The mining industry requires cheaper, but more reliable, pumps that take up less space and use less water, which is what the TRVX pumps range from Pompetravaini offers, pumps supplier Air & Vacuum Technologies sales and marketing director Mark Burn tells Mining Weekly.

He adds that, owing to the predicted shortage of natural resources, the mining industry is under much pressure to use less water and expel clean water from its plants back into the environment. “The TRVX range uses up to 30% less water than traditional liquid-ring vacuum pumps, so this is a major benefit to the mines,” he says.

With benefits such as this offered by the TRVX range, Air & Vacuum Technologies expects growth across the industry and has registered an upturn in this market segment for its products.

“For many years, the gold, platinum, chrome and coal mining sectors have relied on liquid-ring vacuum pumps and low-pressure compressors for a variety of applications in their processes, as well as central vacuum supply at on-site laboratories,” says Burn.

He adds that no other type of vacuum pump has been able to withstand the heavy-duty demands that are placed on this type of pump and, without fail, the TRVX range provides years of trouble- and hassle-free service for the mining sector.

Air & Vacuum Technologies says the compression is created by a ring of liquid, formed as a result of the relative eccentricity between the pump’s casing and a rotating multibladed impeller. The eccentricity results in the near-complete filling and the partial emptying of each rotor chamber during every revolution.

The filling and emptying action creates a piston action within each set of rotor impeller blades or fins. The pump’s components are positioned to encourage the emission of gas when the rotor chamber is emptying the liquid, which enables the gas to discharge once compression is complete. Sealing areas between the inlet and discharge ports are provided to close the rotor areas and separate the inlet and discharge flows.

Liquid-ring vacuum pumps are used in the refining industry for crude-oil vacuum distillation, evaporation, filtering and drying, and in the power industry to evacuate steam surfaces and condensers. Other industries that rely extensively on vacuum pumps are the food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pulp and paper industries, as well as hospitals.

Benefits

The liquid-ring vacuum pump is a reliable, simple design, which involves only one rotating part that is not subject to wear. The pump can handle condensate vapours or even slugs of liquid in the gas stream without damaging the pump or negatively affecting pump performance.

Further, the pump produces a steady nonpulsating gas flow when it is used as either a vacuum pump or compressor. It is also resistant to contaminants entering with a gas stream, as the contaminants will be diluted and washed through in the pump by the seal liquid.

About Pompetravaini

Pompetravaini has been manufacturing and supplying the industry with a comprehensive range of liquid-ring vacuum pumps and low-pressure compressors, among other types of liquid pumps, since 1929.

The company boasts a 1 200 m2 covered manufacturing facility, with modern computerised stockroom systems and assembly rooms.

“Pompetravaini invests millions of euros in its facilities,” adds Burn.

The futuristic facility uses laser-guided vehicles to store components, transport them to the assembly area and transfer the assembled pumps to the test room without human intervention.

“Employees no longer travel to the components – the components are brought to them. This new technologically advanced process aims to reduce manufacturing times and delivery times, while also reducing the margins for error to virtually zero,” says Burn.

Pompetravaini pumps supplier Air & Vacuum Technologies, with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, was initially founded by MD Brian Burn in 1988 to provide vacuum solutions, combining the company’s technical and vacuum experience with a comprehensive range of vacuum pumps and accessories. With the growth of the business over time, two additional divisions were founded, including laboratory equipment supplier Instrulab – which merged with Air & Vacuum Technologies in 2005 – and Instruvac. Instrulab supplies products such as precision balances from high-precision gravimetric technology supplier Precisa, particle-size analysis equipment from manufacturer Endecotts & Glen Creston, refractometers from scientific instruments manufacturer Index Instruments, polarimeters from manufacturer Optical Activity, and centrifuges from international life science technology developer Dynamica, among others. Instruvac, meanwhile, is responsible for products such as oil-free rotary vane pumps, claw and screw vacuum pumps, oil-flooded rotary vane vacuum pumps – from vacuum and pressure solutions provider Elmo-Rietschle – and liquid-ring vacuum pumps from Pompetravaini. In 2009, a new division called Instrupump was founded. This division is responsible for products such as those manufactured by Germany-based Pfeiffer Vacuum, Italian-manufactured Pneumofore vacuum systems, double-diaphragm air-operated pumps for liquids, vacuum lifting equipment, air knives, centrifugal blowers, in-line vacuum conveyers, ionising nozzles, vortex tubes and cabinet coolers. The family-run business has seen a positive restructure with the new divisions, which has resulted in a consolidated and streamlined business, with specific emphasis on better customer service. “We offer a range of quality products at competitive prices, with sound technical advice, efficiency and friendliness forming the base of our sales and service support, which includes service technicians and sales consultants who are conversant with our major product lines, having training both in-house and abroad,” says the company.