Description of Services
CoalTech provides a variety of services including:
- Coal Conversions and Upgrades
- OSHA NEP Combustible Dust Compliance Audits
- Sub-Bituminous Coal Handling Training
- Coal Risk Management
- Project Specification Development
- Coal Beneficiation Process Analysis
- Coal Fire Investigations
- Arbitrator for Dispute Resolutions Related to the Coal Industry
- Expert Witness
- Coal Contracts
- Rail Transportation Contracts
- Coal Handling Fire Protection Engineering Services
Coal Conversions and Upgrades
During the past 15 years, Randy Rahm has consulted to utilities converting to Sub-Bituminous 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 33 years of experience in the coal industry with over 20 years experience in handling and storing Sub-Bituminous coals. There is a right way and a wrong way to approach converting to Sub-Bituminous coals. As a client of CoalTech, you will receive information on the application of the best practices in the industry for handling and storing Sub-Bituminous 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., Canada and Morocco. 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 combustible dust compliance, 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.
OSHA NEP Combustible Dust Compliance Audits
CoalTech will provide your plant with an OSHA NEP Compliance audit. This audit will outline the deficiencies that would be seen during an OSHA NEP inspection. The most important part of the audit will be the solutions to resolve any deficiencies. The solutions will be the best available technologies used in the industry today. OSHA does not differentiate between coals all coals produce combustible dust.
Sub-Bituminous Coal Handling Training
CoalTech will provide a site-specific coal handling training. Your operators and management will be able to relate to the CoalTech Sub-Bituminous Coal Handling Training Course. The course is about your plant and what needs to be done to change the management philosophies to manage the coal handling and storage processes safely and efficiently.
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 not just Sub-Bituminous coals that cause fires and explosions, high volatile Bituminous coals have some of the same spontaneous combustion issues as Sub-Bituminous coals.
It is simple. You either manage Sub-Bituminous coals or Sub-Bituminous coals will manage you. Complacency in handling Sub-Bituminous 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 plant operators 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 reviews and comments on your proposed project specifications to help ensure you get a safe system with the lowest operating cost when complete. CoalTech also provides initial site layout concepts to minimize your risk and maximize your efficiencies. Do it right the first time.
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 involving conveyors and dust collectors at utilities, steel mill coal process systems and those related to coal drying.
Arbitrator for Dispute Resolutions Related to the Coal Industry
Randy Rahm is experienced in the American Arbitration Association (AAA) dispute resolution process having been a party appointed arbitrator in a coal industry related disputed. The dispute was resolved after a hearing and a decision rendered by the panel of three arbitrators.
Expert Witness
Randy Rahm has experience as a witness in numerous litigation cases and is familiar with the deposition process. He has testified in an antitrust lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C. CoalTech also has additional experts available with extensive expertise in the coal industry.
Coal Contracts
CoalTech is associated with some of the leading experts in developing and negotiating coal contracts and coal procurement strategies. Depending on your specific requirements CoalTech can provide the expertise to assist your company through your contract negotiations. Subject to availability.
Rail Transportation Contracts
CoalTech is associated with some of the leading experts in developing and negotiating rail transportation contracts. CoalTech’s experts have negotiated rail transportation contracts from both the coal suppliers and shippers sides. Subject to availability.
Coal Handling Fire Protection Engineering Services
Coaltech has an alliance with a leading coal handling fire protection engineering company. A properly designed fire detection and suppression system in a coal handling system is the first line of defense against a fire. The coal handling industry has very few properly designed fire protection systems. CoalTech’s fire protection alliance partner provides a fire protection system audit with recommendations for upgrading the system to the latest technologies in fire detection and suppression specifically for coal handling systems. The alliance partner has the full capabilities to design a new system or recommend upgrades to an existing system.
CALL OR TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION —(785) 249-3981