First Energy – WH Sammis Plant
- Owner: First Energy Corporation
- Project: Coal Handling System Upgrade
- Location: W.H. Sammis Plant, Stratton, Ohio
- Scope: Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Startup and Commissioning
Project Background
Roberts & Schaefer Company was awarded a turnkey contract from First Energy Service Company for engineering, procurement, construction, start–up and commissioning of the coal handling system upgrade for rail deliveries at First Energy Corporation’s W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton, Ohio. The system upgrade was successfully completed and in operation in 2003.
The plant coal handling facility received coal by barge that was unloaded by a continuous bucket ladder unloader. To greatly increase the unloading capacity, a rapid discharge bottom dump train unloading system rated at 4,000 tph was installed. The coal source initially remains Pennsylvania coal, but the delivery cost was greatly reduced due to the decreased unloading time compared with the barge system. PRB coal is now also received at the plant. The railcar unloading hopper discharges using a single 96–inch wide belt feeder. A third–rail system for automatic in–motion unloading and a roller railside car shaker were also furnished.
The train unloading system is located approximately 2,350 feet from the coal yard reclaim area due to the site conditions. The unloading conveyor discharges to a stacking tube to form a 30,000–ton storage pile near the train unloading system. Four variable rate vibratory feeders reclaim this pile and feed onto the 1,000 TPH transfer conveyor. The 1,900 feet long transfer conveyor transfers the coal to a stacking tube to form a 15,000–ton pile in the coal yard reclaim area. This dual staking tube system allows for rapid unloading of the railcars and then a reasonable conveying rate to the coal yard area, on an as needed basis. The R&S ancillary systems included wet suppression for dust control, tunnel ventilation, and washdown.