Global incidents have highlighted the safety benefits of switching compressed air in heavy machinery tyres to 100% nitrogen
A Fyfe team comprising electrical, civil, structural and mechanical engineers recently completed a study examining the feasibility of installing a modular Nitrogen Generation Plant (NGP) at the Saraji mine in Queensland.
Overview
While far more common in Southeast Queensland, electrical storms also occur in the state’s central regions. Lightning poses a number of safety risks in a mine site, including heavy machinery tyre explosion, as a number of global incidents have shown.
Normally, heavy machinery tyres are filled with compressed air, roughly 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Oxygen is flammable, and when a tyre filled with compressed air is struck by lightning, there’s a risk of explosion and fire.
Working for our client BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), who had previously acknowledged this particular risk and installed an NGP at other sites, the Fyfe team assessed the feasibility of installing an NGP at the Saraji mine.
Our roles and responsibilities
Fyfe’s role was to assess the compatibility of the NGP that BMA has previously used at other sites and making sure it could be successfully installed at Saraji. During the study, we also identified several areas for enhancement and improvement in the original design.
The two-part study covered an infrastructure review to assess the current mechanical, electrical, and existing slab suitability in relation to the NGP’s installation requirements.
It also covered installation options, consolidating the conclusions we drew from the first part of the study to move the NGP project into the engineering design phase.
We examined all aspects of feasibility, including:
- Electrical load studies and a review of electrical documentation
- Assessment of the pre-existing slab/location to accommodate the loads of the NGP and its access/operating requirements
- Assessment of the current compressed air system and its compatibility to be operated with the new NGP
- The proposed new location for the NGP’s three modules, each the approximate size of a 20-foot shipping container
- Mechanical and electrical tie-in requirements.
The multi-disciplined Fyfe team working on this project was proud to deliver their study to a challenging timeline and within budget.
We enjoyed supporting BMA on this project as it takes proactive steps to minimise the potential for risks on its sites.
Fyfe has worked with BHP since 2015 and was appointed to BHP’s Engineering Minerals Australia panel in 2023.
Please contact the Fyfe team for assistance on your next mining, renewables or resources project. We’re on hand to help with a range of engineering design services.
