Slurry pumps are used in nearly every stage of a mineral processing plant, from the mill discharge to the tailings line. Selecting the right pump family for each duty point has a direct impact on plant availability, energy cost and spare-part consumption. The notes below summarize the typical pump duty allocation we encounter in our customer projects.
Milling circuit
At the milling circuit, slurry pumps typically handle mill discharge and cyclone feed. These duties are characterized by relatively high density, moderate head and the presence of coarse particles immediately after the mill. Heavy-duty horizontal pumps — for example the AH family — are the most common choice, with metallic liners on the more abrasive duties and rubber on finer feed.
Flotation and concentrate handling
Flotation concentrate is usually finer and easier to pump than mill discharge, but it carries chemicals that affect material selection. Pumps running concentrate typically see long steady-state hours, so impeller and liner selection tends to focus on overall wear rate rather than impact resistance.
Tailings and process water
Tailings duties vary widely in concentration, head and distance. Long-distance tailing lines sometimes use multiple pumps in series. Pump selection here focuses on efficiency at the operating point and on the availability of spare parts at remote sites.
Dredging and sand & gravel
Dredging duties typically involve variable solids concentration, occasional large particles and mobile installation conditions. Heavy-duty gravel pumps (the G / sand & gravel family) are designed for this combination.
Sumps, scale and clean-up
Lower-concentration, lower-head duties — such as clean-up sumps, scale pits or dewatering — do not always justify the weight and cost of an AH-class pump. Vertical cantilever pumps and submersible pumps are more commonly used here.
If you would like to talk through how a specific duty on your plant should be allocated, our engineering team can review your operating data and suggest a pump family and lining specification to start from.