Engineering & Mining Journal

APR 2013

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 PVC Piping Systems for Mining A Saint Gobain group member, U.S.-based CertainTeed Corp. reports that it helped to pioneer the development of PVC pipe more than 30 years ago. Today, the company offers piping products for underground coal mining and above-ground leach-pad systems that feature the Certa-Lok Yelomine restrained-joint pressure piping system. Engineered with high-impact strength, ultraviolet protection and ease of assembly, the Yelomine system comes in standard 20ft. (6.1-m) laying lengths, with other lengths available. Yelomine pipe is manufactured with IPS outside diameters, in pressure classes from 90 to 315 psi (6 to 22 bar). The system utilizes precision-machined grooves which, when aligned, permit the insertion of a high-strength, thermoplastic spline to create a fully circumferential, securely locked restrained joint. Teflon-coated O-rings provide a hydraulic pressure seal. CertainTeed offers the Yelomine piping system in versions suitable for both permanent and non-permanent applications, with a wide range of fittings available for changes of direction, branching and so on. The pipe can also be supplied with a series of drilled and tapped threaded holes to facilitate connection to spray systems. The company says that Yelomine is suitable for above-ground and buried applications, and with its easy-to-assemble, high-strength restrained-joint design, can be used in applications where conventional gasketed joints would pull apart. CertaLok products are optimized to withstand tensile and compressive forces as well as to maintain pressure, are quick and easy to assemble in all weather conditions, and are corrosion-resistant and require no solvent cements for assembly. Joints on CertainTeed Yelomine pipe lock in place, making the system suitable for use where gasketed joints might pull apart. Valves for Precise Flow Control For mining and minerals processing, Flowrox states that its valves and pumps offer reduced total cost of ownership, sub76 E&MJ; • APRIL 2013 Cut-away of a Flowrox peristaltic pump for high-solids slurries. stantial savings through improved process performance and uptime, long service lifetime, low maintenance costs, fast payback and superior quality, reliability and wear resistance. Flowrox adds that its automatic and manual pinch valves are an excellent choice for applications where extreme abrasion and scaling are present. The valve's construction ensures that it closes tightly, even if coarse particles remain inside the closing device, while in the open position, the valve is actually a part of the pipeline. The company points out that in some cases, the initial purchase cost for highquality pinch valves may seem high, but the low maintenance costs will quickly turn the purchase decision into profit. In fact, in an ideal situation, compared to conventional valves used in mining and mineral processing, Flowrox claims its valves pay back their initial purchase cost in a matter of months. Its pinch valves are built from three main components: the sleeve, the body with mechanical closing bars, and the actuator, of which only the sleeve is in contact with the process medium. They are available in sizes from 25 to 1,200 mm (1 to 47 in.), can operate at temperatures from -40° to 160°C, and can handle pressures from full vacuum to 120 bar (1,740 psi). Meanwhile, Flowrox's heavy-duty knife gate valves are engineered to be used in shut-off applications involving abrasive or corrosive slurries, powders or coarse substances, giving 100% zero-leakage downstream. Available in sizes of 50–600 mm (2–24 in.), they can work at temperatures of -40° to 135°C, and at pressures up to 20 bar. Benefits of both these types of valves include their good wear- and corrosionresistance, no jamming or clogging during operation, their self-cleaning ability, trouwww.e-mj.com

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