MINING PUMPS
Vlot adds:“ Due to the specific design of the hydraulics system, the hardware required for the Pulsation Free system is basically limited to a separate drive for each pump cylinder; additional hydraulic valve control blocks, hoses and connections are not required. This makes the system reliable, easy to install and easy to maintain at reduced costs. In addition to the targeted pulsation free discharge flow the VZ system offers some further benefits. Due to the fact that peak flows can be eliminated, the average piston speed during discharge is lower. A lower piston speed typically has a positive effect on the lifetime of the piston cups and other wear parts. Thanks to the VZ design, which includes a hydraulic drive for each cylinder, the pump may be operated on only one of the two cylinders, enabling to continue pumping on 50 % capacity. This feature can be advantageous to complete the production shift or empty the pipeline or the feeding tank in case of a malfunction. When pumping hardening slurries such as cemented backfill this may be a useful feature. Note that, unlike a pre-charge pulsation damper, the VZ system works in any operating range. Moreover, as the VZ system is an integral part of the pumping system, it does not require additional hardware and, as such, does not require additional inspections or maintenance.”
Weir states that since its introduction, a number of pumps equipped with the VZ Pulsation Free system have been installed around the world, running in different pumping applications such as mine backfill, tailings disposal and fly ash pumping. The performance of these pumps is in accordance with the design calculations and the expectations based on the test results from the test stand: the discharge flow is nearly constant in time, resulting in virtually no pressure pulsations.
Oil sands pumping barge innovation
GIW Industries Inc says that“ when a client comes to us at GIW with a unique request, we ' re always eager to custom-engineer a solution. Sometimes, these newly developed pumps and pump parts go beyond simply improving customers ' systems and provide us with opportunities to improve overall industry
Hydraulic schematic of the VZ Pulsation Free system
standards and expectations. That ' s the case with our latest barge pumping solution for a Canadian oil sands customer. To overcome many of the issues associated with recycling tailings and draining tailings ponds, we worked with the customer and Hagler Systems to outfit a barge with a robust, vertically oriented GIW LSV-44 slurry pump.”
GIW Oil Sands Business Development Manager Mollie Timmerman highlighted five things that make this barge an impressive addition to oil sands tailings reclamation efforts:
“ What ' s unique about the pump is that it ' s a traditional heavy-duty pump design that we ' ve turned 90 degrees to be in a vertical orientation. That means the size of the barge can be smaller because you can have more equipment vertically instead of in a horizontal layout.”
Second, the pumping portion is already partially submerged in water, so it takes care of any suction-lift concerns and eliminates the need for gland water. Because water is such a precious commodity in mining operations, this offers big savings to clients.
Third, it ' s a robust slurry pump,“ so it ' s going to have improved reliability, meaning it ' ll need maintenance far less frequently. We expect it ' ll be one to two years before the user needs any new parts or servicing for this product.”
Usually for servicing dredges on ponds, access to provisions like walkways, cables, a boat, and a crew is necessary. To simplify the maintenance process and cut costs, this barge can be pulled into shore for maintenance and servicing.
Finally, even though the wear life on GIW pumps is exceptional, GIW engineers designed this specific pump using existing wet-end parts where possible for commonality. The LSV-44 utilises parts that are also operating in landbased high-powered booster pumps in the oil sands, so there ' s some interchangeability.
“ The customer who inspired this tailings reclamation barge is benefiting from all these perks and more. Thanks to the combined dedication of GIW experts and nearby Hagler Systems professionals, the client received a product entirely manufactured in North America with all of the pump parts having been created in the GIW Grovetown foundry and supported by
our dedicated Fort McMurray Service Centre team.”
“ We have a long relationship and history with the Hagler Systems team,” Timmerman says.“ Combining our expertise helped the client get the best of both of worlds— the convenience of a single purchase point and a well-known barge and pump manufacturer that are located geographically close together.”
This solution comes at a time when many oil sands mine operators are finding themselves in need of an efficient, cost-effective way to remove the water and light-duty tailings from their ponds.
“ This design for this barge could be easily duplicated,” Timmerman says.“ There ' s a fair amount of tailings work that ' s going to begin in the oil sands over the coming years to ensure the tailing ponds can be reclaimed.”
Xylem unveils financing and rental options
Xylem showcased it latest dewatering technologies and leading expertise at CONEXPO including a new financing solution which provides flexible funding options to Xylem’ s US customers. The financing options are available to commercial and industrial organisations, including mines and mining contractors, looking at acquiring Godwin and Flygt dewatering equipment.
“ To introduce this new financing agreement, Xylem is offering introductory interest rates as low as 1.99 % on new and used Godwin and Flygt equipment now through the end of March 2017.” Jackie Helfrich, Vice President, Strategy and Marketing for Xylem’ s dewatering business said,“ Our new financing option makes it easier for our customers in North America to purchase new or used equipment. This is a 100 % financing option – no up-front investment is required, which allows our customers to acquire pumping equipment they need, when they need it, not just when it is feasible within their operating budget.”
Trade show attendees also viewed a live remote pump operation demonstration at the Xylem booth. The live demonstration involved a Godwin PrimeGuard Controller featuring Field Smart Technology( FST). The FST demo monitored and controlled a pump stationed 2,500 miles away through a live satellite link.
Godwin Field Smart Technology, designed by Xylem’ s engineers specifically for dewatering pumps,“ offers customers additional security as it enables them to turn off and lock a pump located anywhere in the world. Predictive analytics features, including a built-in alarm system to warn operators of faults in a pump, means that when an engineer is going to fix the problem, they know exactly what equipment to
54 International Mining | APRIL 2017