June 2014
MODERN MINING
53
PRODUCT News
Improved efficiencies from
Warman froth pump
The customers of Weir Minerals Africa are reported to be enjoying the
benefit of vastly improved efficiencies from the Warman® AHF™ froth
pump.
The heavy duty froth pump, whilst based on – and interchangeable
with – the well-known Warman® AH and L pumps, has been modi-
fied to handle difficult froth slurry. Key to the design is a significantly
larger-than-normal inlet diameter with a unique impeller inducer
blade which is able to handle heavy froth and higher viscosity dense
slurries with ease. This larger inlet, with correspondingly larger inlet
volume, allows the handling of significantly greater expanded air vol-
ume without air binding and with less surging.
Weir Minerals Africa has conducted local test work based on find-
ings drawn from research conducted in North America and Europe
over the past seven years. Rui Gomes, Product Manager: Slurry Pumps
at Weir Minerals Africa, says this research allowed his team to under-
stand the variability that takes place at different plants and how the
AHF™ pump can be adjusted to respond to these irregularities.
“Being able to tap into the latest proven methods and apply them
to local operations is one of the benefits of being part of a large mul-
tinational organisation,”adds Gomes. “The mining industry is plagued
by froth and high viscosity problems and, in the process of recovering
minerals from the ore, the slurry is often floated by utilising strong
flotation agents. The hydrophobic bubbles carry the concentrate to be
recovered and further processed. This can create complications within
standard slurry pumps. The typical consequence is that conventional
sumps are prone to overflowing, leading to spillage and loss of valu-
able concentrate, as well as posing a risk to the environment. This in
turn often results in the selection of overly large and inefficient pumps.
“TheWarman® AHF™ froth pump is small and efficient. The inducer
impeller and oversized inlet are very effective in assuring that froth or
viscous slurries enter the impeller, allowing the pump to transport it
to the next destination. Lower power costs, reliable operation, greatly
reduced surging and feed tank overflow make this pump extremely
user friendly.”
Rene Calitz, Weir Minerals Africa, tel (+27 11) 929-2622
Warman AHF pump awaiting inspection at Weir Minerals Africa’s manufacturing
facility in Alrode.
