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Shiploader Fatigue Assessment
Midwest Energy Resources,
Duluth/Superior Harbor on Lake Superior |
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 Project
Description: Midwest Energy Resources (MERC) provides trans-shipment of over 22-million tons of coal from unit train to 68,000 ton super-laker vessel transport. Critical to this operation is MERC’s 9,000 ton per hour shiploader.
Krech Ojard was hired to provide a detailed analysis and repair/upgrade designs for this 30-year old complex traveling system, which includes a luffing and shuttling boom, as well as an integral traveling tripper system. Over these many years of service, this system has shipped hundreds of millions of tons of coal and is experiencing fatigue cracking of the boom and tail structures.
KO’s Structural and Mechanical Engineers are working on an updated 3-D SolidWorks model of the system, integrating dynamic and fatigue analyses to evaluate the remaining service life of critical details and, where necessary, designing repairs and system upgrades. Our review also considers drive and controls system modifications to minimize operational impacts on loading.
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 Special
Issues and Needs:
 Phased repairs will be implemented during the 3-month annual winter shipping shutdown over the next two years to avoid disruption of coal delivery.
Services
provided:
• Structural assessment of boom,
tail, and support frame
• Mechanical system review
• Drive and control system review
• Fatigue and fracture analysis of primary and critical secondary structural members.
• SolidWorks modeling of existing
system and generation of repairs
with part drawings prepared for
direct fabrication
• Construction phase support of
repairs and upgrades.
Project Summary:
Krech Ojard was hired by MERC to provide a detailed analysis and repair/upgrade designs for this 30-year old complex traveling system, which includes a luffing and shuttling boom, as well as an integral traveling tripper system.
Project Images:
Stresses in web of main and telescoping booms
Stresses in portal main girder under weight of coal
Telescoping support
Cantilever section of shiploader
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