WASTE WATER


and plastic piping systems, was selected to provide effective sub-soil drainage. Ridgidrain is suitable for non-


pressurised sub-surface drainage applications, with perforations at regular intervals along its full length to allow safe and gradual drainage. Manufactured in high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Ridgidrain has excellent abrasion resistance both internally and externally – protecting against both sediment within the wastewater and the rugged mine environment. It also offers a high compression strength to withstand imposed loadings, yet is still incredibly lightweight for ease of installation and transport. Tailings management facilities are essential in ensuring the mine operates in an environmentally-conscious manner, and the Ridgidrain system allows for the controlled seepage of treated water. Te system can also deal with unpredictable fluctuations due to factors including stormwater and is a crucial element of an effective water management system.


The site houses a substantial tailings management facility to process the leftover materials and wastewater


Polypipe supplied 1386 metres of 500mm diameter and 190 metres of 600mm diameter of its Ridgidrain twinwall pipe, shipped via eight 40ft sea containers, which required close co-ordination between Polypipe’s UK manufacturing operation and the shipping agent in order to meet deadlines and ensure the full order was despatched as one shipment. Polypipe Export Sales Manager Philip


Wood adds: “Plastic piping systems such as Ridgidrain are up to 94 per cent lighter than concrete alternatives, meaning that they are safer to install and move around site, and also offer considerable environmental benefits. Production and transportation are simplified and use less carbon, and additionally the product can often be re-used elsewhere when the project ends. Tese factors are key considerations for mine operators, and also make the product more cost effective. For these reasons, Ridgidrain is growing in popularity in the African mining market.”


Reduce spiralling water costs


A UK-based solutions provider of mining equipment providing solutions to Europe and the Middle East has recently found a cost-effective process to reduce spiralling water costs: an adiabatic solution for its temperature control processes. Manufacturing and supplying Europe and the Middle East with centrifugal pumps, hydrocyclones and mine dewatering systems, the solutions


supplied by ICS Cool Energy as a practical, energy-efficient alternative to the company’s previously employed cooling towers.


Slurry handling and dewatering solutions use large volumes of water for their processes


provider is driven by a desire to consistently meet clients’ requirements in the most efficient way possible, providing outright cost-effectiveness to their customers and saving water as part and parcel of its day-to-day operational processes.


Te adiabatic cooler has been


Te system is capable of extracting 1036kW with a wet bulb temperature of 18°C at the manufacturer’s conditions, with the unit functioning at optimal efficiency by relying on the system’s fans for the majority of the year; with the water/spray functionality only activating in high ambient conditions. Te adiabatic system also features an anti-legionella UV filter to totally eliminate any possible legionella bacteria growth, a hazardous risk synonymous with traditional cooling tower tecÚologies. Richard Metcalfe, Sales Director at ICS Cool Energy explains: “Our engineers assessed the site before installing any equipment and recommended that we placed the new adiabatic cooler to the rear of the facility, connecting the system pipework along the plant’s boundary wall. Te return from the process is now routed into a new 500 litre buffer tank before finally re-entering the cooler via standby process circulation pumps. Te whole adiabatic system lowers the process water temperature from 40°C to 25°C and dramatically increases efficiencies throughout via reduced water usage.”


45 INTERNATIONAL MINING ENGINEER


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