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Echochem clinches pump supply deal

8th February 2013

By: Anine Kilian

Contributing Editor Online

  

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Pump distributor Ecochem Pumps has received an order to deliver 12 additional pumps to a platinum concentrator plant in the North West province, bringing its total order to 14 pumps.

The company’s projects divi- sion had already supplied and installed two skid-mounted Soméflu chemical transfer pumps, fitted with ATEX-approved double mechanical seals and automated seal support reservoirs to the concentrator and will ship the other 12 pumps to the mine later this year.

“The pumps will offload, transfer, mix and dilute bulk deliveries of xanthate, a volatile mining reagent essential to the platinum recovery process,” says Ecochem Pumps MD Ed Lemke.

The xanthate will then be dosed directly to the plant.

He states that, although not inherently flammable, uncontained xanthate releases a potentially explosive carbon disulphide gas.

“To eliminate any possibility of fire or explosion, Ecochem Projects division designed a system in which double mechanical seals provide fail-safe containment of the reagent, with redun- dancy in case of primary seal failure.

“The seals themselves are kept continuously below gas-combustible temperature through recirculated water from the seal support reservoir,” he says.
Ecochem Pumps projects division director Michael Muller says the Ecochem Projects system detects primary seal failure, which is indicated physically by a flow indicator connected to the seal support vessel, and which automatically trips the pump and transmits an alarm signal to the central control room.

“All system components are ATEX-approved as suitable for installation in Zone One-classified areas, in other words leakproof under normal atmospheric conditions. The pumps feature stainless steel liquid-end housings and impellers and are driven by S9 duty-rated motors suitable for use with variable- speed drives.

Muller states that the projects division of Ecochem Pumps is important to the success of the company.

“The division is located in Centurion, Gauteng, and is responsible for the design, fabrication and installation of turnkey pumping solutions and plug-in pump assemblies,” he says.

Muller adds that each project begins with a series of planned interviews with the customer’s operational staff to define the precise chemical dispensing or transfer requirements within the plant.

“The outcome of these inter- views is then interpreted by Eco- chem Pumps engineers and devel- oped by the design team into an effective pumping solution.

“The design phase includes supporting electrical supply. Much of the electrical supply comprises the automation of systems, pumps and valves, allowing operation and control from a computer at a remote location point,” he says.

Muller notes that this central- ised type of control also monitors the accuracy of the product dosing or transfer, which includes adjusting the flow rates of the various pumps relative to the required outcome, and switching between duty pumps and standby pumps as required.

“The Soméflu chemical transfer pumps for the platinum concentrator plant incorporate this type of control system. The team examines all plant design parameters to ensure that the proposed solution is effective in operational and investment terms.

“It is our goal to facilitate all the client’s engineering require- ments on a turnkey basis, giving the client complete peace of mind that he is receiving the best possible design and installation available.

Customers’ return on investment takes between 18 months and two years,” he concludes.

Edited by Megan van Wyngaardt
Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

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