SWA Coal - Evaluation of Chemical Dust Suppressants

For over 15 years, SWA has developed a rapport with both chemical vendors and coal handlers. We have, as a third party, tested over 80 dust suppressants for chemical vendors.

Our standard protocol for product evaluation of crusting agents is separated into two primary components. The initial phase involves testing the agent in a static environment on numerous coals under thermal and precipitation stresses. Successful completion of phase one results in a recommendation for additional tests in phase two. In this stage, the crusting agent is tested under dynamic conditions that simulate the stresses incurred during rail transport.

The two components allow the chemical vendor to tune the application rates for their product without incurring the costs of a full laboratory trial or having their product fail in the field. If at any time during the first phase the product appears to be failing, the vendor can be notified and given a chance to modify the application rate or the product itself without incurring the cost of the second phase. Likewise, once a product has passed the first phase, numerous second phase trials can be conducted to fine tune the application without repeating the initial phase.

If the vendor and coal handlers feel it is merited, Simpson Weather offers a third phase of testing on actual rail cars using the Rail Transport Emissions Profiling System (RTEPS).

TSM site for monitoring dust emissions from "treated" and "untreated" passing trains.

Direct evaluation related questions or comments to Dan Carre