Roughly 50 vendors will display their products and services at CH&S 2013.
St. Louis will play host again for the Coal Handling & Storage conference. Now in its third year, the two-day event brings together professionals who specialize in material handling systems, as well as the equipment and service providers who support them.
The conference kicks off Wednesday, October 23, with a keynote session where key executives will discuss the impact of constantly changing regulations. A problem that continues to dog the coal-fired power sector, the lack of clarity as far as regulations, has hampered investments in new capacity and the infrastructure to support it.
The CH&S technical program consists of two parallel tracks over the course of two days. Track I focuses primarily on transporting and blending systems along with an export element, while Track II concentrates on stockpiling systems with two sessions that look at the environmental and safety aspects of the business. The object of the program is to present as much useful information in a relatively short period of time and to give delegates an opportunity to pick and choose the subject areas that matter most to them.
The CH&S 2013 technical program offers continuing education for coal handling professionals.
Track I opens with coal loading and unloading systems. That session is followed by two sessions that discuss conveyor systems. The first conveyor session reviews operations and maintenance techniques, while the second one profiles retrofits and new facilities. On Thursday morning, October 24, Track I opens with a discussion on fuel quality, characteristics and blending. The second session will provide ideas for dust control. The final “plenary” session will discuss the status and challenges facing coal transportation as exports continue to grow.
Track II follows a similar format, opening with a discussion on the environmental concerns facing the coal handling business. Two sessions on stockpile management follow. The first identifies strategic issues, while the second reviews operations and maintenance techniques. Thursday morning consists of two consecutive sessions on safety.
The PRB Coal User’s Group will also host a workshop, Moving Forward — Managing Coal. Bob Taylor, past chairman of the PRB Coal Users’ Group, will lead the discussion, which will focus on the following topics:
• Characteristics of coal;
• Challenges in coal transportation — shipper and end-user;
• Industry practices in coal pile management; and
• Coal handling management system — value of improving.
With more than 29 years of experience in the electric power industry, Taylor has an extensive background in combustible dust, coal, public and industrial fire protection, physical security, safety and health, management systems, and developing and delivering training. The PRB Coal Users’ Group is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2000 to promote the safe, efficient and economic use of Powder River Basin (PRB) coal by generating companies that currently use, or are considering the use of sub bituminous coal.
In addition to the technical program, CH&S 2013 will also have a small exhibition. About 50 companies that provide equipment and services for those that handle, transport and store coal will display their wares. On the following pages is a short description of what they have planned as of press time. CH&S 2013 is shaping up to be the best ever.
