Transportation of bulk cargo during winter
Transportation of bulk cargo in the cold season is a complex technical task. When solid materials (coal, crushed stone, etc.) are transported in open wagons in winter, they often freeze to the walls of the wagons or even freeze into a single monolith.
This leads to the following negative consequences:
- Unloading becomes much more difficult, even if the frozen layer is only 30-40 centimeters;
- An ice film forms on conveyors and loading systems, which can cause the conveyors to slip;
- During unloading, cubes of frozen material may fall and damage the equipment;
- The addressees of the cargo often make claims against the suppliers, having received the frozen rock;
- Delivery costs are increased due to the long idle time of the wagons waiting for the material to melt and ready for unloading;
- Sometimes material is crushed, which negatively affects its characteristics and leads to additional costs.
Calcium chloride can provide cost-effective freeze protection for coal, ore and other bulk materials. The substance is suitable for use in sorting yards, mines, conveyor lines and other places where materials are exposed to subzero temperatures. Calcium chloride is sprayed onto bulk materials to neutralize their stickiness. The walls and bottom of the container are usually treated as well.
Benefits of using Calcium Chloride:
- Calcium chloride, having a low freezing point, not only neutralizes the effect of frost on the material at temperatures up to 40 degrees below zero, but is also capable of causing the substance to melt up to the dissolution of ice crystals.
- Calcium does not cause corrosion, damage to wagons or tanks.
- The substance does not change the characteristics of coal, including its combustible properties.