A new Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) has recently been completed by Felix Resources at Moolarben in NSW. This facility is designed to wash and prepare up to 2,000 tons of coal per hour making it ready for transport to market. The construction process was relatively quick, with the first concrete poured July 2009 and the first coal run taking place in May 2010.

Part of the Coal Preparation process involves the use of re-agents, diesel and other chemical dosing systems to ensure that the maximum amount of coal is recovered from the washing process.

Enter No Weld Press Fit Piping System. Felix Resources had used our press fit piping system during the construction of Yarrabee CHPP at Blackwater in QLD with very positive outcomes. So Felix Resources decided to use it again. With this piping system being new to Moolarben CHPP, the design and installation engineers were cautious but willing to consider the No Weld, Press Fit Piping System as it seemed commercially and technically viable. It was agreed that using a high quality 316 SS press fit piping system, rather than a threaded galvanised piping system, would provide a much longer working life in the harsh environment of a CHPP.

The construction engineers used the 316SS Non Weld Press Fit Piping system for both re-agent and diesel lines. The reported benefits at the completion of the Press Fit Piping system included:

• Speed of installation,

• Lower total cost when compared to comparable alternatives,

• Higher quality materials expected to reduce future maintenance costs due to the longer operational life expectancy of 316SS,

• No threading of pipe and fittings, no cleaning of rusted threads prior to fitting, no recoating of gal over scratched sections of gal pipe, no residue of oil and metal filings in pipe system, etc,

• All piping work is done on site. No offsite (workshop) preparation required.

• Press fit pipe, or tube to be precise, is cut to length on site, whereas gal pipe requires the services of a pipe cutting machine.

• No welding removes the risks associated with hot work as the press fit piping system does not require naked flames for installation nor for any modifications or upgrades.

Needless to say, the system passed all pre and post production testing. The design and installation engineers involved in this plant will continue to consider other applications in which Press Fit Piping can be used and are confident of the benefits the Press Fit system has to offer.