A PARTNERSHIP between Teesside University and Cleveland Potash is set to bring environmental benefits by reducing the company’s energy usage and cutting pollution.
Cleveland Potash, which runs Boulby Mine, has teamed up with the university’s School of Science & Engineering to tap into scientific knowledge and expert support.
They have set up a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) – an initiative that draws on university expertise to help increase a company’s competitiveness, productivity and profits.
KTPs are a three-way partnership between a company, a university and a talented graduate and this time Teesside postgraduate Balaji Vasudevan is working on the reduction of dust pollution and energy costs at the company until next June.
Vasudevan, 25, from India, who has a master of science degree in petroleum technology, said: “I worked first on a collaborative innovation partnership, a six-month project with the university, which explored how to reduce the company’s particle emissions and make energy savings. This project identified the process disturbances that could impact on particle emissions.
“I’m now looking at the best possible systems to reduce these emissions further without impacting on the production capability of the plant. There are a number of ways, for example trying to balance dryer feed rates and control methodology.
“My research has indicated that by reducing the variability of dryer control the emissions can be further improved and energy consumption in the drying process can also be improved. An online particulate monitor has been trialled and is now installed in the plant.”
Jennie Thomas, environmental services manager, said: “There is a legal limit to particle emissions from our stack, set by Redcar and Cleveland Council, and although we operate well within the limits we want to ensure that our operations don’t affect these levels. Developing control strategies with the plant manager and his operators will help us to improve continually.
“This project and the support from the university is excellent in helping us in our commitment to the environment.
“Balaji is absolutely excellent. We’ve also had fantastic communications with Dr Zhang and Professor Paul Russell at the university. It’s been a very rewarding process and we’re looking to take Balaji’s work further.”
