The Problem
Built for world-wide ocean trade by Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), the Innovator is a Panamax-class self-unloading vessel capable of holding 65,000 tons of various bulk solids including: grain, iron ore pellets, aggregates, wet ores, concentrates, alumina, cement, salt, potash, and cohesive coals.
In order to maximize useable volume, it was necessary to use a three-belt withdrawal configuration rather than a conventional two-belt system. Hoppers and gates had to provide good flow control for a wide range of free-flowing and non free-flowing cargos.
Jenike & Johanson's Solution
Personnel in Jenike & Johanson's office in Toronto, Canada, worked closely with CSL for a two-year period, designing and redesigning hopper and gate configurations.
Flow property results obtained for a very cohesive iron ore concentrate were used as the design basis material. Jenike & Johanson considered many gate design concepts, constructed working models and performed flow pattern tests. Eventually, we developed a new gate of the "basket" or "swing" gate type in conjunction with Consilium CMH Marine AB.
The Result
The new ship has been in continuous service since September 1988. Raymond Johnston, CSL's V.P. Customer Services and Transportation, states, "As a result of the significant amount of research and development time and money that went into the CSL Innovator, we now have the most technologically advanced self-unloading vessel in the world. With the vessel's unique capability to handle a wide range of difficult cargos, satisfy environmental requirements with respect to dust and noise pollution, and offer superior discharge flexibility with the articulated boom, this is one R&D project that has certainly paid off."
