Tailings Slurry Knife Gate Valves for a Chilean Copper Concentrator
Project Overview
The project supplied wear-resistant knife gate valves, large-diameter butterfly valves and wear-resistant gate valves for the tailings transport and return water systems of a copper concentrator in South America, for shutoff and isolation of high-density slurry and return water lines.
Challenge
Tailings slurry has high solids content and sharp angular particles, wearing wetted parts extremely quickly. The site is at about 3,500 m altitude with a large day-night temperature difference; valves must be full bore, non-clogging and non-sticking in sandy slurry, with seats that can be replaced quickly on site, and must open and close reliably at low temperatures.
Our Solution
Full-bore wear-resistant knife gate valves were used (WCB body with hardened stainless steel knife and wear-resistant seal), with large-diameter wafer butterfly valves at key control points for return water regulation. The seat is designed for in-line replacement and supplied with a spare parts kit. Stems are extended and fitted with dust and sand guards for high-altitude low-temperature starts.
Results
The valves ran continuously for more than 12 months in sandy slurry, with knife and seat wear within allowable limits. Clogging, sticking and leakage typical of the previous standard gate valves were eliminated, and the mine added these valves to its annual centralized spare parts procurement list.