Wind Domes: Difference between revisions

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A dome is a fully enclosed structure over the terminal, including the coal storage piles and transloading equipment. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel and can be an irregular shape.<ref name=":4">Geometrica, Inc., [https://www.geometrica.com/en/latestnews/coal-yards Covers For Coal Yards In Varying Shapes and Sizes].</ref><ref>Aneke, et al., [./File:2016_05_05_MA_Modified_Manuscript_NotMarked.pdf Energy Storage Technologies and Real Life Applications – A State of the Art Review], ''Applied Energy'', 179, 350–377, 2016.</ref> Non-porous fabric domes have also been used,<ref>[https://www.mrt.com/news/article/W-Va-Town-Divided-Over-Coal-Plant-Suit-7777049.php W. Va. Town Divided Over Coal Plant Suit], ''MRT'', January 23, 2003.</ref> although they are more susceptible to weather damage.<ref>The Associated Press, [https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/winds-shred-dome-at-boone-county-coal-operation/article_0a357589-aa6d-5d32-80fe-33271de5bff2.html Winds Shred Dome at Boone County Coal Operation], Charleston Gazette-Mail, March 1, 2012.</ref><ref>Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, [https://ohvec.org/downed-dome-again/ Downed Dome, Again], March 2, 2012.</ref>
A dome is a fully enclosed structure over the terminal, including the coal storage piles and transloading equipment. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel and can be an irregular shape.<ref name=":4">Geometrica, Inc., [https://www.geometrica.com/en/latestnews/coal-yards Covers For Coal Yards In Varying Shapes and Sizes].</ref><ref>Aneke, et al., [./File:2016_05_05_MA_Modified_Manuscript_NotMarked.pdf Energy Storage Technologies and Real Life Applications – A State of the Art Review], ''Applied Energy'', 179, 350–377, 2016.</ref> Non-porous fabric domes have also been used,<ref>[https://www.mrt.com/news/article/W-Va-Town-Divided-Over-Coal-Plant-Suit-7777049.php W. Va. Town Divided Over Coal Plant Suit], ''MRT'', January 23, 2003.</ref> although they are more susceptible to weather damage.<ref>The Associated Press, [https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/winds-shred-dome-at-boone-county-coal-operation/article_0a357589-aa6d-5d32-80fe-33271de5bff2.html Winds Shred Dome at Boone County Coal Operation], Charleston Gazette-Mail, March 1, 2012.</ref><ref>Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, [https://ohvec.org/downed-dome-again/ Downed Dome, Again], March 2, 2012.</ref>
[[index.php?title=File:Geomtrica,_Inc._Freeform_Stockpiles_Domes.jpg|link=https://voicesinthedust.org/File:Geomtrica,_Inc._Freeform_Stockpiles_Domes.jpg|alt=Geomtrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes|thumb|Geometrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes<ref name=":4" />]]
 
[[File:Geomtrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes.jpg|alt=Geomtrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes|thumb|Geometrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes<ref name=":4" />]]
 
'''Domes''' '''are effective:''' Because domes enclose terminal storage areas, they should contain most if not all coal dust produced through terminal activities.<ref name=":5">[./File:Notes_on_email_correspondence_between_Michelle_Team.pdf Notes on Email Correspondence between Michelle Team of LF-BJMB and Repair Lab Team Member], March 3, 2024.</ref> There is limited research demonstrating the efficacy of dome structures for dust mitigation, with most references tracing back to a single U.S. EPA contractor’s report, which does not explain key assumptions.<ref>cite</ref>
'''Domes''' '''are effective:''' Because domes enclose terminal storage areas, they should contain most if not all coal dust produced through terminal activities.<ref name=":5">[./File:Notes_on_email_correspondence_between_Michelle_Team.pdf Notes on Email Correspondence between Michelle Team of LF-BJMB and Repair Lab Team Member], March 3, 2024.</ref> There is limited research demonstrating the efficacy of dome structures for dust mitigation, with most references tracing back to a single U.S. EPA contractor’s report, which does not explain key assumptions.<ref>cite</ref>


Latest revision as of 17:04, 4 July 2025

A dome is a fully enclosed structure over the terminal, including the coal storage piles and transloading equipment. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel and can be an irregular shape.[1][2] Non-porous fabric domes have also been used,[3] although they are more susceptible to weather damage.[4][5]

Geomtrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes
Geometrica, Inc. Freeform Stockpiles Domes[1]

Domes are effective: Because domes enclose terminal storage areas, they should contain most if not all coal dust produced through terminal activities.[6] There is limited research demonstrating the efficacy of dome structures for dust mitigation, with most references tracing back to a single U.S. EPA contractor’s report, which does not explain key assumptions.[7]

Domes are widely-used: Domes are a common technology for industrial bulk storage. Domes are used specifically for coal or petcoke storage in at least 19 locations in the U.S. and globally. Domes are also used in over 100 locations that include power plants, grain dealers, mines, cement plants, ports, and other industries which stock large quantities of dry bulk materials.[8] Companies that construct domes include Geometrica, Inc.,[9] CST Industries,[10] Dome Technology, SAFS Steel Structure, Monolithic Dome, LF-BJMB, and World Domes (DOMTEC).

Costs are negligible compared to company profits: Domes costs vary and are location specific. For scale, costs reports are $200–500 (Geometrica),[11] $330–370 (LF-BJMB),[6] and $70–120 (SAFS Steel Structure)[12] per square meter covered. Domes can be constructed while terminals operate regularly.[1]

Safety Risks

Coal is combustible. Therefore, enclosed coal storage must be engineered for this risk. Domes must be constructed of non-combustible materials, surfaces where dust settles should be minimized and cladding installed underneath the internal structural elements, coal should be kept as dry as possible (sprinklers are not recommended), and the dome must be sufficiently ventilated to prevent methane accumulation.[9]

While risks can be managed safely, there are examples of negligence by terminal companies leading to explosions or fires at coal terminals. In particular, a major explosion occurred at the CSX coal terminal on December 30, 2021 in the Curtis Bay neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.[13][14][15] Activists, residents, and health professional in Oakland, California argued against a coal export terminal in their community because of the safety risks associated with fully enclosing coal piles.[16]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Geometrica, Inc., Covers For Coal Yards In Varying Shapes and Sizes.
  2. ↑ Aneke, et al., [./File:2016_05_05_MA_Modified_Manuscript_NotMarked.pdf Energy Storage Technologies and Real Life Applications – A State of the Art Review], Applied Energy, 179, 350–377, 2016.
  3. ↑ W. Va. Town Divided Over Coal Plant Suit, MRT, January 23, 2003.
  4. ↑ The Associated Press, Winds Shred Dome at Boone County Coal Operation, Charleston Gazette-Mail, March 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Downed Dome, Again, March 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 [./File:Notes_on_email_correspondence_between_Michelle_Team.pdf Notes on Email Correspondence between Michelle Team of LF-BJMB and Repair Lab Team Member], March 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ cite
  8. ↑ Repair Lab, [./File:Wind_Fences_and_Domes_Report_Repair_Lab_2024_(corrected).pdf Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News Is a Nuisance and There Are Solutions (Corrected)], August 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Geometrica, Inc., Coal and Pet-coke: The Largest Fuel Stockpiles Can Now Be Covered.
  10. ↑ CST Industries, [./File:Covers-Bulk-Materials-Brochure.pdf CST Covers: Dry Bulk Storage Systems].
  11. ↑ Email correspondence between a Repair Lab team member and Fernanda Sanchez of Geometrica, who said: “Regarding the costs, these vary greatly as our designs are customized for each project. They can go from USD $200 to more than $500 per square meter covered.” August 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ [./File:Notes_on_email_correspondence_between_Hilda_Hu.pdf Notes on Email Correspondence between Hilda Hu (Sales Manager) of SAFS Steel Solutions and Repair Lab Team Member], February 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ Shen, Long before Today’s Explosion, Curtis Bay Residents Complained about Black Grit from the CSX Coal Terminal, Baltimore Brew, December 30, 2021.
  14. ↑ Kazanjian, CSX Coal Explosion Impacted a Large Swath of Residential Curtis Bay, Report Finds, Baltimore Brew, August 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ Mosbrucker, One Year Later: A South Baltimore Community’s Quest for ‘No More Coal’, WYPR News, December 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ Public Health Advisory Panel on Coal in Oakland, California, [./File:7_-_Volume_VII.pdf An Assessment of the Health and Safety Implications of Coal Transport through Oakland], June 14, 2016.
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