Our ACARP Project Partners include:
- Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP)
- BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Caval Ridge Mine
- AirQuality Ltd
The primary objective of this study is to give both the mining industry and regulators increased confidence in the results produced by dust dispersion models by validating and improving the methodology applied to open-cut mining operations. This objective will be achieved through the determination the best methodology for calculating dispersion based on the application of the micrometeorology and/or Pasquill-Gifford (PG) stability curve option within the regulatory approved dispersion model CALPUFF .
The ACARP study involves the following key components:
- A significant field campaign where dust monitoring instrumentation is calibrated against a TEOM for a month, both before and after deployment on the tower. Data from instruments on the tower will be collected over a 12 month period.
- Data collation and processing where dust and met data monitoring from a 30m tower and more conventional ground based monitoring stations correlated with a highly detailed mining activity information database; then finally processed and analysed.
- Development of a Site-Based Emissions Inventory where highly detailed mining activity information is used to produce a per shift dust emissions inventory.
- Dust dispersion modelling where model output using alternative dust dispersion methods is compared with the field data.
- Reporting where the results of the field study are disseminated to the Project Team, ACARP and regulators on a regular basis. Reporting will include the production of a data summary report, a dispersion modelling report and an overarching ACARP study report.
Current Status of Project
The focus of research activities to date has been on the installation of equipment and lightening protection onto the 30 m tower at BMA’s Caval Ridge Mine which was completed on 16/10/2015.We are pleased that this phase of the work has finally been completed and are looking forward to seeing how the data unfolds over the coming months.
Tower and instrumentation:
Instrumentation at 30 m:
Instrumentation at 20 m:
Instrumentation at 10 m:
