Providing robust, cost-effective solutions to the coal and minerals processing industries
The process engineers, metallurgists and consultants at QPS provide expertise in the coal preparation consulting, minerals processing consulting and the associated slurry and materials handling systems. Specialist areas include coal resource evaluation and optimisation, Coal Preparation Plant (CPP) flowsheet development and Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) audits and investigations. QPS has successfully completed the process design for both large and small projects with the highest technical and safety standards and has provided relief and contract engineers to clients for both short and long-term site roles.
Our coal preparation consultants have a passion for excellence, the capacity to draw on a wealth of industry experience, a commitment to deliver high quality results and the desire to embrace new opportunities and challenges. The growth and sustainability of our business is based on our focus of providing clients with 'value added services'.
QPS has provided expert services to over 40 companies engaged in mining, engineering and construction projects as well as to equipment suppliers and other consultancies. Our staff and associates have worked in Australia, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Indonesia, Mozambique and China and also consulted for projects in Mongolia, Botswana and Canada.
Services Provided by QPS
Resource Evaluation
The evaluation of a coal resource is a vital step in accurately determining project feasibility and maximising life-of-mine revenue. QPS consultants offer a variety of coal resource and coal reserve evaluation services from planning and coordination of borecore testwork programs, coal quality review, CPP flowsheet analysis, life of mine... Read More
Owner's Representative
QPS provide specialist consultancy services to advance and protect the project owner’s interests exclusively, independent of the Design and Construct (D&C) Contractor, Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) service provider and other contractors. Our focus is to identify potential issues at an early stage, and then actively deal with them before they become real problems... Read More
Due Diligence and Peer Review
QPS regularly conducts technical due diligence reviews and optimisation reviews to identify and assess significant factors affecting the operation of the current or future Coal Preparation and Handling Plant. We check for compliance with typical industry practice, as well as in-depth analysis of Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), washability data, calculations, conclusions etc. Reviews can be conducted for entire coal and minerals processing plants or for parts of an operation with process plant interactions, including materials handling... Read More
Process Plant Design
Best practice CHPP design requires a review of mining plans and blending simulations with an aim to deliver optimum outcomes, ranging from a process plant flowsheet simulation set, to a complete life of mine assessment. QPS can advise clients on borecore programs and assess the impacts of various in-pit dilution and loss models on CHPP performance and overall mass reconciliation. QPS can then size process equipment and model the CHPP in a 3D Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) environment in order to obtain operating and capital cost estimates... Read More
Commissioning
The CHPP commissioning process requires skilled, experienced personnel in order to meet the desired commissioning targets in a timely, safe and cost effective manner. QPS can provide personnel for all stages of CPP commissioning, from planning to execution and for verification of results. QPS’s engineers are experienced in plant operations, design and commissioning, and as such are ideally placed to provide independent co-ordination assistance and manpower for any commissioning project... Read More
Plant Auditing
The efficiency of a coal preparation plant (CPP) has a major impact on the profitability of a mine. Regular audits are an essential tool in optimising, de-bottlenecking and troubleshooting a Coal Preparation Plant (CPP) operation. They are also required to test if performance guarantees have been met and explain any differences between expected and actual plant coal quality and yield. Given the considerable expense typically associated with plant audits, it is critical that this investment delivers the desired audit outcomes. QPS will work with site personnel to define the desired outcomes of the audit and identify the required sample points... Read More
Minor Projects
‘Minor’ CHPP projects include CPP upgrades, de-bottlenecking projects, unit operation improvements and minor process changes requiring a physical modification to a plant. QPS has the capability to deliver complete engineering solutions or process design and drafting only... Read More
Magnetite Audits
Efficient operation of dense medium separation and magnetite recovery circuits is essential for the economic operation of a CPP. QPS provides a single day audit and produces a report that includes a detailed assessment of particular problem areas, identifies specific causes of magnetite loss and recommends changes to operating procedures, minor plant equipment modifications etc for a very high financial return... Read More
Density Tracers
Density Tracer tests are the most practical way of measuring dense medium separation efficiency. QPS will provide the tracers, tracer retrieval equipment, technical personnel for the tests, completed SWMS/JSAs and analysis and interpretation of the results.... Read More
Dewatering
The efficiency of dewatering units impacts the product quality and the overall operation of the CPP. Poorly performing dewatering equipment can lead to a significant loss in revenue for thermal coal producers. QPS staff can troubleshoot and develop solutions to problems with dewatering equipment... Read More
Fines Processing
The efficient performance of fines beneficiation circuits such as spirals or HBS's (such as TBS or Reflux Classifier) is a major contributor to the productivity of a CPP. To help clients improve the operation of these unit operations, QPS can provide assistance in analysing and interpreting sample data, identifying problems through review of data and site visits, as well as formulating solutions to improve yield and selectivity... Read More
Froth Flotation
In most coking coal and PCI plants, the highest value coal fraction can be found in the ultra-fines. Flotation is often viewed as the most challenging component of any CHPP given the inconsistent nature of coal feeds, the difficulty involved in monitoring key performance parameters and operating conditions, and the wide range of specialty reagent products. QPS personnel have had extensive experience in coal flotation, from research, laboratory testwork and pilot plant operation, to flotation circuit design and full scale operation and improvement projects... Read More
Tailings Management
A properly selected and efficiently operated tailings management system maximises plant throughput and mine life by ensuring that the required volumes and characteristics of process water are produced and the tailings slurries generated are not excessive or contrary to environmental approvals. QPS staff and associates are able to provide a range of tailings management services; for operating plants as well as for greenfield and brownfield projects... Read More
Training
QPS consultants have been actively involved in the delivery of the Australian Coal Preparation Society’s (ACPS) training courses and have extensive experience in delivering both fundamental and in-depth training to a range of audiences. Furthermore, our technical expertise in design and operation has led to the development of training courses... Read More
Contract Engineers
Given their diverse set of experiences and knowledge in Coal Preparation and Handling Plant operation, design and R&D, the QPS team of engineers can bring a wealth of coal and mineral processing expertise to each project engagement. Consequently, QPS can provide process engineers for a variety of contract roles in the coal and minerals processing industries... Read More