Bredel SPX Handles Abrasive Metal Slurry

The nation's largest silver producer in Juneau, Alaska has designed an operation that handles mining and processing at a rate of 1,320 tons per day. However, they needed to effectively and consistently meter abrasive metal slurry, approximately 30-40% solids, through on-screen analysers located at different points in the process.

At first they tried air operated diaphragm pumps, which immediately failed because the ball checks were eroding and creating erratic flow. The mine then tried rubber-lined centrifugal pumps, but again had problems with low flow rates and high maintenance as the abrasive slurry was eating up their impellers.

With the mine's frustration level at an all time high they turned to Watson-Marlow. Their requirements were a consistent feed rate of a high specific gravity and the ability to handle abrasive slurries regardless of pressure fluctuations. Watson-Marlow answered with the SPX hose pumps.

The slurry is contained inside the hose, so the abrasive nature of the chemical can not wear on the Bredel hose pump. This led to a drastic reduction in maintenance and downtime costs, not to mention the flowrate is at a consistent level.

At last the Alaskan mine had a solution to what seemed like an impossible situation, which led to them installing 10 Bredel SPX units on site.

More information on Bredel pump range.