Layout
of the facilities were taken into account future installation of automated
dumping and stockpiling system whereby the trucks will be dumped at the
fuel load-out station and concentrate conveyed to the storage building for
stockpiling by overhead traveling tripper conveyor .
The wharf consisted of six similar
dolphins and was designed to withstand a 50,000-ton deadweight ship
approaching at 0.33;:ft.( sec. normal to the berth face. Minimum depth of
water at the berth face was 40 feet at low tide which required the
dredging of some 60,000 cu. yd. of material at the inshore end of the
berth.
The shiploader-support structure
was in the form of an elongated T -shape some 50 ft. wide across the head
with a 180-ft. tail, oriented at right angles and central to the berth
face; the structure consists of 110 piles. A seventh dolphin was located
on the ship loader centre line but was completely independent of the
support structure.
Essentially the approach trestle
was a connecting service bridge, 580-ft. long, carrying the concentrate
conveyor and 14-in. fuel unloading line on pilings placed at 20-ft.
centres.
Ships would be berthed without the
assistance of tugs. Four mooring buoys were provided. Granduc was an
isolated mine, and that fact alone dictated the need for complete
power-plant facilities on site.
It can be said without reservation
that this was one of the most up-to-date and efficient power-generating
facilities. Capacity of the plant is 30 MW.
Two oil-fired boilers rated at
260,000 Ib. per hour generate superheated steam at 600 psig and 725° to
evaporation condensing turbines driving 15 MW generators. In addition
there were five auxiliary Caterpillar diesel generators located in the
diesel room on the ground floor of the plant. Two of these machines were
rated at 400 k.w. and three at 500 k.w., al12300 volts, 3 phase, 1200
r.p.m. When operated in parallel the turbo-generators had a generating
capacity in excess of the anticipated peak load.
In the event of one of the turbo-
generators being down for any reason, the other units were capable of
supplying and maintaining continuity of essential services and most of the
load requirement. In addition, each of the boilers was capable of
supplying enough steam to satisfy the power demand for the entire plant.
Each of the two generators
energizes a 13.8 kv bus section which carried all the feeder loads and
which was also tied into the 2.3 kv diesel bus through two transformers.
Generally speaking, the diesel
units were used to provide auxiliary power for initial start-up of the
first turbo-generator, emergency power or supplementary power, should one
turbo-generator be shut down.
Applications of the power were made
at 4160 volts and 600 volts throughout the surface facilities. Underground
operations were supplied at 22.9 k. v. by twin 25 kv feeders running
through the tunnel.
During normal operations the two
turbo generators were operating in parallel, supplying equal or
apportioned loads to all feeder circuits. The diesel units were not in use
under such operating conditions.
The plant was modem in every
respect and a complete system of controls, alarms, and other built-in
relays, meters, and switches assured instant knowledge of water levels,
frequencies, output voltages, and any kind of extraordinary electrical or
mechanical malfunction.
In addition to this
power-generating equipment, there were also a package boiler for emergency
heating of the plant; a 75 h.p. electric fire pump and an 82 h.p.
gasoline-powered fire pump were located in the fire-pump house on the
ground floor. Each pump was rated at 80 p.s.i. differential. A system of
hose stations and automatic sprinkler installations were arranged through
the concentrator and power plant buildings.
The two buildings were connected by
an 8-ft.-dia. by 372-ft.-Iong underground service-tunnel which carried I I
pipe