June 2025

 

Featured in Dry Cargo International: How Wind Fences Are Revolutionizing Coal Storage & Handling

We’re pleased to share that WeatherSolve Structures has been prominently featured in the June 2025 issue of Dry Cargo International, a leading global publication for bulk handling and materials management. The article, titled “Wind fences:  traffic control for coal handling”, spotlights WeatherSolve’s engineered solutions, comparing them to a “traffic controller” that steps in to direct the chaos of wind and dust in coal handling operations.

The editorial emphasizes that at coal transfer points and stockyards, wind and dust can threaten operations, health and safety, and limit visibility. Dust generated from equipment like conveyors and stacker/reclaimers only makes matters worse. Wind fences, as porous barriers, function like a traffic controller by redirecting wind up and over the fence while allowing some to pass through. This creates a “sheltered zone” on the leeward side where wind speeds are drastically reduced, and turbulence and eddies are minimized.

Proven Results: Creating a Calm Protected Zone

The feature underscores how a properly designed wind fence can improve operations:

  • A well-designed wind fence can reduce fugitive dust to 1/8th that of an unprotected situation.
  • In the sheltered zone, wind is drastically reduced and airborne dust quickly settles.
  • Wind fences function via two modalities: an upwind fence dramatically lowers incoming wind speeds, and a downwind fence acts as a ‘catch’ fence for dust still in motion.
  • In the protected zone, the wind speed is typically less than 50%, and the dust levels drop to less than 16% compared to an unprotected situation.

WeatherSolve in Action

The article highlights a large-scale project for a port in the Baltic Sea corridor. This port had a massive coal stockyard exceeding 120,000 m², a high volume of coal turnover, an extensive integrated railway system, and strict regulatory compliance needs. The solution had to be effective against harsh winter environments and ice accumulation.

WeatherSolve Structures developed a solution.  A 1.5 km long, 23 m high wind fence was installed.

  • The fence used two different porosities of proprietary fabric.
  • The entire structure was engineered to withstand maximum ice loads as specified by local building codes, and the fabric is designed to flex with the wind to prevent ice accumulation.
  • Following installation, air quality measurements showed that concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 more than satisfied regulatory requirements.

This success clearly demonstrates the power of a well-designed wind fence to meet the demands of operational efficiency and environmental responsibility, even under extreme conditions.

Read the full feature on page 14 of the June 2025 issue of Dry Cargo International to learn more about how wind fences are bringing order to coal handling operations worldwide.