Centurion-based pumps manufacturer Hazleton Pumps has expanded its range of Hippo vortex slurry sump pumps that address blockages at coal processing plants.

The company points to continuous enquiries from customers for sump pumps capable of handling larger solids as well as pumping at higher heads and volumes, as the catalyst that led Hazleton to expand the Hippo vortex slurry sump pumps range. This expansion has resulted in the manufacture of pumps capable of pumping solids up to 150 mm in diameter at a flow rate of 200 ℓ/s and a head of 50 m.

One of the biggest challenges faced at coal processing plants is the blockage of sump pumps by large solids. When this happens, the entire processing plant will get flooded to such an extent that either the plant has to be shut down, or the blocked pumps need to be removed and unblocked or replaced, explains Hazleton.

As a result, the company realised the need for a sump pump capable of pumping slurries containing large solids up to at least 75 mm in size, at a variable inflow rate without the possibility of the pump being blocked.

Using the ‘vortex’ concept with a ‘recess impeller design’, Hazleton designed, developed and manufactured a vertical spindle sump pump capable of pumping coal slurry containing solids of up to 100 mm in diameter.

Keeping total cost of ownership in mind, the vertical spindle sump pump is manufactured using a column pipe design, where an adjustable bearing housing is inserted into the column pipe on top with the motor bracket and the volute casing at the bottom of the column pipe.

The first Hippo vortex slurry sump pump designed and developed by Hazleton was delivered to the New Vaal colliery, situated in Vereeniging on the Free State bank of the Vaal river, in February 1994. The latest Hippo vortex vertical spindle slurry sump pumps have been successfully installed at South African petrochemicals giant Sasol’s coal processing plant at the Twistdraai colliery, in Secunda, Mpumalanga.