Pumps components supplier ASW Engineering has supplied Mopani copper mine with Munsch thermoplastic pumps after several pump failures at its acid plant in Mufalera, Zambia.
Mopani requires strong pumps that are able to handle slurry containing 10% sul- phuric acid. The pumps initially selected for the effluent, effluent gas cooling and final reverse jet applications were horizontal split-casing pumps in a cast-iron construction that was coated with an acid-revacancy of pellet plant in eurobondsistant epoxy coating.
Various problems occurred at system start-up, such as the net positive suction head being inadequate and the sulphuric acmini surface grinding machineid corroding the weak areas in the epoxy coating.
Constant pump failures resulted in high production losses and high maintenance costs for the mine, and ASW Elimestone grinding millngineering was approached to solve the problem.
The company’s initial evaluation established that the existing pumps were inadequate for the mine’s intended purpose. Cavities resulted in rapid degrading of the coating and the impellers were corroded away in a matter of days.
ASW Engineering recommended that the mine replace the existing pumps with Munsch thermoplastic pumps that have a special hydraulic design.
Meanwhile, the company has also started a service department that aims to service and maintain the equipment it sells and installs, with technicians on standby everyday. It has also embarked on project management contracts that assist other consultants in water-filtration and pumping-station applications in the chemicals and mining industries.
ASW Engineering was started in 1979 primarily as a hydraulic and engineering shop. However, this proved to be just a starting block as, soon after, the company became involved in specialised pumps following a request to supply and maintain tar injector pumps for the petrochemicals industry.
ASW Engineering has expanded in the last 30 years with branches and distri- butors across Southern Africa