Types of pumps used in the Mining Industry
Mining Pumps – There are many types of pumps used in the mining industry. High head dewatering pumps, transfer pumps, lubrication pumps, slurry pumps, fuel transfer pumps, potable water pumps, and sewage pumps, to name a few.
High Head Dewatering Pumps
High head dewatering pumps are used to remove water from pit floors, pumping it back over mine walls to storage systems away from the mine. High pressure mining pumps [usually prime assisted centrifugal pumps] are needed to pump the high vertical distances and to overcome friction losses from pumping the water over long distances. These pumps are mainly driven by large diesel engines, with pumps needing capacities from 50 litres per second [L/S] to in excess of 500 L/s, with required pressures from 50 metres [m] to in excess of 200m.
The water being pumped may be acidic or contain abrasive materials, often requiring pumps to be made from special materials such as hardened iron, high chrome iron, stainless steel or duplex stainless steel.
Mining pumps are usually “prime assisted” pumps with external priming systems such as “a compressor/venturi, diaphragm pump, or vacuum pump. All methods have their place, with the fastest priming systems [dedicated vacuum pumps] being the most expensive, and the slowest being the most cost-effective.
Gorman-Rupp has a range of dewatering mining pumps with a choice of diaphragm or compressor/venturi priming systems, with mostly ductile iron pumps, but some available in CD4MCuN [a duplex stainless steel with a PREN [pitting resistance equivalent number] of 35.3].
Positive Displacement Pumps
There are a vast range of mining pump types. These include piston pumps, diaphragm pumps, screw pumps, gear pumps [internal and external], lobe pumps, peristaltic pumps, progressive cavity pumps, and many others. We will however, concentrate this article on the centrifugal industrial pump.
Transfer Pumps
Mining pumps used to move water around the pit floor don’t require the same pressure as the larger high-head dewatering pumps, so the work can often be done by submersible pumps or self-priming pumps. Self-priming pumps are easier to access and unlike larger dewatering pumps, don’t require “add-on” priming systems. These pumps can be driven by diesel engines or in some cases, by electric motors.
Gorman-Rupp has an excellent range of self-priming mining pumps for these applications, with features to minimise downtime and the reliability expected in these crucial applications. These pumps are also available in construction materials including cast iron, hardened iron, stainless steel and duplex stainless steel.
Lubrication Pumps
Lubrication mining pumps play an important role in mining operations. These mining pumps provide lubrication to drag lines, crushers and other mining equipment that is vital to production. Having a reliable lubrication pump keeps this equipment operational.
Rotary [or internal] gear pumps are an excellent choice for this critical application because of the pressure they can create, the viscosity they can handle and the flow rate they can deliver.
Gorman-Rupp has a range of rotary gear pumps with features that lend themselves to the rugged environment they need to operate in. They have an internal seal pressure relief system that minimises the pressure within the seal area to maximise seal life. They also have a range of bushing materials and internal lubrication systems to maximise pump life and greatly extend the time between major overhauls.
Slurry Pumps
Slurry pumps are used to transfer ore that has been “Liquified” for the purpose of transporting it quickly, in large volumes where other forms of transportation [conveyor belt, road etc] are not possible or uneconomical. This can be done by large submersible pumps with high chrome internals or by large centrifugal pumps with high chrome or rubber lined internal parts.
Fuel Transfer Pumps
Mining operations need to transfer fuel to drive equipment such as dozers, tipper trucks, personnel vehicles, diesel driven pumps etc. They therefore need to be reliable. Standard centrifugal pumps are generally used when fuel tanks are above ground. Some are equipped with low meters to gauge the amount being pumped, and some will be part of an entire fuel transfer system.
If tanks are below ground, the pump either needs to have an automatic or manual priming system or be a self-priming pump.
Gorman-Rupp has an extensive range of fuel transfer pumps. Their “0 Series” pumps can operate on high suction lifts and transfer fuel at rates from a few litres per second up to 80 L/s.
Gorman-Rupp also has a specialised pump with an internal priming vane pump designed to strip suction lines of air and vapour to greatly minimise downtime and increase uptime. These “Rotoprime” pumps will automatically strip vapour locks that would stop conventional pumps.
Potable Water Pumps
Potable water mining pumps are generally stainless steel and will often be part of a constant pressure system consisting of pumps, variable frequency drives [VFD’s], and some with manifolds for multiple pump systems.
There are many Australian companies producing good quality systems.
Sewage Pumps
Sewage pumps are not the most talked about pumps on a mine site, but the wrong one could mean headaches for maintenance personnel and could prove costly to asset owners. Most sewage mining pumps are submersible, with several good quality brands to choose from. But all of them require lifting apparatus, and several operators [possibly including an electrician], when the pump needs unblocking, minor or major servicing or replacement.
A self-priming sewage mining pump alleviates these problems because they are much more easily accessed.
Gorman-Rupp manufactures two ranges of sewage pumps that can be mounted on the surface [for self-priming up to 7.6 metres]. These pumps are built tough, and with features that greatly reduce operator intervention, improve operator safety, and reduce overall costs.
Ready to build the perfect mining pump system for your project? We’re standing by to help.
Videos:
Watch videos here showing the simple concept of above ground Gorman-Rupp pumps:
SUBMERSIBLE PUMP VS. ABOVE-GROUND GORMAN-RUPP PUMP
GORMAN-RUPP MINING PUMPS
GORMAN-RUPP PUMP VS. COMPETITOR PUMP
Our expert team is standing by for any questions you have about how best to configure your mining pump system.
Mining Pumps:
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6500 Series® end suction centrifugal pumps are based on the proven technology of Gorman-Rupp’s Prime Aire® and Prime Aire Plus® priming-assisted pump models. The 6500 Series was designed to extend Gorman-Rupp’s end suction centrifugal pump offering and to better serve applications where a suction lift is not required. A double volute mitigates shaft breakage and extends the life of the mechanical seals, wear rings and bearings, all while maintaining hydraulic efficiency, while a side access port allows for easy access to pump interior for inspection and clean out while the pusher bolt capability assists in the removal of the suction flange.
Advantages include:
- High efficiency
- Alloy steel shafts with stainless steel options
- Dual sight gauges for bearing and seal cavities
- Smart Scroll® indexable discharge location
- Atmospheric vent
- Oversized bearings for longer bearing life
- Double volute on larger models
- Solids-handing models include side access for inspection and clean out
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The Gorman-Rupp G Series range of self priming positive displacement rotary gear pumps is designed to provide superior performance in the transfer of process fluids, unmatched in the industry. Available in Medium-Duty , Heavy-Duty and Extreme-Duty (abrasive service) models, pump materials include cast iron, cast steel and stainless steel.
G Series self priming pumps are manufactured with unique features that enable them to perform better and last longer on countless applications, providing quality and reliability that make the G Series the premier pump in the industry.
Advantages include:
- An automatic idler pin lubrication system uses the pumped fluid to continuously cool and lubricate the idler pin and bush to reduce wear in this area.
- An internal seal cavity venting system provides a continuous flow of liquid through the seal area, ensuring cooling and reducing pressure. This reduces seal face
- load, increasing seal life.
- A deep “end-feed” area offers superior priming performance under low inlet pressure conditions and/or high viscosity liquids.
- Easy to service
- Viscosities to 440,000 cSt
- Pressures to 20.7 bar (300 psi)
- Flows to 2200 litres per minute
- Handle a variety of liquids , including highly viscous, high temperature and abrasive fluids
- Widest range of sealing options in the industry
- High strength material eliminates the need for special steel fittings traditionally needed for viscous applications.
- Widest range of housing ports
- Widest range of bushing materials
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Super T Series self-priming dewatering pump has been the world benchmark for this technology since 1963 (>55 years). These engine driven pumps are direct coupled to diesel engines through flexible flywheel couplings to ensure perfect alignment between pump and engine. These are mounted onto our “engitank” platform. This platform includes an extra heavy duty fuel tank base with a 450 litre capacity, lifting points on 4 corners, fork lift pockets, and a central lifting frame. A sheet-metal roof is provided to help protect the engine from the elements.
Advantages include:
- Simple priming system. Just fill casing with water.
- No complicated “add-on” priming systems.
- Pump solid particles up to 76mm dia
- Pump stringy materials [rags, bags and wipes] with Eradicator technology
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with externally adjustable clearances.
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
- Any engine brand required by the customer.
- Choice of skid or trailer mounted configuration
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Ultra V Series is Gorman-Rupp’s higher pressure self-priming dewatering pump. These engine driven pumps are direct coupled to diesel engines through flexible flywheel couplings to ensure perfect alignment between pump and engine. These are mounted onto our “engitank” platform. This platform includes an extra heavy duty fuel tank base with a 450 litre capacity, lifting points on 4 corners, fork lift pockets, and a central lifting frame. A sheet-metal roof is provided to help protect the engine from the elements.
Advantages include:
- Higher pressures
- Simple priming system. Just fill casing with water
- No complicated “add-on” priming systems
- Pump solid particles up to 76mm dia
- Pump stringy materials [rags, bags and wipes] with Eradicator technology
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with externally adjustable clearances.
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
- Any engine brand required by the customer.
- Choice of skid or trailer mounted configuration
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Super U Series self priming dewatering and grey water pumps combines the best features of quality trash pumps in Australia with increased fuel efficiency and higher heads to pump through smaller and/or longer discharge piping systems or overcome the losses in filter systems.
These centrifugal pumps have been designed for economical, heavy duty (24/7) trouble-free operation.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the water (not in it)(to 7.6m)
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
- Any engine brand required by the customer
- Choice of skid or trailer mounted configuration
Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp PAH Series of prime assist (also known as dry prime or auto prime) centrifugal pumps are capable of delivering high heads and/or high flows for applications from wastewater bypassing to mine dewatering.
Field adjustable running clearances mean this pump can be kept at peak efficiency and left in the field for longer (instead of having a trip back to the workshop for a wear ring change).
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the water (not in it)(to 7.6m)
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
- Any engine brand required by the customer
- Choice of skid or trailer mounted configuration
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Super T Series self-priming centrifugal wastewater/sewage pump has been the world benchmark for this technology since 1963 (>50 years). They have been designed for economical, trouble-free operation, with superior solids handling capability and a large inspection cover to access pump internals for service or blockage removal.
Advantages include:
- Self-Priming pump has the ability to mount high and dry above the wet well (not in it)
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues – no more working over water/heights/cranes/heavy swinging weights
- Surface-mounted pumps with easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features including pressure relief valve to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Super T Series pump with Eradicator™ Solids Management System are a series of self-priming centrifugal pumps designed specifically for handling municipal and industrial wastewater containing stringy, difficult-to-pump, solids in suspension (such as wet wipes, rags and feathers).
They have been designed for economical, trouble-free operation, with design features that deliver superior solids handling capability and a large inspection cover to access pump internals for service or blockage removal. Gorman-Rupp Super T Series wastewater and sewage pumps have been used for pumping of WAS and RAS and for digester recirculation with great success in wastewater treatment plants around the country, as well as food process plants, paper mills and other heavy industries. The Eradicator™ system advances the solids handling capabilities of this range.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the wet well [not in it]
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Ultra V Series is the most advanced self-priming centrifugal wastewater and sewage pump range on the market today.
They are high performance, high head, and high-efficiency pumps, designed to deliver a long and low maintenance service life, with a low cost of ownership.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the wet well [not in it]
- Efficiencies up to 20% higher than any other solids handling self primer
- Higher pressures (heads) (up to 300%) than any other solids handling self primer
- Greatly improved operator safety
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Ultra V Series solids handling sewage and wastewater pumps with Eradicator™ Solids Management System are a series of self-priming centrifugal pumps designed specifically for handling municipal and industrial wastewater containing stringy, difficult to pump, solids in suspension (such as “wet wipes” , rags and feathers).
They have been designed for economical, trouble-free operation, with design features that deliver superior solids handling capability and a large inspection cover to access pump internals for service or blockage removal. Gorman-Rupp Ultra V Series wastewater and sewage pumps have been used for pumping of WAS and RAS and for digester recirculation with great success in wastewater treatment plants around the country, as well as food process plants, paper mills and other heavy industries. The Eradicator™ system advances the solids handling capabilities of this range.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the wet well [not in it]
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp 80 Series range of self priming centrifugal grey water are heavy duty 24/7, quick priming “work horses” for industry. With multi-vane impellers and a “straight-in” suction design, the 80 Series pumps deliver high efficiencies and quick positive self priming.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the wet well [not in it]
- Capital cost savings over wet well/ dry well constructions
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp G Series range of self priming positive displacement rotary gear pumps is designed to provide superior performance in the transfer of process fluids, unmatched in the industry. Available in Medium-Duty , Heavy-Duty and Extreme-Duty (abrasive service) models, pump materials include cast iron, cast steel and stainless steel.
G Series self priming pumps are manufactured with unique features that enable them to perform better and last longer on countless applications, providing quality and reliability that make the G Series the premier pump in the industry.
Advantages include:
- An automatic idler pin lubrication system uses the pumped fluid to continuously cool and lubricate the idler pin and bush to reduce wear in this area.
- An internal seal cavity venting system provides a continuous flow of liquid through the seal area, ensuring cooling and reducing pressure. This reduces seal face
- load, increasing seal life.
- A deep “end-feed” area offers superior priming performance under low inlet pressure conditions and/or high viscosity liquids.
- Easy to service
- Viscosities to 440,000 cSt
- Pressures to 20.7 bar (300 psi)
- Flows to 2200 litres per minute
- Handle a variety of liquids , including highly viscous, high temperature and abrasive fluids
- Widest range of sealing options in the industry
- High strength material eliminates the need for special steel fittings traditionally needed for viscous applications.
- Widest range of housing ports
- Widest range of bushing materials
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
The Gorman-Rupp Super U Series self priming dewatering and grey water pumps combines the best features of quality trash pumps in Australia with increased fuel efficiency and higher heads to pump through smaller and/or longer discharge piping systems or overcome the losses in filter systems.
These centrifugal pumps have been designed for economical, heavy duty (24/7) trouble-free operation.
Advantages include:
- Ability to mount high and dry above the water (not in it)(to 7.6m)
- Low cost of ownership
- Greatly reduced OH&S issues
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- Advanced safety features to protect operators
- Improved maintenance features to greatly reduce maintenance time and costs, with removable rotating assembly
- A variety of materials of construction to handle abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
- Any engine brand required by the customer
- Choice of skid or trailer mounted configuration
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
Ragazzini Rotho Peristaltic Pumps are the ideal choice for dosing and metering.
They consist of an elastomeric tube that is squeezed along its length by rollers that push the fluid contained within. This creates a gentle pumping action that doesn’t cause damage to the peristaltic pump.
Advantages include:
- Handle a range of fluids including viscous products, abrasives and chemicals
- High performance including pressures to 15 BAR, reversible flow, and suction lifts
- Accurate metering as well as high flows (to 180m3/hour)
- Easy maintenance including easy hose replacement and easy leak detection
- CIP with retractable rollers
- Greater operator safety
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- A variety of hose materials to handle food, pharmaceuticals, chemical, abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
Download the Brochure | Ask Our Team
Ragazzini Peristaltic Pump are at the cutting edge of “Hose Pump” design and have the features to make pumping easier. They consist of an elastomeric tube that is squeezed along its length by rollers that push the fluid contained within. This creates a gentle pumping action that doesn’t cause damage to the product. Further advantages include:
- Handle a range of applications including food products, abrasives, chemicals and solids
- High performance including pressures to 15 BAR, reversible flow, and suction lifts
- Easy maintenance including easy hose replacement and easy leak detection
- CIP with retractable rollers
- Greater operator safety
- Easy access for monitoring or service
- A variety of hose materials to handle food, pharmaceuticals, abrasive and/or corrosive fluids
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Hydro Innovations is proud to distribute a broad range of quality, reliable and industry-leading industrial pumps and aerators.
We are also delighted to share that Hydro Innovations is proud to be the exclusive distributor of Gorman-Rupp Pumps.
Gorman-Rupp is the world leader in self-priming centrifugal wastewater pump technology, and invests heavily in R&D, and in training for their international representatives – like Hydro Innovations.
This puts us in an excellent position to make the very best recommendations for our Australian customers.
Our other suppliers, Ragazzini of Italy and EDUR of Germany, are also world leaders in their respective technologies (Peristaltic Pumps – Ragazzini, and Specialist centrifugal pumps – EDUR).
We carry a very large inventory of pumps and spare parts for all of these brands, to help us to deliver industry-leading service.