When new mining pumps are required on a mine site, the first thing that comes to the mind of the operators is “what kind of a pump will we buy?” There are different types of mines to buy such as submersible pumps, slurry pumps, gland water, plant water supply, metering, dust suppression, and dewatering pumps. There are a lot of pumps on almost all mine sites and choosing the right pumps takes a lot of research.
It is important to start by considering the type of mine it is. Is it a stone, coal, precious metal or a sand operation? The second most important thing to consider is whether it is a surface mine, underground mine or a dredging operation. It is important to know where the pumping application is located. Once you have all the necessary knowledge, it is now important to focus on the details of the application. This will lead to another set of questions you need to find answers for.
Considerations for mine dewatering
Proper mine dewatering is a very important component of every mining operation, regardless of the mining type being done. If the pumps are too small then there is an insufficient number of them. This can cause flooding and loss of critical operational time and equipment. If the dewatering pump chosen is too large then the motor could burn on the pump due to too many starts per hour. It will need time for the motor to cool off before starting again. The pump can also experience suction cavitation and lead to costly repairs or even acquiring a new pump from your mining pumps manufacturer.
Some of the most common types of pumps used for dewatering mine sites are submersible turbines, submersible centrifugal pumps, and vertical turbines. There are also engine-driven centrifugal mine pumps or self-priming centrifugal pumps driven by a motor. There are cons and pros to each type of pump that should be considered to meet the different requirements for each application.
It is important to consider a few key factors when choosing a pump for the dewatering of a mine. The first thing is to determine the static head that should be overcome. If the dewatering pump cannot produce enough pressure to overcome the vertical distance then the needed flow won’t be achieved. It is also important to consider the flow that will be needed to remove the amount of water to keep the mine dry. It is also important to know the style of the pump that will be suitable for your application. Do you want a submersible, self-priming or vertical turbine?
If you want a self-priming pump then you should know the length of the suction line. This will help you determine the height and friction loss that can be pulsed with the pump’s suction lift. The type and size of the material of the suction line should be identified. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing mining pumps is to ensure the size of the suction line is greater than or equal to the size of the inlet port or the suction.
