Engineering & Mining Journal

JUN 2012

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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RESOLUTION COPPER weld-on nipples or collars, eliminating additional fabrication requirements. In addition to accommodating thermal expansion and contraction, high pressure and end loads, the couplings also offered quick and simple installation. In shafts with limited light and space, pipe joining shouldn't be more complicated than nec- essary, and comparatively speaking, the 808 offers one of the simplest installa- tions for high-pressure systems. The cou- plings are installed by positioning the gas- ket over the abutted pipe ends, then assembling the housings over the gasket so that the coupling keys engage the grooves. The housings are bolted together until the bolt pads meet metal-to-metal and the required torque value is met. The speed of installation led to a reduction in labor, thus reducing total installed costs compared to the alternative joining meth- ods considered. The couplings on the chilled water line are designed to withstand working pressures up to 4,000 psi. So far, the contractor has installed more than 200 couplings—one about every 20 ft on the chilled water supply and return line. The line was pressurized and put into oper- ation over a year ago, and the company reports that it's very happy with the solu- tion. In fact, Cementation plans to use the 808 for high-pressure dewatering and dis- charge lines as well. Victaulic couplings are also used to join compressed air lines and other various process water lines at the Resolution Project. In addition, Victaulic grooved butterfly valves are used in and around the pressure-reducing stations. If all goes as planned at the Resolution Project, the construction process, from exploration through construction develop- ment, will last more than 10 years. (The formal construction development phase is planned for 2014-2018.) Every decision regarding system components is a commit- ment given those circumstances, but Cementation knew they could rely on Victaulic and its more than 85-year history in the piping industry, as well as its ongoing customer support and technical service. As ore reserves close to the surface are depleted, mining operations will inevitably extend deeper into the earth. With depth comes pressure and other environmental factors. Fortunately, the pipe-joining tech- nology is available to solve these chal- lenges. Faced with the difficulty of design- ing a pipe-joining system capable of with- standing 7,000 ft of pressure, end load and temperature variation, Cementation found a reliable solution in the Victaulic 808 high-pressure couplings. Marc Carriere is global mining manager for Victaulic, a leading producer of mechanical pipe joining systems. The company devel- ops products for a full range of mining, industrial, commercial and institutional piping system applications. For more infor- mation, visit www.victaulic.com/mining. 110 E&MJ; • JUNE 2012 www.e-mj.com

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