About Skyriders
Skyriders (Pty) Ltd, established in 1998, is a leader in the South African rope access industry, providing cost- and time-saving solutions to clients in the power generation and petrochemical industries who require rope access aided inspection, NDT and maintenance work to be done in difficult to reach, high-up locations.

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Skyriders Contact
Mike Zinn
Skyriders Marketing Manager
Phone: (011) 312 1418
Email: mike [at] ropeaccess [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ropeaccess.co.za

Media Contact
Nomvelo Buthelezi
NGAGE Public Relations
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Cell: 083 4088 911
Email: nomvelo [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za

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