Running any pump in a mining operation entails risk, both from the media being pumped and the environment surrounding it. Hazardous and corrosive chemicals are the norm, as are solid contaminants and slurries that quickly wear down most pump components and piping systems. However, choosing the right pump for these applications can greatly mitigate the challenges of mining operations—if you know what to look for.
As an international leader in the corrosive chemical transfer industry, Finish Thompson Inc. offers a range of pumps engineered specifically for the unique demands of the mining industry. Mining operations can apply the DB Series and SP Series centrifugal mag-drive pumps, as well as the FTI Air air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps, depending on specific mining applications.
SEALLESS PUMPS HANDLE CORROSIVE MEDIA
Finish Thompson’s sealless mag-drive centrifugal pumps, specifically the DB Series and SP Series, are ideal for above-ground mining applications involving chemical processing, such as mineral extraction, hydrometallurgical recycling, leaching, reagent circulation, separation, refinement, sintering, and other acid or caustic duties.
The DB Series offers up to 70 percent operating efficiency and handles working pressures up to 90 psi (6.2 bar), making it suitable for continuous chemical transfer from bulk storage to process or day tanks where leak-free operation with aggressive media is required.
The SP Series is designed for similar corrosive chemical applications that also demand self-priming and top-draw capability, such as loading and unloading tanker trucks and rail cars or pulling fluid from the top of bulk tanks to eliminate sidewall penetrations and potential leak points. Both DB and SP Series pumps use a sealless magnetic drive and corrosion-resistant materials, eliminating mechanical seals, reducing maintenance, and supporting safe handling of aggressive mining reagents.
AODD PUMPS FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
The FTI Air AODD pumps are suitable for water-based and below-ground mining applications, such as dewatering, sump pumping, equipment maintenance, and slurry transport. These pumps are applied where fluids often contain suspended solids, tailings, sludge, or abrasive slurries, and where operating conditions include fluctuating water levels, variable suction lift, changing discharge pressures, and the potential for running dry.
FTI Air AODD pumps are self-priming, can run dry, and can deadhead without damage, making them suitable for dewatering pits, tunnels, and shafts, as well as feeding filter presses and handling corrosive fluid transfer under changing conditions. Their air-driven design, combined with metallic and non-metallic material options, allows operation in hazardous or remote areas where electricity at the pump is limited or undesirable.
CONCLUSION
With a range of options in their catalog, Finish Thompson can meet the needs of most any mining crew looking to safely and reliably move media, even in the harshest conditions.
Casey Bowes is the owner/CEO of Finish Thompson, Inc. Finish Thompson Inc. (FTI), an international leader in the corrosive chemical transfer industry, has been dedicated to its customers’ needs since 1951. For seventy-five years, FTI has fostered a culture of foresight and adaptability to stay in touch with industry trends and growth. Today, we manufacture more than ten different lines of pumps, including drum and barrel pumps, centrifugal pumps, and air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps. FTI is proud to serve distributors and customers on six continents and support more than fifty different industries across the globe. For more information, visit www.finishthompson.com.