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Bucyrus wet and dry diesel particulate solutions
With the underground coal industry increasingly concerned about diesel particulate emissions, Bucyrus has re-affirmed its credentials in the area.
Wet exhaust package.
The company says it is the only OEM to offer mines the option of either wet bath or dry exhaust systems with filtration, the technologies comprising “an independently verified zero diesel particulate matter emission to mine atmosphere solution.”
Nowadays, many older mines are having to come to terms with the fact that diesel particulate matter requires considerably more airflow to dissipate than gas emissions. With ventilation systems and designs operating close to peak capacity, these operations require expensive new infrastructure to cope with the problem, along with the redesign of panel layouts and ventilation doors.
Longwall change outs, in particular, produce a high volume of diesel particulate matter which can pose a significant health threat to the personnel involved.
In response to these problems, Bucyrus says its dry and wet exhaust systems cool and clean exhaust gas before it mixes with mine ventilation air. Catalytic converters are used to regenerate the exhaust gas and reduce emissions.
After going through the catalytic converter on the dry system, the exhaust gas passes through a water-cooled finned tube heat exchanger. Post-catalytic converter on the wet system, the exhaust gas passes through a water bath which reduces the exhaust gas temperature and assists in removing particulates from the exhaust gasses.
In both systems, the gas passes through the particulate filters and flame trap after the heat exchanger and water bath. It is then mixed with the discharge air from the cooling system before entering into the mine atmosphere. A flame trap is fitted on the out-by side of the particulate filter to prevent any possible flame path to mine air on the dry system.
The exhaust system is monitored by the Bucyrus Diesel Control System (DCS). This is an electronic shutdown system which prevents the machine from being operated in unsafe conditions such as low water level, high exhaust system temperatures or back pressure. A gauge in the operator’s compartment indicates when the filter requires changing.
Contact: Steve Brownsell, email -
sbrownsell@bucyrus.com.au
