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Deep Mining General
Underground Mining Mine
Drainage
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engl.: |
floating pump |
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germ.: |
Druckluftgetriebene Verdrangungspumpe, Schwimmerpumpe |
|
span.: |
bomba neumatica de expulsion, bomba con flotador |
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TECHNICAL DATA: | |
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Dimensions: |
volumes ranging from a few lifers up to several 100 lifers |
|
Weight: |
the total weight of the pump's displacement chamber should be greater than that of the volume in lifers, so that the pump sinks down when it's empty |
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Extent of Mechanization: |
semi-mechanized |
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Form of Driving Energy: |
pneumatic |
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Mode of Operation: |
intermittent |
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Technical Efficiency: |
relatively low, due to the low efficiency of compressed air; furthermore, the intermittent operation results in a loss in the built-up air pressure relative to standard pressure |
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Operating Material: |
|
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Type: |
compressed air |
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Quantity: |
P = P hydrostat + (0.5 - 1.0) bar |
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ECONOMIC DATA: | |
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Investment Costs: |
very low, approx. 100 DM + pipe costs = f (height) |
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Operating Costs: |
f (costs for compressed air) |
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Related Costs: |
Compressed air system, compressor |
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:
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Operating Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
|
manually operated |
|
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Maintenance Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
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Personnel Requirements: |
low |
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Location Requirements: |
theoretically, greater pumping depths are possible; in practice, the compressive strength of the material and the maximum compressed-air pressure limit the depth to 50 m. |
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Replaces other |
|
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Equipment: |
other types of pumps for mine drainage, and for pumping of processing and mill water in smaller volumes but over greater heights. |
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Regional Distribution: |
new technology, so far not distributed |
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Operating Experience: |
low |————|————| very high |
|
|
non-existent; only test operations performed in Landtechnik |
| |
Weihenstephan (Germany) |
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Environmental Impact: |
low |————|————| very high |
|
|
oil-contamination of water due to leaking oil from the compressed air system |
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Suitability for Local Production: |
very good |————|————| bad |
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Under What Conditions: |
metal workshop employing simple components, e.g. pipe sections, simple ball valves employing hard rubber balls. |
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Lifespan: |
very long |————|————| very short |
Bibliography, Source: Landtechnik Weihenstephan, Fritzsche
OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
The pump consists of a displacement chamber with two valves: an intake valve with protective sand filter and an outlet valve with an uptake on the delivery side of the pump. The intake and discharge are located at the bottom of the pump housing, where a standpipe serving as the outlet has proven to be best. The valves are designed as check-valves, e.g. as flap valves or ball valves. The latter for example, should be constructed with rubber balls of a density only slightly higher than water allowing them to open at even the smallest pressure increase on the intake side. A compressed-air line, externally-controlled by means of a three-way cock, is connected to the pump chamber. Water from the mine sump flows through the intake valve into the pump chamber, when the pump chamber is full, the three-way cock is turned to allow compressed air to flow into the chamber. The intake valve closes and the outlet (discharge) valve starts to open, whereby the compressed air drives the water out through the standpipe, outlet valve and uptake pipe. After all the water has been discharged, the three-way cock is switched open, the air pressure drops, the outlet valve closes, the intake valve begins to open and water again flows into the pump chamber. The manual three-way-cock pump control can be automated by means of floats.
ADVANTAGES:
+ can be self-made or locally-produced using inexpensive material
+ can be applied in narrow shafts, drill holes or pump sumps since the pump is suspended only by two flexible hoses, and perhaps additionally by a rope or cable
+ less susceptible to break-downs since, except for the valves, there are no moving parts
+ can be controlled manually in its simplest construction
DISADVANTAGES:
- lower efficiency than directly-driven piston or diaphragm pumps
Proposals for optimization: a three-way cock at the pump housing, controlled for example by a mechanical transmission, decreases the depressurization volume and therefore increases efficiency.
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
Suitable for handling small quantities of water, under the condition that a compressed-air system and compressor are already available; otherwise, robust pneumatic immersible pumps are superior.
Fig.: Float pump, Reuter
Fig.: Compressed-air pump,
Landtechnik Weihenstephan
(Germany)
Deep Mining General
Underground Mining Mine
Drainage
|
germ.: |
Seilpumpe, Heinzenkunst |
|
span.: |
bomba de mecate |
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Producer: |
Campo Nuevo, FCAP-UMSS |
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TECHNICAL DATA: | |
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Dimensions: |
down to 15 m depth |
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Weight approx.: |
150 kg |
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Extent of Mechanization: |
not mechanized |
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Form of Driving Energy: |
manual |
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Alternative Forms: |
hydromechanic, pedal drive, animal-powered whim |
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Mode of Operation: |
continuous |
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Throughput/Performance: |
low output quantities, e.g. for 5 m 10 m³/h |
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Technical Efficiency: |
approx. 75 % |
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ECONOMIC DATA: | |
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Investment Costs: |
approx. 200 DM |
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Operating Costs: |
labor costs only |
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:
|
Operating Expenditure: |
one person |
low |————|————| high |
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Maintenance Expenditure: | |
low |————|————| high |
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Personnel Requirements: |
low | |
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Location Requirements: |
none | |
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Mining Requirements: |
water must be pre-clarified in a sump. Coarser suspended solids lead to excess wear of the standpipes. | |
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Replaces other Equipment: |
other pumps |
|
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Regional Distribution: |
seldom used in Latin America, distributed worldwide in the agricultural industry | |
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Operating Experience: | |
very good |————|————| bad |
|
|
to date, the only experience is from the agricultural sector (for irrigation) and from conveyance of drinking water from wells | |
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Environmental Impact: | |
low |————|————| very high |
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Suitability for Local Production: | |
very good |————|————| bad |
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Under What Conditions: |
village workshops. Materials: PVC pipes, nylon rope, rubber | |
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Lifespan: | |
very long |————————| very short |
Bibliography, Source: PAAC, Fraenkel, Agricola, Cancrinus
OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
A rope with rubber disks runs around an upper drive pulley and a lower return pulley through the sump. The upward-travelling portion runs through a PVC pipe, carrying water with it between tightly-fitting rubber flaps.
Comparable to 'Heinzenkunst' by Agricola, one of the early forms of mine drainage pumps during the end of the Middle Ages. Rods were made of wood or iron chains and the water-transport vessels of leather.
AREAS OF APPLICATION:
Mine drainage at pump depths of 10 - 15 m.
SPECIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION:
Recirculation of plant water.
REMARKS:
For technical reasons due to excessive wear, Chinese Liberation Pumps or 'Heinzenkunste' have been displaced. Modern materials, however, such as PVC-pipes, etc., can produce long-lasting designs.
The efficiency of the pump decreases with increased transport distances as a result of increasing frictional losses and weakening of the seal in the cells. Therefore the maximal conveying distance is limited to approx. 15 m. The primary range of appilcation is to a depth of around 2 - 5 m.
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
'Heinzenkunst' can be applied most appropriately where energy is not available and wherever it is possible to pump intermittently over small heights. One area of application is the recirculation of plant water for beneficiation.
Fig.: 'Heinzenkunst' and other early
types of drainage pumps. Sourece: Cancrinus, Part
6
Deep Mining General
Underground Mining Mine
Drainage
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germ.: |
Bulgen zur Wasserhaltung, Botas zur Wasserhaltung |
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span.: |
botas de aro pare desague, botas de aro, botas de mano |
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TECHNICAL DATA: | |
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Dimensions: |
30 - 50 lifer leather bag for transporting water |
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Weight: |
approx. 20 kg |
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Extent of Mechanization: |
not or semi-mechanized |
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Form of Driving Energy: |
pneumatic or electric engine on a winch |
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Alternative Forms: |
animal-powered whim, animal drive, water wheel |
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Throughput/Performance: |
1 - 5 m³/h up to approx. 30 m |
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Mode of Operation: |
intermittent |
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ECONOMIC DATA: | |
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Investment Costs: |
approx. 100 DM, local production |
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Operating Costs: |
dependent on type of drive |
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Related Costs: |
winch, hoisting rig, hoisting rope or cable |
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:
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Operating Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high | |
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Maintenance Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high | |
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Personnel Requirements: |
low | |
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Location Requirements: |
driving energy source is necessary | |
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Replaces other Equipment: |
drainage pumps |
|
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Regional Distribution: |
rare; Bolivia, Colombia and Chile | |
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Operating Experience: |
very good |————|————| bad | |
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Environmental Impact: |
energy-intensive |
low |————|————| very high |
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Suitability for Local Production: |
very good |————|————| bad | |
|
|
water bag, hoisting rig, and possibly drive-systems (e.g. hydromechanic) | |
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Lifespan: |
very long |————|————| very short | |
Bibliography, Source: Hentschel, Villefosse, Agricola, Treptow-Collection/Freiberg
OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
Intermittently-operating technology for water drainage and crude-ore transport by means of leather bags. For mine drainage, the filled leather bag is hoisted by a shaft winch to the surface, where it is emptied through a hose following the principle of interconnected containers (known through Villefosse from Mexico).
AREAS OF APPLICATION:
Water drainage for small quantities at shallow depths.
SPECIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION:
In addition to water drainage, this technique is still currently used in small-scale mining for crude-ore transport.
REMARKS:
The discontinuous operation is characterized by high energy demand, low efficiency, and low throughput. This could be improved by implementing a shuttle-service with two transport containers. In any case, the drive unit has to provide a controlled up and down movement, or reversal in direction. For a hydromechanic drive with a water wheel this can only be achieved only with a gear-drive unit or with a very complicated bull-wheel drive. In this case, an animal-powered drive is preferable.
As a whole, this technique is very labor intensive. At least three men are necessary for a drainage operation.
Drainage bags made of grass and coated with pitch are known to have been used in ancient Mazarron/Spain.
Water-bag transport is possible only in steep shafts. In ramps, small mines employ simple water wagons for mine drainage which are driven Into the mine sump where they are filled with water. In some places, water wagons are equipped with flap valves and ball valves attached to the bottom of the water tank which automatically open and close in the sump, thus avoiding the necessity for personnel for filling at the sump. At the surface, the wagons are emptied by means of tipping devices, siphons, etc.
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
Application is practical only under extreme conditions. This technique is highly labor and energy intensive and has a comparably low transport capacity.
Fig.: Types of water bags, by
Agricola
Deep Mining General
Underground Mining Mine
Drainage
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engl.: |
bucket elevator, chain pump |
|
germ.: |
Eimerkettenpumpe, Becherwerk, Kannenkunst, Paternosterpumpe |
|
span.: |
bomba de cangilones, bomba rosario |
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TECHNICAL DATA: | |
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Dimensions: |
up to 100 m depth |
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Weight: |
depends on depth |
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Extent of Mechanization: |
not mechanized |
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Form of Driving Energy: |
slow moving (water wheel or animal-powered whim) or geared-down high-speed drives (engines, turbines) |
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Mode of Operation: |
semicontinuous/continuous |
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Operating Materials: |
|
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Type: |
lubricants |
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Quantity: |
small amounts |
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ECONOMIC DATA: | |
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Investment Costs: |
starting at approx. 100 DM plus drive-system for approx.10m |
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Operating Costs: |
mainly cost of energy |
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Related Costs: |
dependent on type of drive |
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:
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Operating Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
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Maintenance Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
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Mining Requirements: |
Bucket-chain pumps are designed only for steep shafts, and not for use in inclined shafts or ramps. They are widely used for pumping slurries in beneficiation operations (bucket elevators or hoisting wheels). |
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Replaces other Equipment: |
other pumping systems |
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Regional Distribution: |
Formerly a widely distributed technique, today used in Africa for purposes of conveying water. |
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Operating Experience: |
very good |————|————| bad |
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Environmental Impact: |
low |————|————| very high |
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Suitability for Local Production: |
very good |————|————| bad |
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Under What Conditions: |
Metal workshops handling wire ropes, metal chains, metal bands or rods, synthetic or natural-fiber ropes, and metal or wooden transport containers. |
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Lifespan: |
very long |————|————| very short |
Bibliography, Source: DBM, Cancrinus, Agricola
OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
The bucket-chain conveyor consists of conveyor vessels attached to two circulating ropes or chains. At the deepest point of the pump, these vessels submerge into the sump where they automatically fill with water. When the vessels reach the upper driving axle, they automatically empty into a discharge trough. As a result of the well-balanced weight distribution between the full transporting chain stringer and the empty return stringer, energy is needed only to overcome friction and to lift the weight of the water.
REMARKS:
Bucket-chain conveyor pumping systems were successfully used in mines in the the Harz region (Germany) and in the other central european mines up to depths of 150 m, and were typically driven by hydropower (water wheels).
Unlike the chinese liberation pump, the bucket conveyor pump does not empty out when the driving power is off.
The driving power required can be regulated by the number of vessels attached to the cable.
Bucket-chain conveyors are frequently employed in beneficiation processing where minor elevation differences are encountered because they can transport slurries with high solids contents without difficulties (still in operation today in tin beneficlation in Altenberg/Saxony, Germany).
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
Appropriate for transporting smaller quantities over greater lifting distances, a simple and practical drainage system which can be locally produced and can be powered by a slow drive-system.
Fig.: Different types of drainage
apparatures, by Agricola: a) bucket-chain b) chinese liberation pump c) water
bag d) piston pump. Source: Wagenbreth
Fig.: Bucket elevator in benefication
processing, from Treptow.
Fig.: Vertical bucket elevator in
bemeficiation processing, from
Treptow
Deep Mining General
Underground Mining Mine
Drainage
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germ.: |
Pneumatische Forder- und Hochdruckpumpe |
|
span.: |
bomba neumatica de transporte y de alta presion, bomba neumatica de alta presion |
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Producer: |
Atlas Copco, Pleiger |
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TECHNICAL DATA: | |
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Dimensions. |
40 × 40 × 60 cm LWH |
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Weight: |
25 - 50 kg |
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Form of Driving Energy: |
pneumatic |
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Alternative Forms: |
none |
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Mode of Operation: |
centrifugal pump, diaphragm pump or multistage piston pump |
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Operating Materials: |
|
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Type: |
compressed air (6 bar) |
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Quantity: |
2 - 4 m³/min |
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ECONOMIC DATA: | |
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Operating Costs: |
mainly cost of energy |
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Related Costs: |
compressed air feed line, transport line (fire hose or pipe) |
CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:
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Operating Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
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Maintenance Expenditure: |
low |————|————| high |
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Location Requirements: |
no restrictions, however pump selection must consider water quality: centrifugal pump and diaphragm pump for waste water; centrifugal pump for fresh water |
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Replaces other Equipment: |
other pump and water conveying systems |
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Regional Distribution: |
worldwide |
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Operating Experience: |
very good |————|————| bad |
|
|
due to low specific weight and non-susceptibility to malfunctions |
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Environmental Impact: |
low |————|————| very high |
|
|
minimal oil contamination from the air compressor |
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Suitability for Local Production: |
very good |————|————| bad |
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Lifespan: |
very long |————|————| very short |
OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
For drainage in underground mines, a wide range of different pumps are available as pneumatic pumps which can be operated with the commonly used underground energy source compressed air.
Depending on the type of fluid to be conveyed and the transport distances and quantities, axial, radial, piston or diaphragm pumps can be employed. The first two of these pump types are fluid-flow engines, which transmit energy to the water through acceleration. The resulting lifting pressure is sufficient for only small to moderate lifting distances, the rate of flow is however relatively high. The positive-displacement pumps (piston and diaphragm pumps) expel the water from the pump chamber by decreasing the volume. High pressures are attainable especially with piston pumps.
AREAS OF APPLICATION:
Pneumatic pumps are employed both in underground and surface mining for drainage purposes, for the supply of hydraulic fluids, for pumping of gelatinous blasting explosives, etc.
REMARKS:
Fluid-flow engines serving as pumps are generally not equipped with check valves, so that the water in the transport line flows back down when the power is turned off. Piston pumps, on the other hand, are inherently designed with check-valves, so that the return flow of water through the pump is not possible.
Piston and diaphragm pumps can also function as suction pumps whereby the maximum suction head should not exceed 5 m.
In mines where a compressed air infrastructure does not exist (rendering pneumatic pumps infeasible), electric pumps and even pumps driven by internal-combustion engines are also available. They are, however, inferior to compressed air pumps in terms of operating safety.
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
For pneumatically mechanized mining operations, compressed air pumps are mobile and universally employable as a result of their high safety of operation, low specific weight and sturdy technology.
Fig.: Cross-section of a pneumatic
immersion pump for drainage purposes. Source: Manufacture's information,
Pleinger
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