Banlaw to supply two fuel facilities at Rio Tinto’s Amrun Project

Banlaw was engaged at EOI stage. Rio Tinto has some history with Banlaw solutions from other current operations. This allowed for references from existing sites to be obtained, and the benefits of choosing Banlaw once again to be made evident. Banlaw crafted a design solution, customised to meet what was a complex specification (from a technology and assurance standpoint). Banlaw specialists in the fields of mechanical, electrical, software, automation, hazardous areas as well as machine and facilities maintenance were all involved in the planning process. Leveraging our team’s wide range of skills, Banlaw proposed a creative blend of technologies to deliver the required project scope at a competitive pricepoint. 

The Banlaw proposal also focused heavily on the environmental considerations of the project site itself with a view to enable ease-of deployment and long term reliable operation.

The project includes Banlaw’s FuelTrack^™ Dry Break Auto ID dispensing hardware (for heavy vehicles) and Banlaw FuelTrack^™ Splash Fill Auto ID dispensing hardware (for light and medium vehicles). The fuel management software used is Banlaw ResTrack^™ RMS (Resource Management System) with Banlaw FuelTrack™ Advanced Controllers and Banlaw FuelTrack^™ Tank Side Controllers. Infrastructure includes unloading skids, transfer skids, dispensing skids, LV bowsers, bulk air eliminators, temperature-compensated metering, self-bunded tanks, loading arms, filtration solutions and custom process control systems (PLC, MCC, SCADA).

The engineering involved was extensive: the design of two distinct fuel farms from a mechanical, electrical, and operational/process perspective, plus the engineering of two tank facilities, each with two tanks deployed immediately, and the ability to add two additional tanks to each facility in the future (400 000 – 880 000 l of diesel storage). All fluid management functions are deployed on prefabricated skids. The skids are pre-assembled, pre-wired, pre-tested and ready to drop-and-go. On-site commissioning is as simple as connecting inlets, outlets, and power.

The skids are self-bunded, and incorporate custom pipework as well as pumping, filtration, metering, air-elimination, and fuel management functions. Significant PLC and motor control functionality enables advanced remote process control, and the automation of stock management.

For supply itself and unloading, two unloading skids are equipped with a single pump and specified to unload 1100 lpm of diesel. Both skids incorporate a bypass line for unloading using the tanker pump when needed, and are self-bunded. Two Banlaw Bulk Air Eliminators are incorporated into the unloading skids (one for each fuel farm).

This functionality removes free air from bulk fluids, dramatically increasing metering accuracy, and protecting flow meters in the process.

The unloading skids incorporate a user interface for the Fuel Management System to capture delivery manifest information and allow inwards transactions to be initiated.

The storage tanks include three 110 000 l self-bunded tanks delivered to site which are appropriately engineered, and constructed of all-Australian steel. The tanks incorporate filtered tank breathers with local analogue display.

Automatic tank gauging consists of a Banlaw Precision ATG that monitors all tank levels and temperatures in real time, interfacing directly with the fuel management architecture.

There are also overfill protection systems (for each tank). The primary method is actuated valves on the inlet of each tank triggered to close based on a configurable high level signal from the guided-wave radar level probes. The secondary method is a SIL-rated high/high level probe connected to a safety-rated controller.

This triggers a fail/closed valve, and also disables the pumps on the unloading skid. For transfers there is a diesel generator transfer skid which pumps fuel on request to the diesel generator day tanks. Automated requests from the power plant are PLC controlled. An NMIcertified Coriolis ‘mass flow meter’ is incorporated into the transfer skid. The NMI/Custody Transfer certified meter allows highly accurate reconciliation of diesel consumed by third parties. For lighter vehicles dispensing equipment includes two fuel bowsers: 1 x LV 40 lpm bowser and one MV 80 lpm bowser. These are equipped with Splash Fill Auto ID vehicle identification equipment and wirelessly communicate with the Fuel Management Controller, eliminating manual process steps. For heavy vehicles there is a heavy vehicle dispensing skid, self-bunded, with two pumps (duty/standby configuration) and two-stage filtration integrated into the skid.

There is also a dispense metering skid, selfbunded, with flow meter and FMS control valves. This skid is located adjacent to a Banlaw-manufactured loading arm. Dry Break Auto ID dispensing nozzles make a direct electronic ID connection due to Auto ID technology being integrated inside of the refuelling hardware. This allows for process automation and industry best diesel flow rates for an expected fleet of 67 heavy vehicles.

The fuel management system itself has five fuel management controllers providing local user interface, fluid security, collecting temperature compensated flow data, and triggering the activation of pumps and valves. Flow and temperature-compensated fluid measurements are captured throughout the site to enable industry-best reconciliation accuracy. 

PLC-controlled automated stock rotation capabilities have been deployed to minimise fluid degradation within both storage facilities. Two 6 m Motor Control Centre (MCC) platforms provide powered-hardware control for the facilities and all Banlaw systems have been configured to interface with the site control network, allowing control room visibility and interaction with pumps, alarms, tank levels, and PLC systems (SCADA). Banlaw’s ResTrack RMS (Resource Management System) is the overarching software for enterprise reporting, and the configuration of all fluid storages, moves, and access for fuel-consuming assets.

 

Go-live support includes Banlaw presence on site for the period directly after system activation. Banlaw technicians focus on the training of users to enable safe fuelling and fluid-management processes, establishing accurate FMS reporting, and ensuring all systems are functioning correctly.

 

The Service Level Agreement covers ongoing remote services support to reconciliation accuracy, identifies continuous improvement opportunities, and ensures software maintenance is conducted in a timely manner. Site visits are conducted quarterly. During these visits, meter calibration services (using NMIcertified master meters) are performed to ensure the reconciliation target of >99.5% accuracy is achieved. These visits also focus on safety checks, and improvement plans aiming to deliver cost reductions, and efficiency gains.

There were some environmental challenges to address. The area of operation is prone to cyclones, and therefore all structures need to be cyclone-rated. This was of particular importance for the Motor Control Centres (MCCs), due to the large platforms (around 6 m in length). Also during the ‘wet season’, humidity remains above 85% for months on end, and rainfall per year exceeds 2 m for the work site. Besides influencing in which months deployment of the fuel management project would be possible, these local conditions mean that tropics-rated (very high humidity) electrical motors needed to be used to ensure reliable long-term operation of equipment. During the ‘dry season’ there are some months with average rainfall of just 1 mm, and humidity averages 61%. For this reason, both storage and dispensing functions include particulate dust controls.

Finally, bauxite, the resource being mined, has significant corrosive properties. Tanks, pipework, skid frames and more have been specially treated to make them resilient to constant exposure to the minerals it contains.

Large and long-term resource projects, such as Amrun, engender a great deal of attention and also concern from the public and government. Governance and visibility is critical for all stakeholders. And therefore, systems which offer industry-best accuracy as well as the ability to report, learn, and react quickly have been selected across the board.

According to Banlawa, robust processes around governance and assurance mean that a premium fuel management capability has been delivered. Rio Tinto specifications demand a higher quality level than those outlined in the Australian Standards. The aim is a seamless installation and commissioning process onsite, however very tight standards compliance is also assured.

 

Rigorous QA and testing has been conducted prior to the delivery of equipment, and all-Australian steel has been used in the fabrication of tanks and structures. Technologies selected for Amrun are resilient to humidity, dust, cyclones, corrosive environments, and constant utilisation in a heavy-industrial environment.

 

Systems have been specified to offer reliable and safe long-term operation. This focus on quality and durability should minimise downtime due to the availability of fuel, or the degradation of diesel impacting the mining fleet. From go-live the site will manage an expected 300 000 l of diesel per week, with superior safety and environmental controls, along with reconciliation accuracy levels in excess of 99.5%. The choice to develop two distinct fuel facilities at this point in the project offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of how vehicle traffic is managed in the near term, and for future expansion to be supported.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/21032019/banlaw-to-supply-two-fuel-facilities-at-rio-tintos-amrun-project/