Services

PRB Coal Conversions and Upgrades

During the past 15 years, Randy Rahm has consulted to utilities converting to PRB Coals.  He consulted on a full time basis through Cyprus Amax Coal Sales and on a limited basis through Westar Energy.  Today, Randy is now available on a full time basis through CoalTech Consultants, Inc.

Randy has 32 years of experience in the coal industry with over 20 years experience in handling and storing PRB coals. There is a right way and a wrong way to approach converting to PRB coals. As a client of CoalTech, you will receive information on the application of the best practices in the industry for handling and storing PRB coals safely and efficiently. CoalTech’s clients will not be serial number one for any of these technologies.  Throughout his career, Randy has visited or consulted to over 100 coal-fired power plants in the U.S. and Canada. Between this experience and Randy’s work in the PRB Coal Users’ Group, he has come to know the industry inside and out. This depth of information is priceless when it comes to helping new clients with conversions and upgrades. CoalTech will arrange plant visits with other utilities that have operational experience with these technologies and give first hand experience case studies to help explain best-in-class solutions. 

PRB Coal Risk Management

CoalTech provides a comprehensive assessment of current risks at the plant based on observations during a tour of the plant’s coal handling system from the stockpile to the mills. CoalTech will make recommendations on how to implement the best-proven technologies in the industry today. The risks are not reduced by simply installing new equipment.  Results occur when a combination of the new equipment and management practices are put in place. CoalTech will bring to you the latest management practices and examples of successes at other utilities.  It is simple. You either manage PRB coals or PRB coals will manage you.  Complacency in handling PRB coals cannot be an option.

Project Specification Development

While working for McNally Pittsburg, one of the largest engineers and constructors of coal handling and coal preparation systems in the world, Randy always wondered how the system performed after the project was completed. They always moved on to the next project. Years later, Randy had a chance to return to some of these projects and spoke to the operators about the system performance. He then realized why there were so many vendors in the material handling upgrade business. 

When a project is competitively bid, the owners get the bare necessities to handle and store the coal unless the latest technologies are specified upfront for all bidders to have the ability to include in their pricing.  It is imperative to have the operators be included in the project specification development whether it is a completely new system or upgrading an old system. 

CoalTech brings the experience you require to work with the owner’s engineer or directly for the owner to ensure your project has the best available technologies and the requirements to be compliant with the new OSHA “NEP” included in your project.  CoalTech also provides initial site layout concepts to minimize your risk and maximize your efficiencies with the lowest operating cost.  Do it right the first time.

PRB Coal Handling Training

CoalTech will provide a site-specific coal handling training. Your operators and management will be able to relate to the CoalTech PRB Coal Handling Training Course. The course is about their plant and what they need to do to change their management philosophies to manage the coal handling and storage processes safely and efficiently.

Coal Beneficiation Process Analysis

While at Amax Coal West and Cyprus Amax Coal West, Randy managed the world’s largest sub-bituminous coal dryer. During the four years of operating the coal dryer Amax preformed extensive research into reducing the reactivity and dust control on the dried coal product. Randy witnessed and evaluated power plant test burns using various blends of run of mine and dried PRB coals. He led the product testing and evaluations on nearly every enhanced coal process during the 1990’s for Cyprus Amax.

Many companies have come and gone in the enhanced business. Randy has the hands on experience to assist your company evaluate any enhanced coal process on the market today.

Coal Fire Investigations

If you have a fire and/or an explosion, you want to know the source or cause. Randy Rahm has been directly involved in numerous fires and explosions (probably more than he would like to admit) associated with coal drying. CoalTech has the experience participating in coal fire and explosion investigations at utilities, steel mill coal process systems and those related to coal drying.