Shaking Baghouse project wins Engineering Excellence Award

25 November 2010

Engineering consultancy Beca’s SLN Shaking Baghouse project in New Caledonia has taken the top prize in the Chemical Bioprocess and Food Category of the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

To meet new environmental regulations affecting a nickel smelter in New Caledonia, off-gases from the ferronickel desulphurisation shaking stations must be treated to remove particulate matter. In order to avoid more-expensive electrostatic precipitation, reliable cooling to below 250 degrees Celsius was required in order to apply a bag filter system. 

Dynamic modelling of the heat and mass transfer occurring in the gas ducts was undertaken. This established that no special heat transfer equipment was required, thereby avoiding major capital expenditure and lowering the operating costs through simplifying the operational and maintenance demands.

Challenges overcome by the mechanical and structural design teams included designing for cyclic heating and cooling which causes expansion both vertically and horizontally in the serpentine duct layout, cyclonic wind design conditions, and the plant being situated on reclaimed land.

‘The simplicity of the solution is commendable and well suited to an industrial plant in a geographically isolated nation’ says Institution of Professional Engineers Chief Executive Andrew Cleland.

Initiated in 2005, the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for the engineering professionals of New Zealand. The awards are presented in two major areas: Awards Recognising People, that recognise leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and our young engineers; and Project and Product Awards, that recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme Award for the best of the Project and Product winners.