Magnetic-drive seal-less pump manufacturer Brubin Pumps began supplying a peristaltic hose-pump, from Blackmer, known as the Abaque pump series, in 2001. Brubin technical sales manager Bernd Irle tells Mining Weekly that it took on supplying the new range of pumps because it became part of the company’s marketing strategy to offer environment-friendly pumping solutions to its customers. He says that it was to the company’s benefit to supply the range, as it complements the range of magnetic-drive pumps that Brubin manufactures.

The magnetic-drive seal-less pumps that are manufactured locally by Brubin are currently being exported to Zambia and Niger, in Africa. Irle says that the company is currently looking into export opportunities in the Australian and South American mining industries.

The company’s commitment to the socioeconomic needs of the country, specifically in the field of potable drinking water and sewage or wastewater treatment, led to the acquisition of suitable equipment from leading international manufacturers such as the Gresco self-priming sewage pump.

The Abaque peristaltic hose pumps satisfy the needs of mining, chemical, precious-metal refineries and other end-users that have requirements for handling slurry applications by providing a cost-effective environment-friendly solution to transfer problems.

According to Blackmer Southern Africa sales manager Alexandre Papapietro, the Blackmer Abaque series pump can handle the toughest pumping conditions, from abrasive and aggressive fluids to sheer sensitive and viscous materials.

The seal-free design eliminates leaks and contamination. Fluids are contained within the hose, which is the primary maintenance component.

“The pump is self-priming to 9 m manometric lift, and it is able to run dry continuously, without any detrimental effects. “The pump is also capable of running in forward or reverse,” Papapietro describes.

He says that ductile iron and steel construction allow for higher discharge pressures up to 17 bar, and its solid construction and advanced design features reduce maintenance and repair costs.

The pump’s bolts, nuts, inserts, flanges and clamps are made of stainless steel, thereby offering users easier maintenance when assembling and disassembling the pump.

Most of the smaller pumps that the company supplies are being used for chemical-dosing applications, such as sodium cyanide and H2SO4 in gold-mines, whereas the medium-sized pumps that the company supplies are being used for chemical off-loading and transfer applications.

The larger models are mainly used for slurry thickener underflow applications, mainly operating between 10 r/min and 40 r/min, Irle reports.

Hose material has been mainly standardised as natural rubber for abrasive slurry applications, and EPDM for the chemical dosing and transfer duties. The NBR hoses are mainly used for agressive reagents such as Xanthate or SIBX in the platinum process.

Irle notes that the greatest problem experienced when pumping slurry is the high revolution rate that suppliers are selecting at high slurry densities, resulting in relatively short hose life. He says that other problems noticed include start-up with the pipelines full of slurry, as well as the incorrect pipe system design causing damage to the pump and drive, resulting in high maintenance costs to the end user.