Modern Mining March 2018

PRODUCT News

Cables feature safe and rugged design

sheath, contributes to extended compo- nent service life and reducedmaintenance. The TPU cables are highly suited for use on a wide range of equipment such as elec- trically driven machines, portable electric apparatus, section feeders, medium-sized draglines, shovels and drills. “The cables can also be used for underground reeling applications,” concludes Marks. Proof Engineering, a Division of Hudaco, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of flameproof and explosion proof products. The company incorpo- rates the latest technology in the design of its comprehensive range of electrical components that includes plugs, sockets, adaptors, connectors and couplers suitable for both underground and above ground mining applications. Proof Engineering, tel (+27 11) 824-1146 QKR Namibia’s Projects Engineer, du Preez Calitz, confirms the success of the project. “The pumps were selected based on the long-term wear simulations done by KSB and full life cycle cost analysis during the tender evaluation process. We have not looked back since then! In fact, an open inspection of the pumps recently revealed a much lower wear rate than initially expected which has resulted in lower operating and maintenance costs as foreseen over the total lifecycle of the pumps. The pumps have certainly met and exceeded our expectations and the solid technical input and support of the com- pany has been superb from the outset.” Echoing the sentiment, AK Roux, Projects and Asset Management Manager for QKR Namibia, adds that the new pump station has now run more than 5 000 hours without a single breakdown. KSB Pumps and Valves, tel (+27 11) 876-5600

Proof Engineering’s rugged TPU copper- screened mining cables are specially designed and engineered with safety top of mind and are able to withstand hazard- ous conditions typically found in opencast and underground mining applications, as well as in industrial environments. Donovan Marks, MD of Proof Engi­ neering, explains that the mining cable’s orange/silver reflective tape underneath the outer extra-heavy duty ICEA S-75‑381 compliant TPU jacket ensures easy identi-

fication and visibility, especially at night. “This not only increases personnel safety but also reduces the risk of cable damage.” The 67,4 mm diameter cables have a minimum bending radius of 550 mm and a maximum recommended tension of 4,3 kN. The cable design incorporates flexible Class 5 tinned annealed copper wire conductors and insulation consists of ethylene propylene thermosetting compound. The cables feature a strip- pable semi-conducting core screen (triple extruded) and the core assembly comprises three tinned copper/ nylon-braid screened power cores and three unscreened pilot cores. The rugged design of these cables, which incorporates a tough and additional high-pressure gland water systemmake the pumps less prone to com- ponent wear. The KSB LSA pumps make use of a unique high-pressure gland water system and gland service package that pressurises the stuffing-box with non-slurry laden water to prevent particle ingress that can cause wear of components. “This just goes to show that specifying the right pump for a technical application is critical to the success of pumping opera- tions. In the case of the Navachab gold mine, the additional performance gains and reliability were complemented by the outstanding work done by the own- ers, QKR Namibia’s technical teams. They designed and managed the installation of the entire project, including monitoring systems, and worked closely with our tech- nical team to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the pumps and the entire installation,” says Gremels.

The design of the cables incorporates a tough sheath.

Slurry pumps prove their reliability at Navachab

KSB Pumps and Valves says it has busted the‘slurry pumps have short lifespans’myth with the ongoing success of its Navachab gold mine installation in Namibia, where 10 of its LSA slurry pumps have operated for nearly a year without incident. This is in stark contrast to the previous pump sets at the mine, which reportedly operated a mere four to six weeks between breakdowns in the aggressive wear envi- ronment of the mine. Resultant stoppages and production losses had resulted in the mine’s management seeking alternative solutions from new suppliers. KSB Pumps andValves’Andreas Gremels says the company was able to convince the mine of LSA technical superiority, and now has backed up the recommendation with actual on-the-job proof. “Our pumps have proven that they can work reliably and effi- ciently where others simply cannot.” He notes that the hard metal design

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52  MODERN MINING  March 2018