RUSSIA: Ural Mining Metallurgical Co has awarded United Wagon Co’s TikhvinChemMash plant contracts to supply a total of 73 sulphuric acid tank wagons by the end of January.
UMMC’s Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter is to receive 17 of the wagons, the Mednogorsk Copper & Sulphur Plant 30 and the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant 26, taking the total number of UWC wagons in the UMMC fleet to more than 100.
The Type 15-9545 tank wagons designed by UWC’s All-Union Research & Development Centre for Transportation Technology have 25 tonne axleload bogies and offer a capacity of 44 m3 or 77 tonnes, compared to 39 m3 and up to 69 tonnes for older equivalents.
The tank shape facilitates full drainage, and the gaskets are made from high-molecular-weight polyethylene which is more resistant to aggressive acids than the wood used on older vehicles. The hatches are fitted with fluoroplastic sealant, and are equipped with two nozzles for loading sulphuric acid and for the removal of sulphur dioxide gas via a flexible metal sleeve at depot degassing installations.
The wagons are designed for a life of 18 years with maintenance intervals of 1 000 000 km or eight years, compared to 210 000 km and two years for many wagons currently in use.
