Pumping high viscosity fluids, such as slurry in minerals processing, is often prone to blockages and friction that reduce plant productivity. Friction in the pumping pipes is known as the 'drag' effect.
To solve this problem, we've developed a Drag Reduction technique that adds a flow insert to lubricate the walls of the pipe to reduce friction. It's a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional paste pumping technologies.
Technology
- Reduces friction in pumping processes significantly cuts power and water requirements for transporting thickened slurry by up to 75 per cent.
- It prevents the need to use excessive amounts of water to dilute the slurry, it enables operations to maintain or increase their production throughput rates.
- Our drag reduction technique also allows management of dilute discharges at tailings dams.
Applications
In operation on tailings discharge lines and autoclave feed operations in minerals processing.
Intellectual property
Patent filed.
The team
Our team consists of experienced fluid dynamicists and chemical engineers with strong process expertise. We focus on fluid dynamics challenges in the mineral processing area, developing technologies to improve slurry mixing, transport and erosion as well as customised services for industry.