West Cliff Colliery Product Bins Electrical Upgrade

Customer: Major coal mine in the Illawarra

Project Type: Engineering & construction

Project duration: 9 months

Control system: Allen Bradley Compact Guardlogix

Coal Product Bins Electrical Upgrade

Touchstone Systems was awarded the full electrical construction and engineering package for the West Cliff Coal Preparation Plant (WCCPP) Product Bins upgrade project. This project involved the complete decommissioning and replacement of the existing electrical control system for the coal product bins. The upgrade was conducted in a staged approach, ensuring that two bins remained operational while the other underwent structural refurbishment.

Key aspects of the project included:

• Construction and installation of three new PLC panels and motor distribution boards
• Implementation of a SIL2-compliant safety system 
• Electrical engineering services, including development of new single line diagrams and schematic diagrams, protection and coordination studies
• Commissioning a report outlining the optimal sequence for decommissioning the bins to accommodate structural, electrical and mechanical works.

The project was undertaken in conjunction with structural remediation works on the bins, necessitating close engagement with the structural and mechanical teams. Working to a restricted deadline Touchstone Systems increased labour resources to get the control system operational within the project timeline.