WorldWide Drilling Resource

18 AUGUST 2022 WorldWide Drilling Resource® AODD Pumps Serve a Variety of Mining Purposes Adapted from Information by Versamatic Air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps are critical pieces of mining equipment deployed in various locations around the globe. They are used in virtually all forms of mining, including underground, open-pit, dredging, and in situ. Popular mining applications for AODD pumps: Mine Dewatering - In an underground mine, water travels to the lowest point. AODD pumps are used to move this water to a central basin where it is pumped aboveground for treatment. Common locations for dewatering include drift dewatering; face dewatering under drilling equipment; mud and muck pumping; and belt dewatering. AODD pumps are commonly used to pump mine water from trenches and low points, and transfer it away from working areas, usually to a central sump. Some mines also use portable pneumatic centrifugal dewatering pumps for localized dewatering applications, similar to the way AODD pumps are used. For example, they are often chosen for belt head washdown applications found in coal mines. The mine water is pumped to a sump to be captured, then pumped to the surface with large multistage electric centrifugal pumps or other high-flow/high-pressure rotating pump technology. This process keeps the working area free from deep water and helps with miner safety, protects equipment, and improves productivity. In longwall coal mining, for instance, the pumps keep water away from the mining face, especially when the face has a lower elevation than the rest of the mine. If water is deeper than the toe of a miner’s boot in working areas, safety officers can shut a mine down or issue hefty fines to the mine site. Equipment Maintenance - AODD pumps serve a variety of purposes in maintaining equipment, including the following: k Lubrication: AODD pumps are used to pump oils and lubrication for large earthmovers, excavators, scoop trams, and other mining equipment. k Tire filling (liquid ballast): AODD pumps are used to fill enormous tires used on excavation equipment full of calcium chloride. k Fuel transfer and dispensing: It is common to find AODD pumps being used to transfer fuels like diesel at mine sites to power equipment. Metal Extraction and Refining - AODD pumps are used to dispense and transfer chemicals in the following process: k For metal mining (gold, copper, nickel, and others), rock and ore are crushed into powder, and chemicals are dripped onto to leaching piles. Metals attach to the chemicals and leach through where they can be captured and extracted. Environment Remediation / Waste Treatment - AODD pumps serve critical functions to help protect the environment during mining, including: k Settling ponds: When water is removed from a mine and brought to the surface, it is placed into ponds to be treated. The water may contain contaminants, and in many cases can be highly acidic - especially in coal mining. To keep the environment safe, the water needs to be neutralized and treated prior to being released. AODD pumps are used to dispense neutralizing chemicals, flocculants, and other process chemicals. They are also used to transfer water to tanker trucks if water removal and treatment is off-site. k Filter press feed: These are excellent filter-press feed pumps because they can run until deadhead, delivering a dry cake at the end of the process, saving the end user money on disposal. AODD pumps work with an endless variety of products and are used in a wide range of applications to keep mining processes productive and safe. In all areas of a mine - including the slope, drift, and face - these pumps can be found performing important jobs. MIN 2-inch bolted metal. ½-inch bolted plastic. 3-inch bolted metal.

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