Project Overview

Project: Temporary Barge Unloading System

Client: Dominion Power

Job Site: Chesapeake Energy Center
Chesapeake, Virginia

Scope of Work: Turnkey Design, Engineering, Procurement, and Construction

Project Description:
In August 2006, EDC was awarded an EPC contract to design, engineer, procure, and construct a new conveyor system that had to be in operation by January 1, 2007.  This gave EDC only five months to successfully deliver and install the unloading system.

Preventing coal from spilling into the river or protected wetlands was an absolute priority for this project, and EDC approached the project with this in mind.  The system consisted of a barge-mounted crane in the Elizabeth River to unload arriving coal-laden barges.  The crane unloaded coal into a receiving hopper that was installed on a second barge.  It featured tilt able splashguard spanning the full witch of the hopper that returned spilled coal into the barge being unloaded.  A vibrating feeder under the receiving hopper controlled the flow of coal onto a 200-foot long conveyor.  The conveyor cantilevered over the bow of the barge and continued a long distance spanning protected wetlands.  As wash down system under the return belt prevented carry back coal from falling into the wetlands.

The barge loader conveyor discharged onto a bridge conveyor that was elevated to span a roadway within the plant.  The bridge conveyor discharged onto a 914-foot long conveyor that was welded onto existing railroad tracks.  The tracks were utilized in the design of the system since rail delivery of coal was eliminated.  A fourth conveyor delivered materials into the shaker house for delivery to the plant’s conveyor system.
Dominion Power’s CEC Plant canceled its delivery of coal by rail, effective December 31, 2006 –right on schedule.