Samson Materials Handling Ltd has received an order from TradeMark East Africa for four Eco Hoppers to be installed at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. As they will be employed to import coal as well as clinker and gypsum, the Eco Hoppers will include ATEX-compliant explosion protection, the first such installation of its kind.
Samson Eco Hoper
Key to the operation is the management of air quality and fugitive dust. The ambient air contains considerable levels of dust and is characterised by high levels of humidity and temperatures ranging from
22-40°C.
A variety of dust suppression measures at the intake area of the Eco Hopper, as well as on a dusting system situated between the hopper and truck will be employed. The dust reduction measures include an automatic reverse-jet cleaning system, air compressors, inlet grill with suction capacity, a flex-flap creating a pressure differential and a dust filter unit on three sides of the hopper.
The Eco Hopper inlet grill measures 6m x 6m and is topped by a 2m high shroud which creates an aperture of 8.2 x 8.2m for grab discharge, thus mitigating the effects of high winds. The Eco Hopper is mounted on a chassis which brings the total height of the configuration to 15.7m, allowing a truck clearance height of over 4m. The Mombasa Eco Hoppers have mobile powered travel with crabbing functionality for precise positioning alongside vessels. Each Eco Hopper has a throughput peak rate of 700tph.
The engineering design is the result of the successful collaboration of the Aumund Group of companies involving Samson Materials Handling Ltd, Ely, UK and engineers from Schade Lagertechnik GmbH in Germany.
