Solid Fuel Laboratory – Komořany and Hrabák Stations (Coal Services a.s.)
The Solid Fuel Laboratory carries out laboratory analyses to check the quality of the coal products and to examine the materials from Czech Coal’s geological surveying. Analyses are also performed on a contractual basis for customers from outside the Czech Coal Group.
The laboratory’s core activities include the following types of solid fuel analyses:
The state-of-the-art instruments that are used in all analytical work combined with the laboratory workers’ extensive experience guarantee the highest quality of the services offered by the laboratory. In addition, the laboratory offers the testing of safety valves and pressure gauges.
In October 2009, the Hrabák and Komořany Stations of the Solid Fuel Laboratory were successfully re-accredited by the Czech Accreditation Institute and (on the basis of assessment of compliance with the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Standard) it received Accreditation Certificate No. 624/2009, dated 30 November 2009, which will remain in effect until 19 October 2014. The accreditation applies to the analyses of solid fuels: determination of the content of water, ash, sulphur, calorific value, carbon and hydrogen. The laboratory’s Head Engineer has been a holder of the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17024 certificate for the Quality Manager position since 14 June 2006.
The quality of laboratory services is confirmed through the laboratory’s regular participation in the international inter-laboratory comparative tests.
Oil Laboratory – Tribodiagnostics (Coal Services a.s.)
The Tribodiagnostics Department provides technical advice in the fields of tribology and lubricating oil management. The oil analyses performed in its oil laboratory allow to assess the condition of oils and the condition of the technical equipment under given operating conditions. The diagnostic methods and procedures used by the Department provide a basis for predictive and proactive maintenance.
The Department’s technical employees hold valid international certificates under the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17024 Standard for the position of Technical Diagnostician – Tribodiagnostics. The oil laboratory was established in 1979. The extensive experience of the laboratory chemists and their active cooperation with leading Czech experts guarantee the quality of the services they offer. They use the common methods of determining the chemical and physical characteristics of oil (viscosity, flash point, density, content of water, content of impurities, surface tension, acidity, electrical strength) as well as other special methods. Atomic absorption spectroscopy is used to measure the content of chemical elements in oil (e.g., Si, Al, Fe, Cu, Cr, Pb). The results serve for the assessment of the internal wear of the equipment, assessment of the impurities penetrating into the equipment from outside pollution etc. Infrared spectroscopy provides information on the chemical condition of the oil and is used, for the most part, to check the basic structure of the oil, measure the content of glycol and antioxidants and perform extended diagnostics of motor oils.
Vibration Diagnostics Department (Coal Services a.s.)
The Vibration Diagnostics Department uses diagnostic methods allowing to assess the technical condition of equipment and, on that basis, to identify the causes of defects and optimise the methods of maintenance. The diagnostic techniques and processes used are among the main inputs in predictive and proactive maintenance. The methods used by the Department include the measurement of vibration, speed and temperatures, noise ratio measurements and industrial endoscopy to examine inaccessible places. The Department started its operations in 1990 and its employees are holders of valid international certificates under the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17024 Standard for the position of Technical Diagnostician – Vibration Diagnostics.
Gas Laboratory – at the Main Mine Rescue Station, Most (Litvínovská uhelná a.s.)
Based on Ministry of the Environment Decision Ref. No. 234/820/09/KS of 17 February 2009 and the Amendment Decision of the same Ministry, Ref. No. 234or/820/09/KS of 12 March 2009 within the meaning of Section 15(1s) of Act No. 86/2002, Litvínovská uhelná (LUAS) is authorised to measure ambient pollution levels in mines. With respect to this authorisation, the Czech Mining Office in Prague issued its decision Ref. No. 1128/2009 of 6 May 2009 to authorise LUAS to make analyses of mine air and other mine gas samples under Section 8(b) of Act No. 61/1988. The validity of the Czech Mining Office’s decision is bound to the validity of the authorisation (by 30 September 2011). The laboratory keeps measuring the content of pollutants and accompanying substances exclusively for organisations and other units that carry out mining activities or other activities using mining methods.
Calibration Laboratory (Krušnohorské strojírny Komořany a.s.)
The company’s services include the work of calibration laboratories, defectoscopic testing facilities and non-invasive diagnostic facilities. There is permanent demand for services of this type, and the ability to provide them is a prestige for the company, although it accounts for only 1% of the company’s turnover.
Calibration Laboratory No. 2234 is accredited for the calibration of measuring devices for: length, pressure, force, plane angle, electrical values and time. The following services are offered, in addition to calibration: purchase and sale of measuring devices, gauging of measuring devices, instruments and equipment, technical assistance in the metrology area.
Defectoscopic testing facilities (Krušnohorské strojírny Komořany a.s.)
The testing shops offer defectoscopic tests and non-invasive diagnostics of equipment, including, for example, seating of rotating machines using laser optic instruments. The laboratory’s target is to improve calibration services to meet customers’ expectations; to achieve this, re-accreditation based on the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17 025:2005 for the provision of accredited services to other subjects was reached.
Rubber Service Laboratory (RENOGUM a.s.)
The Company has a non-accredited laboratory offering the following services: measurement of granulate moisture, determination of abrasion resistance, determination of the course of the vulcanisation process, measurement of absorbing capacity, granulometry, determination of specific weight and volume weight, adhesion between the plies and covering layers, cord/rubber adhesion, tension characteristics of rubber, pressure characteristics of granulate, complete testing of mixes.
Water analysis laboratory (HUMECO a.s.)
HUMECO, a.s., operates a testing laboratory accredited as a Testing Laboratory for Water Analyses. Good Practice Certificate No. 339 was issued to it by ASLAB in 2007. The laboratory offers analyses of waste water and surface water.
Czech Coal Group
E-mail: ccg@czechcoal.cz
Czech Coal a.s.
Evropská 2690/17, 160 00 Prague 6
Tel.: +420 222 183 111
E-mail: info@czechcoal.cz
Residence:
V. Řezáče 315, 434 67 Most
