Background

Qube Ports is a premier integrated port solutions provider, managing bulk and general cargo handling across more than 40 ports throughout Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia. Their Kwinana facility in Western Australia serves as a critical hub for the import and export of bulk materials, including clinker. In an operation of this scale, maintaining environmental compliance and protecting the surrounding industrial community is a top priority.

Problem

In 2014, the Kwinana facility faced a significant air quality challenge during clinker unloading operations. Using a 20-ton grab to discharge material from vessels into two large wharf hoppers created massive clouds of airborne dust. The primary issues included:

• Air Displacement: As the 20-ton loads were released, the displaced air inside the hoppers escaped at high velocity, carrying fine clinker particles with it. Extreme coastal winds often blew the dust far beyond the site boundaries.
• Environmental Impact: Contamination was spreading across the wharf and onto neighboring properties, threatening local environmental compliance.
• Personnel Safety: High concentrations of dust on the wharf increased inhalation risks for ground crews and equipment operators.

Solution

Mideco designed a heavy-duty solution designed to manage dust at the moment of impact. The system combined passive suppression with a high-capacity ECP 48 Dust Collector.

1. The Model 2 Burnley® Baffles with galvanized support frames were installed to fully enclose the top opening of each wharf hopper. This gravity-operated baffles capture the air displaced by the 20-ton grab and prevents dust from becoming airborne at the point of unloading, keeping the material inside the hopper.
2. The captured air is then directed to the Economy Jet Pulse (ECP 48) Dust Collector where dust is extracted and filtered before clean air is safely returned to the environment. The dust collector was customized for the port environment with:

• A trough hopper with an integral screw conveyor to automate material recovery.
• High-level probes to ensure operational safety and prevent overfill.
• A 4kW rotary screw compressor to power the jet-pulse cleaning system.

Result

The implementation of the Burnley Baffles and ECP system transformed the unloading process at Kwinana with immediate and measurable results. Each hopper effectively managed a total airflow of 15,500 m³/h to contain the massive air displacement from the 20-ton grab, while the filtration system achieved a 99.9%+ efficiency for particles as small as 0.5 µm. This high-performance combination allowed Qube Ports to capture even the finest clinker dust and stop migration beyond the site boundary, significantly improving environmental conditions without sacrificing vessel unloading speed or operational efficiency.

Is your port facility struggling with fugitive dust during bulk unloading? Contact us for solutions.