GERMAN TECHNOLOGY
range of highly different flows by modifying the speed of the motor and therefore the pump strokes via a frequency converter – VFD.”
In total, 14 ABEL model HPT pumps were supplied for this project; seven for operation and seven on standby to ensure mechanical sealing of the whole inventory of centrifugal pumps for distributing the phosphate slurry to all the production units.
With the objective of standardising the process as much as possible, a sole pump was chosen with small differences in its settings. The equipment chosen is the HPT- K-32 model, which allows for a maximum flow of 30 m ³/ h and maximum pressure of 30 bar. Apart from simplifying operations, a sole pump reduces the stock of spare parts needed.
Following ABEL’ s manufacturing philosophy of seeking maximum equipment reliability, the robust HPT pump head is constructed of forged steel. The pump has all the following safety features: safety valve, complete protection for drive belt, reducer oil level control, piston leaks detector and no-load detector,“ always ensuring the equipment is in perfect working order.” Cited advantages include the following:
■ Only one pump required to service multiple centrifugal pump seals.
■ High reliability and robust pump design for 24 / 7 operation.
■ Safe and quiet operation
■ High precision in flow control to respond to the water demand at every moment.
■ High precision of the supply flow
■ Low operating costs.
■ Excellent energy efficiency
■ Low maintenance cost
■ Low consumption of spare parts
■ Easy access to worn out parts in maintenance operations.
Turnkey processing plants
For more than 50 years AKW Equipment + Process Design has been successfully active in the international mining sector as an EPC player, engineering and equipment supplier. The company told IM:“ Through unique capabilities in providing the customer with turnkey solutions, we continue to strengthen our leading position in the market. Through the use of our first class equipment, carefully selected subcontractors and proven capabilities to carry out the whole project management, we can provide solutions in all steps of the process chain – all in one hand. Focusing on the‘ separation step’ in the overall mining value chain, we have a wide range of proprietary equipment in our portfolio that enable the customer to process in the most efficient and economical way.”
One recent example, which the team says it is also very proud of, refers to a speciality silica sand processing plant, which was set up in a record period. The case dates back to 2004, when AKW Equipment + Process Design supplied an African customer with a silica sand beneficiation plant highly customised to local needs. More than 10 years later, this same customer came back to AKW and repeated the order for a new unit, with similar process data but with the addition of some newly developed process steps. AKW Equipment + Process Design was awarded the order in April 2015. In agreement with the timeline agreed in the contract, the production of its proprietary equipment, the technical coordination with the subcontractors, the preparation of the CEconformity documentation, the dispatch of all goods as well as the planning of the assembly took place quickly and smoothly, says AKW. The delivery, mounting and commissioning of the system comprised:
■ Box feeder: for constant feeding by wheel loader
■ Classification and screening machines AKA- SCREEN: for an accurate cut size in the coarse end, as well as an optimum sand dewatering
■ Attrition machine AKA-TRIT: for intensive surface cleaning of the sand particles
■ Hydrocyclones AKA-VORTEX: for desliming and dewatering
■ Spirals AKA-SPIN: for gravimetric separation of heavy mineral particles
■ Pump sumps: for collecting of slurry for the pumps
■ Pumps: for slurry transportation
■ Belt conveyors: for the process material transportation
■ Piping, steel works and electric control system. As of now, this new plant has been in operation since Q3 2016“ and is performing at
AKW Equipment + Process Design has supplied an African mining customer with a silica sand beneficiation plant recently, building on an earlier 2004 order
the high and expected level, providing the requested and agreed output products: SiO 2 content > 99 %, Fe 2O 3 content < 0.04 %, Al 2O 3 content < 0.3 %, maximum 5 % > 710 µ m, maximum 3 % < 125 µ m.“ To ensure going forward a trouble-free plant operation and maximum lifetime, our customers can also count on our top after-sales service and customer care: this is also one of our top priorities.”
Maximum engine hours
Bernd Krüper, Vice President Industrial Business at MTU, says:“ MTU engines are known for their above-average service life( TBO), reliability and very good fuel efficiency. These features, particularly in mining, an application with an extremely high number of operating hours, provide operators with a significant economic benefit.”
MTU says these claims are backed up by a number of impressive figures: A recent repower of Komatsu 830E dump trucks helped a gold mine in Nevada to save $ 30,000 of fuel costs per year and per truck. The newly installed Series 4000 MTU Tier 4 engines consume 8 % less fuel than the previous engines.
“ MTU’ s Series 4000 have achieved an almost legendary reputation in the industry in the past two decades. In 1996, the first 16-cylinder Series 4000 engine was delivered to the mining equipment manufacturer Euclid( which today is owned by Hitachi) for one of its mining dump trucks. Since then, more than 37,000 Series 4000 engines have been delivered and clocked a total of 180 million hours of operation in all kinds of applications. With this kind of experience, MTU can publish a time between overhaul of
46 International Mining | MARCH 2017