Tailings management is a major challenge in the mining industry and requires continuous, efficient oversight by professionals and machinery adhering to the highest standards.
For decades, tailings pumping systems have been optimised to meet the rigorous demands of the production process. Additionally, ponds or dams used for tailings have limited storage capacity, necessitating effective pumping systems to handle maximum solid concentrations.
Positive displacement pumps are ideal for this task, extending the lifespan of ponds or dams by accommodating a wide range of solid percentages in the tailings. Kelair Pumps offers three reliable technologies: piston-diaphragm pumps, piston pumps and peristaltic (hose) pumps.
Efficient and sustainable solutions
Kelair Pumps Australia provides different options for handling paste and mud tailings: the Abel SH and HMQ series. The Abel SH piston pump, driven by a hydraulic unit, efficiently pumps highly viscous tailings. The Abel HMQ, a modern piston-diaphragm pump, features spring-returned check valves and a membrane separating the hydraulic piston from the paste, offering smooth, low-pulse pumping.
Both pumps handle conventional and cemented tailings with yield stress values over 350pa. The Abel HMQ achieves flow rates up to 450m³/h at 230bar, while the Abel SH handles up to 110m³/h at 160bar.
Water considerations
Water management is crucial in mining. Peristaltic pumps, like the Albin hose pump, ensure only fluid contacts the hose, preventing contamination. Increasingly, mining clients are choosing peristaltic technology.
An Albin ALH-125D pump was recently selected for a North Queensland gold mine’s tailings treatment project, addressing plant expansion and increased pumping distances to new tailings storage facilities.
Ensuring you have the right pump for the right application involves a thorough set of considerations. Consult a knowledgeable pump supplier like Kelair Pumps to discuss your pumping requirements.
For more information, visit kelairpumps.com.au
Featured image: Kelair Pumps
