Mechanical pipe joining systems manufacturer Victaulic has intro-duced the Series 725 diverter valve to ease the paste backfill process for the mining industry, says Victaulic Africa regional manager Barry van Jaarsveld.

He tells Mining Weekly that market interest in the Series 725 diverter valve is starting to pick up, with the company currently preparing an order for at least six valves for a mining client.

Van Jaarsveld says the company saw a gap in the market for a valve that would save mining companies time and money by improving the efficiency of backfill operations and providing reliable service and a durable product.

He explains that the diverter valve is the result of continuous investment in research and development, which led to a valve design that offers “a real competitive advantage”.

Paste backfill is an engineered mixture of mine tailings, a binding agent and water, which are used to fill mined-out areas. The mixture can be placed in stopes with or without binder addition, depending on the strength requirements for the backfill.

Mine operators are increasingly finding it necessary to consider paste backfill as a tailings management and mine backfill alternative owing to environmental concerns, as well as the need for improved pumping technology and a low-cost, high-strength fill in mines.

Van Jaarsveld tells Mining Weekly that the Series 725 diverter valve is the mining industry’s first grooved-end valve designed specifically for paste backfill lines. It eliminates the need to reposition fill lines, which reduces handling and improves operational efficiency. The valve also eliminates the need for mining crews to manually redeploy backfill piping systems to other areas of the mine, which saves time.

“A lot of mines have two separate pipes for paste backfill and would need to manually remove a coupling and reinstall another to redirect the flow of the line. The mine operators would remove that piece of pipe and reinstall it on the other line. Switching the direction of the line this way requires that the paste is flushed out before disassembling the joint.

However, if the new Series 725 valve is used, the mine operator is not required to flush the system and [the valve] does not require the disassembling of any joints. “The flow is diverted internally by an elbow that swings 180° from one line to the other. Downtime is therefore reduced and mines save money,” explains Van Jaarsveld.

He adds that the Series 725 valve has a rugged ductile iron body and a 5D bend profile, which ensures smooth, continuous flow and durable, reliable service. It has an adjustable stop, which ensures that the plug aligns properly with the outlet to improve performance and reduce wear. The valve also has a tamper-resistant lockout and blowoutproof stem design.

Further, the six-inch Series 725 diverter valve can withstand pressures of up to 6.900 kPa and is designed with a standard ISO 5211 mounting flange. In addition, a gear operator or electric actuator can be provided on request to enable it to be actuated remotely.

About Victaulic
Victaulic has been producing grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems that make mining operations effective since 1919. “Victaulic’s innovative piping technologies and services put people to work faster while increasing safety, ensuring reliability and maximising efficiency.

“We have more than 900 active global patents. In addition, Victaulic’s solutions are at work in 115 countries across diverse business lines, including the oil and gas, chemicals, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, military and marine sectors, as well as in the commercial building and fire protection sectors,” says Van Jaarsveld.