Modern Mining January 2016

PRODUCT News

Sulzer provides pumping solutions for solar plants

experience in HTF pumps dating back to 1985, Sulzer Pumps has an in-depth understanding of the requirements and operating philosophies involved to pro- duce pumps that can perform under such strenuous conditions. HTF and solar heat transfer pumps will be based on the company’s newHZB range which is able to pump liquids at tempera- tures in excess of 400 deg C, pressures of more than 50 bar and flows in the region of 4 000 m³/h. In order to provide fully engi- neered pumping solutions covering entire solar power plants, the company is also supplying feed water pumps, HTF overflow pumps and water condensate extraction pumps complete with sealing systems, drives, motors and instrumentation. Sulzer South Africa further has the expertise to assist with installation, commissioning and service support across the complete range of pumps. Across the globe – in countries and regions such as Spain, India, Israel, the Middle East and the USA – a growing number of plants is making use of Sulzer Pumps’ engineered solutions. Currently the fleet of CSP pumps within these areas includes nearly 250 HTF pumps, 100 feed water pumps, 40 condensate extraction pumps, as well as numerous cooling water pumps and hot water circulation pumps. Sulzer Pumps, tel (+27 11) 820-6021

pany are numerous and will give the local opera- tion’s design teams the ability to showcase their abilities within the global arena. “Sulzer Pumps is a company with a global footprint and its branches from Spain, Germany and India will make a contri- bution to bringing these projects to a successful conclusion,” says project manager Henno Raaths. “Sulzer Pumps South

A growing number of solar plants are making use of Sulzer Pumps’ engineered solutions.

“Not all applications are the same and for this reason, we have made the Slurry Blaster available in three main con- figurations but it can be modified to suit individual customer applica- tions, should this be necessary,” Vine says. The Slurry Blaster can be provided on a pontoon for use on ponds and dams, it can be trailer mounted or it can be a tradi- tional manual set up. “The decision as to which configuration to use is based on the application at hand and our technical team has the necessary competency to assess the situation and propose the appropriate option to the cus- tomer,”Vine says. Each installation of the Slurry Blaster comes standard with a 37 kW feed pump with float, a 22 kW slurry pump for the Africa will, however, take the full lead in terms of engineering and supply of the highly sophisticated equipment.” The recent rise in local renewable energy projects includes advanced solar power plants using CSP technology. CSP operations require a special heat transfer fluid (HTF) or molten salts to be circulated around a solar heat absorber and pumped to a special heat exchanger which converts water to steam and effectively makes up the conventional steam cycle. HTF pumps specifically are manufac- tured for high temperature applications that include thermal transients and sealing of flammable and hazardous fluids under extreme cyclic operating conditions. With

Sulzer Pumps’ aim of becoming the domi- nant supplier of pumping solutions for concentrated solar power (CSP) is report- edly being realised with the awarding of multiple contracts across the globe.

Utilising its considerable global exper- tise, the company continues to design and manufacture pumping solutions for the complex processes within these plants wherever the requirement for precision manufacturing is of a primary concern. Similarly, Sulzer Pumps South Africa has been awarded contracts to supply full solutions for local solar power plants that are currently planned or under construc- tion. The advantages of the pumps being supplied by a local South African com- Effective slurry blasting becomes easier

Engineered using quality components, the Slurry Blaster offers mining and plant oper- ations a cost effective cleaning tool for all applications where slurry has become an issue and needs to be washed away. Lee Vine, MD of Integrated Pump Rental, says the company has fast established a reputation for identifying areas in process plants where an effective alternative solu- tion is needed to cope with the day-to-day activities. “It is sometimes in the most obvi- ous places that there is a need for more reliable equipment that is capable of with- standing the rigours of daily use,”Vine says. The Slurry Blaster is a hydro mining equipment solution which is said to offer optimum performance coupled with reli- ability. Typical applications include plant floors and sumps, drainage areas, tailings dams, process water dams and other diffi- cult to reach areas.

The Slurry Blaster offers

mining and plant operations a cost

removal of the slurry, a 200 m heavy duty layflat hose and an electric control panel. The Slurry Blaster units are available for medium or long term rental, outright pur- chase and on a full turnkey project basis. Integrated Pump Rental, tel (+27 72) 627-6350 effective cleaning tool for all applications where slurry has become an issue and needs to be washed away.

78  MODERN MINING  January 2016