Pumps manufacturer Grundfos has added two energy efficient products to its heavy-duty dewatering pumps range for the mining industry, which is in line with its aim to save natural resources and reduce the impact of climate change.

There is great concern within the mining industry about the sustainability of resources owing to climate change and the ever-increasing demand on energy supplies.

At the seventeenth Conference of the Parties, International Council on Mining and Metals president Tony Hodge conceded that there was a history of bad environmental outcomes in the mining industry.

Mining Weekly reported that mining and metals industry executives had agreed that there were many opportunities to make a greater contribution to tackling climate change, with the demand for commodities expected to increase. The world needs the products of mining to support the transition to a society in which poverty is addressed, the environment is cared for and people have the livelihoods to support their families.

Grundfos places major focus on the envi- ronment and acknowledges the mining sectors’ role in reducing the dramatic effects of climate change and preserving water resources.

“With 50% of the world’s electricity consumed by pumps, Grundfos has the ability to save 10% of that electricity using hydraulic and electrical-control technology,” asserts Grundfos GM Jonathan Hamp-Adams.

“We provide a total water-treatment solution from the rock face back to nature.”

DWS Range

The latest addition to the Grundfos range is the dewatering slurry (DWS) pump that Grundfos acquired last year by entering into a strategic alliance with local pumps manufacturer Hazleton. The DWS pump is a submersible, heavy-duty slurry unit specifically designed for South African mining conditions.

This pump features a flow of between 3 ℓ/s and 1 400 ℓ/s. The motor body of the pump is made of cast iron. The motor is oil-filled, with a separate mechani- cal seal oil chamber fitted with a moisture detector.

The pump’s twin volute discharge design provides a balanced radial thrust.

The DWS pump range is locally manu- factured under the Hippo brand name and was developed over a period of more than 30 years for ultraheavy-duty applications in mining.

“This pump fills a gap in the Grundfos range and allows us to offer a complete range of pumps for dewatering applications, which range from light-duty industrial to heavy-duty mining slurry pumping,” says Grundfos segment manager Gregory Webb.

New Pump Addition

Lastly, Grundfos has added the Dig pump, which was developed by Grundfos Australia for the Australian mining industry and has now been brought to Grundfos South Africa. “Grundfos now has the whole package – from slurry all the way to clear water dewatering.” Hamp-Adams reports.

The Dig range is available in high- pressure and low-pressure units and is a heavy-duty cast iron pump with a rubber lining used for mine dewatering and the pumping of light-duty slurries.

The pump’s flow rate is between 2.5 ℓ/s and 65 ℓ/s and it has a discharge of between 75 mm and 150mm and includes a 10 m cable.

KJI Rebranded

Meanwhile, Grundfos has rebranded its KJI pump as DWK (dewatering KJI). The pump now has improved motor and hydraulic efficiency.

“The DWK weighs substansially more than [standard] aluminium pumps, which could be seen as a disadvantage, but it is made to last that much longer and is a lot more durable and cost effective,” explains Webb.

The cast iron pump has a ductile iron wet-end and features a high-efficiency motor, integrated thermal protection, an easily maintained oil plug, a double mechanical SiC/SiC shaft seal and a wear-resistant impeller. The range also offers the choice between a hose, storz or flange connection on the top, which increases its operating flexibility.

Webb states that the DWK is Grundfos’s most competitive dewatering pump as a result of the competitive pricing and improvements that have been undertaken.

Grundfos sees itself as a socially responsible company and provides prod- ucts and solutions that will improve the quality of life of people and help them care for the planet, concludes Hamp-Adams.

“All the company’s pumps are designed with the best hydraulic and electrical efficiency in mind, which is exactly what Grundfos stands for,” Webb says.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.