Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr
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PUMPS & PIPING formed hose bends that provide a replacement option for standard metal piping or for use in confined spaces when a standard hose cannot be curved, especially when abrasion wear and vibration are an issue. Meanwhile, the company's Isogate pinch and gate valves are designed for use on pipelines carrying abrasive or corrosive materials. Sleeves are available in a variety of materials, including natural rubber, EPDM, nitrile, neoprene and others, and Weir notes that all of the valve wear parts are easily replaced in the field, reducing downtime and ownership costs. Pipes Produced to Suit the Project A wholly-owned subsidiary of the KWH Group of Finland, KWH Pipe is a pipe-systems provider with a wide range of solutions for the mining industry. Its WehoPipe HDPE pressure pipes are available in outside diameters of between 63 and 1,600 mm (25 and 63 in.), while its WehoSlurry wearresistant polymer piping system comes in diameters from 63 to 1,200 mm. Other company products include WehoLite gravity pipes (300-3,000 mm diameter), and HDPE tanks and manholes. www.e-mj.com According to KWH, HDPE pipes offer excellent resistance against abrasion and corrosive chemicals. They are also lightweight, while their flexibility allows them to bend naturally and to absorb stresses caused by soil or ground movement. WehoSlurry pipe has been developed specifically for carrying slurry and solid abrasive material, with pipe lengths being joined either by using special mechanical flange connections or by conventional buttwelding. Butt fusion makes the welded joints as strong as the pipe itself, the company points out. Although it has production units in Europe, Southeast Asia and North America, KWH Pipe understands that since mines are increasingly being developed in remote areas, pipe transport costs can be very high. Its solution to this problem is to manufacture pipes on site using a mobile plant, an approach which, it says, has a number of advantages. These include reduced installation and transport costs, simplified storage and handling on site, reduced risk of pipe damage during transport and handling, and greater production flexibility to meet specific project requirements. Diesel-driven Dewatering from Japan Japanese pump producer Tsurumi is using this year's bauma exhibition to launch one of its largest engine-driven pumps and a life-extending kit for its products. The new 4TBA82D135 automatic, self-priming diesel pump has been designed for demanding dewatering applications, the company says, offering a maximum flow of 2,250 liter/minute and a maximum head of 18 m (60 ft). The life-extending part set for its KTV and KTVE range of light-weight aluminum pumps consists of a new pump casing, wear ring and protection plate that can give a pump three times longer life, Tsurumi says. The kit is particularly aimed at tunneling and mine-development projects where pumps work in severe conditions. Also on show at bauma will be the company's KRS range of heavy-duty pumps that are suitable for sludge, slurry or contaminated liquids, together with its patented oil lifter—a lubricating device that improves the performance of the mechanical shaft seal that sits at the heart of all submersible pumps. APRIL 2013 • E&MJ; 79