An Innovation Solution to Aging Infrastructure: The Tunnel Ridge Clean Coal Conveyor Upgrade

摘要

The U.S. coal industry frequently relies on infrastructure that was constructed 30 or 40 years ago. Conveyors supported in steel tubes or trusses exposed to the corrosive effect of coal, water and the environment are used to transport the coal to market. As these conveyors and structures age, it is vital that they be inspected and maintained to ensure they can continue to function safely. This can be particularly challenging to accomplish while not impacting the operation of the mine. The inspection and structural upgrade of the clean coal conveyor at Alliance Resource Partners' Tunnel Ridge mine provides an example of how this can be efficiently and cost effectively achieved with minimal impact to production.