Application
The application involves recovering, cleaning and distributing water from an underground mine. The water is recovered in dirty water pools, and then sent to solids separators and dehydration towers. It is subsequently stored in two clean water basins for transport to the surface. A pumping system, with centrifugal equipment for clean water, is used for its inherent process control and safeguard systems.
Problem
Peñoles Minera Juanicipio requested that RSL Engineering evaluate and analyze the transient (“water hammer”) load that may be generated during the operation of the underground pumping system. The analysis was performed for current state, single pump, operations but also for future state operations where as many as 5 pumps could be operating. As a result, the magnitude of the hydraulic loads required for selecting the necessary mechanisms and systems to safeguard the system were obtained quantitatively and the equipment and accessories included were also evaluated.
Solution
Based on operating needs, the system required the installation of two suppressor tanks, one on the El + 1869.70 m level (underground), and the other on arrival at the surface of the natural terrain. According to the analysis, it was also proposed to eliminate the check valves in the 12in headers leaving only the valves in each of the pumps.