Particulate Emission from Bulk Product Handling in Australian Ports
Emissions monitored by laser based technology as particulate matter concentrations have been studied for several different bulk products including alumina and grain. In each case real-time particle and traditional gravimetric monitors have been used as a diagnostic tool to assist industry in identifying means of reducing dust emissions associated with loading and unloading bulk products to and from ships.
This technical paper describes general results as well as a case study on the application as grain ship-loader technology was improved at the port of Newcastle (NSW) from 2004-2006. When loading grain to ships, loaders generally plunge a feeding spout deep into the ship’s hold and the grain stockpile is built up with grain flow termination occurs very close to the stockpile surface. Significant dust emissions can occur from grain collisions in the feeder systems and where the grain flow strikes the stockpile.
Monitoring results clearly shows grain-loading start and stop times, and changes in load rates. Analysis of the data indicated initial higher particulate concentrations at the commencement of loading may be due to greater drop distances. Higher concentrations also occurred when the ship’s hold was nearing full where the dust source is closer to the open ship deck. Fluctuations in concentrations were found to vary with wind speed. Deposited dust on surrounding surfaces may have been entrained into ambient air as wind speeds increased, elevating particulate concentrations.
The results of these works have assisted industry in improving ship loading/unloading technology and operator techniques to significantly reduced particulate emissions.