Published in June 2006 Australian Longwall Magazine

Engineering, procurement and construction company Air Control Science (ACS) has recently established operations in Australia, providing new technology and objective analysis to minimise the risks associated with coal handling.

ACS has been engaged by many utilities in the US to mitigate fire and explosion, spillage and airborne dust hazards from fugitive coal dust.

ACS general manager Greg Albert said the company’s system designs could reduce dust from all conveyors, conveyor transfers, crushers and screening areas, tripper houses and galleries and loading facilities.

The company has numerous patents related to safe and effective handling of bulk materials, including:

• ACS Dustless Transfer system, an innovative passive dust control system for materials handling conveyors;
• Smart Chute system, a technology program used to ensure smooth material flow on conveyors;
• Glider Roller Belt Support system, proprietary technology that provides a flat, near friction-free foundation in conveyor transfer points to reduce spillage and airborne dust; and
• Dust Analyst rational analysis, a precise method for determining airflow requirements in dust control systems.

The new technology was developed by ACS in the Powder River Basin coal mines in the United States where 45% of the nation’s coal is produced; the coal dust is very fine and volatile and a passive solution was needed to minimise coal handling risks.

“ACS’s main goal is on providing for clients a No Visible Dust environment and we have patented process and technology to achieve just that,” Albert said.

Albert said dust and spillage control in material handling was generally provided by equipment manufacturers that tried to make their equipment fit the application, even if it wasn’t the optimum solution.

He said ACS was an independent engineering/construction company that evaluated an entire situation and designed a solution using products and equipment to provide the best outcome at the lowest cost.

Albert said the ACS phased approach to solving dust and spillage issues was critical to coal plants solving matters relating to risk management.

• Phase 1 is to conduct an audit of the site and provide a detailed engineering study.
• Phase 2 is to provide detailed design and drawings on findings.
• Phase 3 is to procure, construct and install the upgrades.