A computer screen displays the location of each coal pile and the stacker reclaimer. The amount of coal on each pile and the number of rail cars unloaded during a given day also are displayed. The computer operator tells the stacker reclaimer when to deliver the coal to a crushing operation. The system limits the stacker reclaimer's movement to the coal pile selected by the computer operator. A seventh silo can hold more material but normally is empty.
Workers also use the computer system for coal blending.
The computer operator enters a coke-blending recipe into the system. After a graphic display of the coke battery is selected, the software automatically initiates the coal-blending process. A weighfeeder at the bottom of each storage silo releases the required amount of coal onto a conveyer. The conveyer takes the coal to a mixer and then to the coke battery for charging. Its twelve batteries and 186 ovens produce 4.8 million tons of coke a year.