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PUMPS & PIPING ble-free operation and long service intervals, Flowrox says. Turning to pumping requirements, the company notes that an increasing number of mine operators are discovering the benefits of peristaltic hose pumps as they endeavor to reduce water, energy and chemical consumption, and improve slurry transport reliability. While mining-sector pumping applications often involve abrasive, corrosive, shear-sensitive and viscous liquid products, solids present the real challenge, it adds, and pump systems must be able to accommodate the variations in the solids content and composition. In addition, they must be capable of withstanding high operating pressures and flow rates to ensure smooth fluid transport, and deny the opportunity for the product to settle. Other required features should include repeatable and reliable delivery performance, self-priming functionality and low and easy maintenance. In peristaltic hose pumps, only the hose is in contact with the medium. No gland water or gland packing is needed, there is full vacuum capability, and no back-flow or slip. Materials are moved by positive displacement, with the pumps capable of 78 E&MJ; • APRIL 2013 reversible rotation. In terms of performance, these pumps have low wear and corrosion characteristics, can run dry, and are self-priming in suction-lift situations, with no risk of cavitation. They also produce an exact flow each revolution, with low shear forces on the material being pumped. Weir Secures Mine Pump-supply Deals Weir Minerals has won a $6.5-million process equipment supply order for the Bozshakol copper mine in Kazakhstan, which is now being developed by Kazakhmys as a 40-year operation capable of producing an average of 75,000 mt/y copper concentrates from 2015. As well as a wide range of process pumps and tailings pumps, the order includes Warman 650 MCR pump units—the largest mill-circuit pumps ever to be sold on the European market at 3.5 m (11.5 ft) in diameter— along with a complete replacement wetend assembly. Earlier this year, Weir Minerals also secured a $2-million deal to supply pumps and equipment for Boliden's new processing plant at its Garpenberg mine in Sweden. The new plant is a replacement for an existing facility—an upgrade that will double capacity from 1.3 million to 2.5 million mt/y of ore. Weir will supply the majority of pumps for every application across the plant, requiring a wide range of types and sizes of units to handle the full spectrum of flow rates, pressure requirements and slurry consistencies. Installation and commissioning of the new equipment is scheduled to take place during the middle of this year. Weir claims its Warman WBH centrifugal slurry pump offers lower maintenance, lower power usage, longer wear life and higher performance when compared with previous horizontal slurry-pump technology. A key feature is its one-point adjustment device, used to minimize the front impeller gap. Recirculation is reduced, leading to extended wear life while performance is maintained, the company states. In terms of pipelines, Weir says its Linatex rubber hoses offer superior wear resistance and extended wear life when handling abrasive or corrosive materials. Its range includes soft- and hard-wall slurry and chemical mining hoses, dredge hoses and a wide variety of preformed bends, reducers and T-pieces. It also offers pre- www.e-mj.com