Modern Mining January 2016

PRODUCT News

Coal dewatering solutions from Weir Minerals

In the coal processing industry, the total cost of ownership model is heavily dependent

on strategies that lower the initial capital cost of replacement screen machines. Coupled with this is an emphasis on an

HOISTING SOLUTIONS Winder Controls is a leader in the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic design, manufacture and installa- tion of mine winders and related equipment. Our designs comply with the latest international safety and reliability standards including SIL assessments where applicable. Our services include relocations, refur- bishment and upgrades, as well as full aftersales and maintenance support. In addition we offer a range of special products including steel wire rope handling equipment, Three Chamber Energy recovery systems and Nuclear Waste Disposal Technology.

Using finite element analysis assists in providing lower cost solutions to customers.

improvement in the overall durability of the traditional coal dewatering screen which will then facilitate lower operating costs. According to Kurt O’Bryan, Weir Minerals Global Product Manager for Screens and Screen Media, achieving these goals is pos- sible by carefully and strategically matching solutions to specific customer needs and applications. He notes that the company’s latest developments in coal screen machine technology are focused on increasing the size and mechanical durability of its coal duty vibrating screen line. The Enduron® product range (formerly known as Linatex®) fromWeir Minerals concentrates on increas- ing throughput and decreasing downtime. The supply and installation of Linatex® screening equipment in the coal indus- try spans a number of decades. The first Linatex® dewatering screens were supplied in 1983 in a coal application in South Africa to Anglo American Coal’s Kleinkopje opera- tion. Linatex® dewatering screens have since been successfully supplied for fine coal applications where they have signifi- cantly reduced the moisture content of the fines product. Over 450 Linatex® banana and hori- zontal screens in single and double deck format, sieve bend static screens and horizontal rotary screens have been sup- plied to the coal industry for applications ranging from primary and desliming to dewatering for final product. The customer list includes Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton (now South 32), Exxaro, JHDA and Portaclone. “Weir Minerals Africa continues to pro- vide support for these screens and, in a number of installations, the screens have operated for in excess of 10 years without any replacement necessary,”saysWinchester Maphosa, Weir Minerals Africa Product Manager for Comminution and Screens. He explains that Weir Minerals has implemented a number of innovations to improve the design of the dewatering

screens in order to increase their longevity and maintainability. An example he cites is the replacement of the corrosion resistant (3CR12) box deck frame design with a cross- beam and 3CR12 stringer (runner) design. This has eliminated the downtime and pro- duction losses which previously resulted from premature deck failures due to latent welding defects. Another brand within the Linatex® range fromWeir Minerals recently launched in the North American coal market is the high per- formance Fusioncast® polyurethane screen media panels. The material is designed to maximise service life through superior abrasion resistance, a critical factor in coal dewatering. The product’s properties and wear characteristics are said to make it ideal for use in a number of coal applications including raw coal refuse screens and fine screening. “In field trials it was confirmed that the product exhibits wear life advantages of up to 50 % when compared to injection moulded polyurethane screen media pan- els. This results in a significant time and cost saving for customers. Added operational flexibility is provided by the product being supplied with a wide range of openings for separations as coarse as up to 25 mm,” says O’Bryan. In 2014 Weir Minerals Africa aligned its screens brand with Enduron® comminu- tion equipment, allowing the company to provide 3 to 4,3 m wide screen designs for large modular coal plants. O’Bryan says that the Enduron® VD dewatering screen range has been designed to ensure that maximum efficiency and lowest cost of ownership is achieved. Underpinned by a 40-year history in the coal dewatering sector, Enduron® products are manufactured according to ISO 9001:2010 standards. Rene Calitz, Weir Minerals Africa, tel (+27 11) 929-2622

Tel: +27 (0)11 383 9300 www.winder.co.za

Fax: +27 (0)11 383 9305 email: winder@winder.co.za

January 2016  MODERN MINING  79