Common threats to dewatering pumps in mining applications

Dewatering pump mining Victoria plays a crucial role in removing unwanted water pools from the mine site. Mining pumps face a lot of problems such as being crushed by heavy machinery and corrosion. No industry puts pumps through the wringer like the mining industry. When prices of commodities such as gold go up in the short term, companies have no time to lose. They have to act fast and extract what they can. Whilst this is great for stockholders, it may be bad for the equipment. A lot of pumps fall prey to a wide range of problems due to this kind of rush.

To protect your pumps to the fullest, it is important to know some of the most common threats to pumps in mining applications and how to solve the threats.

Suspended solids

Clogging from gritty is the most prevalent cause of mining pumps. Other causes include slurry and suspended solids. Water that gets into direct contact with the operation is usually dirty. It contains foreign materials such as solids generated by ramp traffic from the underground. This results in a slimy texture that could clog pumps when combined with water that is removed from aquifers.

This challenge can be overcome by ensuring the proper design of the sump. Clean water should also be collected at the source whilst abrasive solids-laden water should be properly separated into an isolated area in the sump.

Corrosion

In mining applications, the fluids are among the most volatile dewatering pumps that can move. From the superheated water laden with iron, pyrite or sand to the emulsified brine phase drilling liquid, there is no liquid shortage that can punish a mining pump over time.

If a mining pump is constructed using solid metallurgy then the corrosion process will be slowed to a certain degree. Pumps made from stainless steel are preferred in such applications, including a new series of submersible pumps that are constructed from SCS14.

Even the hardest equipment can corrode so it is very important to use sacrificial anodes in order to increase the life of the cathode protection. Anodes made of metals with a lower electrode potential such as zinc, magnesium or aluminium will take the corrosion brunt during the application of the pump hence protecting the metal that composes the pump.

Impact

If a pump isn’t kept far away from mine traffic, the risk of crushing the pump with heavier equipment becomes greater. Location is very important and keeping pumps away from the primary activities of the mine can mean the difference between doing the job and halting everything from an expensive replacement of the pump.

Overheating

This is another common dewatering pumps mining Victoria problem that can occur in any type of pump application. If water levels get too low in the sump for extended operation and the control panel of the unit lacks any underload protection, the mining pump will become dry and overheat. Overheating can also be caused by suspended solids when they accumulate in the cooling chamber. Suspended solids are also a common reason why you should monitor the water levels and ensure dirty water is separated from clean water.