Coal Facility Success Story: Upgrading to PumpEng ScatPumps
This interview is with a Coal Processing Manager at an Australian coal processing and handling facility. He describes their switch to PumpEng ScatPumps®.
What were the factors that led you to engage with PumpEng?
We were looking for an increase in pump capacity without going up a pump size.
Then, the real thing that got us was a submersible pump failure. The replacement was going to take 28 weeks or something like that. PumpEng could get us a pump from their local stock. It was only a couple of weeks, so that was a significant factor for us. So that was what started us working with PumpEng. It was about the supply lead time and stock in Townsville.
Can you describe the problems with your existing pumps?
That pump was undersized for the duty we ended up needing. We'd had that issue for a while. We decided to try a different style of pump. Then we found out about the minimum lead times out of Townsville. We put in a PumpEng pump to replace what we'd been using. It has been performing quite well for us. Then we started changing out other submersible pumps that we've had at our other sites with PumpEng and ScatPumps®. As we increased our capacity, we've also increased the size of those ScatPumps®.
In one case, we will change a vertical cantilever pump because of the design of the floor sump. The design meant the cantilever pump was sitting too high in the sump. We plan to replace that pump with a submersible ScatPump®. We based this decision on the positive results from our other sites using the ScatPumps®.
Can you describe the conditions of the sumps they're operating in?
We use them for two different duties. One is our centrate sumps, which can be quite frothy. They usually sit in a floor sump underneath the plant. Everything falls onto the centrate, which is directed into that sump. As well as the frothy material, sprays run on top of them all the time.
We also use ScatPumps® in clean-up sumps. It is the same sort of scenario with a floor sump. The pump sits there until they hose up or there's a spillage that goes into that sump. Once there's enough level, the pump will start and pump away the material to keep the floor dry.
How straightforward was installing and integrating the pumps with your existing setup?
Mostly, they were just a like-for-like replacement. They were replacing another brand that was submersible. There was one site where another style of submersible pump sat on a pedestal with an elbow, which had to be chem-set into the bottom of the sump.
Getting rid of those and putting those in is major work, whereas the ScatPumps® drop in and hook up. One of the sites had a different size hose tail required to fit the existing pump work. Those are small issues. Generally, they were just a like-for-like and dropped straight in.
What feedback do you have about the ScatPump®?
They've been doing the job for us, that's for sure. They pump, they meet their duty.
Would you give any advice to another processing and handling facility manager considering working with PumpEng as a dewatering partner?
The experience has been good. Every time we need something, PumpEng can supply it in a pretty reasonable timeframe. The pumps are easy to install and handle, and they perform well.
PumpEng Site Notes: The first ScatPump® has been running maintenance-free since July 2022