Egypt Phosphate Mine Pit Dewatering
Abrasive pit water at pH 5 killed three sets of pumps in a year; duplex-stainless AF-S units with hard-chromed shafts have now passed two dry seasons without a failure.
Project Background
The open-pit mine collects rain and seepage water carrying fines at pH 5. Standard cast-iron drainage pumps were losing their impellers and seals within four months.
The pit benches flood within hours during the winter storms, halting haulage on the lower level.
- Product
- Submersible Pumps
- Fluids
- Slurry
- Applications
- Mining
The Requirement
Continuous dewatering of 320 cubic metres per hour at 26 metres from a sump two benches below the rim, with an abrasive fines content around 3 percent by weight.
The mine wanted a solution that survives the season without a crane crew on standby.
Pumps And Configuration Supplied
Three AF-S-150 submersibles in duplex stainless configuration with hard-chromed shafts and extra-thick wear plates, staged on a floating pontoon with flexible discharge hoses.
Each unit carries a leakage probe wired back to the site PLC, so the maintenance team gets an alarm before a failure.
Pumps
3 x AF-S-150 duplex stainless, 320 m3/h at 26 m, agitator option to keep fines in suspension
Materials
Duplex stainless wet end, hard-chromed shaft, SiC seal in oil bath with leakage probe
Deployment
Pontoon mount with 40 m flexible hose and rim-level diesel standby set
Project Photos
Pontoon staging at the pit rim and the bench pump manifold during the first season.
Result After Commissioning
Two full dry seasons with zero unplanned pump failures; the previous failure rate was one set every four months.
Haulage downtime attributed to pit flooding went to zero, and the mine ordered a fourth unit as a warehouse spare.
Project Videos
AF-S-150 pontoon deployment at the pit
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Series Used In This Project
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