Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Detailing and Connection Engineering
Project Highlights
The scope of this project was the design of both the feed system to and discharge system from a new dual shaft vertical lime kiln. The main project started by modifying an existing raw feed transfer tower to divert crushed limestone from the mine to a new covered storage hall. The material was then reclaimed in a tunnel below the storage hall, screened in a new screening tower, and conveyed across and over top of much of the existing plant to the feed point at the top of the kiln. The kiln was designed and supplied by others. Our scope then picked up with the structural support of the kiln, the system to convey the kiln discharge to a new crushing, screening, and milling building, then conveying the material to two new storage silos designed by others, then to a new rail loading system. Other portions of the scope include feed and return belts between the new crushing, screening, and milling tower and an adjacent existing system and an off-spec system to divert kiln discharge materials back to the feed system for reprocessing. Key challenges in this project include the following:
Fitting this system in limited real estate surrounded by an existing, operating plant.
A compressed design and construction schedule to meet product demand. Designing a steel kiln support structure, instead of the traditional concrete support was selected to reduce construction schedule by speeding up construction during cold winter months.
Protecting workers and equipment from the potential of falling debris from overhead conveying equipment. Fully enclosed tubular conveyor galleries were utilized as both the structural support and enclosure of material conveyors that spanned over plant operations.
Limiting stress added to existing tie-in structures to prevent the need for excessive strengthening of existing elements.
