The Challenge
A mining customer required a duty-standby pump arrangement to deliver water from a gland water tank through basket filters for distribution to booster pump mechanical seals. The goal was to maintain high discharge pressure to extend the service life of the booster pumps used in an abrasive application.
The gland water system recirculates water from the mechanical seals back to the tank via pressure-sustaining valves. The gland tank itself is filled with raw water from on-site supply trucks and is manually dosed with sodium hypochlorite to prevent algae growth. However, the site’s water source often contained suspended particles and light sediment, requiring a robust and reliable pumping solution capable of handling variable water quality while maintaining pressure integrity and uptime.
The Solution
All-Pumps supplied a custom high-pressure duty/standby skid featuring dual Wanner Hydracell seal-less diaphragm pumps—a proven choice for demanding mining environments where reliability, clean water delivery, and long service life are essential.
The pumps were installed on a fabricated stainless steel baseplate, fully-equipped with isolation valves, pressure relief valves, and check valves, all configured based on a detailed P&ID. The design allows the pumps to run alternately in a duty/standby configuration, ensuring even wear and extending system life.
Key Design Elements
- SEAL-LESS DIAPHRAGM TECHNOLOGY: Eliminates mechanical seals, making the pump ideal for abrasive or chemically treated water
- PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES: Protect against overpressure and ensure safe system operation
- CHECK VALVES: Prevent backflow and ensure that only one pump operates through the discharge line at a time
- STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION: Ensures durability and corrosion resistance in harsh mining environments
This system is crucial in gland water applications, where consistent high pressure is needed to force clean water across the mechanical seal faces of centrifugal pumps.
This prevents grit ingress, removes debris, and maintains a protective water film—significantly reducing wear and maintenance downtime.
The Result
The completed gland water pump skid provided the customer with a reliable, high-performance water supply system designed for the rigours of mining. The duty/standby configuration ensures maximum uptime and efficiency, while the Hydracell pumps’ seal-less design guarantees low maintenance and long service life.
With This Setup, The Customer Achieved:
