Self-priming heroes … made for mines

Australian Pump is well known as the country’s leading designer and exponent of mine specific equipment, specialising in pressure cleaners and self-priming centrifugal pumps.  The pump product range goes all the way from 2” through to 6” ‘guzzlers’, now widely known and respected right throughout Australia’s mining industry.

“Self-priming engine drive trash pumps, high pressure transfer pumps, even fire pumps for mine safety are all part of our standard package,” said Aussie’s chief engineer John Hales said.

More recently the company launched its range of pumps and pressure cleaners in what is known as the “Mine Boss” configuration.

Monobloc self primers

With the support of advice from mining operations around the country, the company has now introduced a range of single and three phase electric motor drive industrial pumps.

These cast iron pumps, in semi trash configuration, start out with 2” pumps and go all the way to big 8” pumps. The 8” pumps can deliver 9000lpm and are powered by a range of motors up to 60kW of power.  6” pumps with 4500lpm flow can run with up to 22kW power and produce excellent results in terms of slow speed 1450rpm running.

The big pumps are mighty performers, running off four or six pole motors, depending on the requirements of the applications.

The self-priming advantage

“We found a trend towards replacing end suction pumps with self-priming motor pumps an easy conversion”, Mr Hales said.

“The features of self-priming pumps, particularly with our semi trash range of “gobblers” means they offer sure fired advantages for mining applications.”

The cast iron self-priming semi trash pumps come with a convenient clean out port, located underneath the suction port. Stainless steel wear plates are included, and the pumps can be equipped with either cast iron open impellers for handling solids in suspension or with 316 stainless steel impeller for corrosive and abrasive applications.

“The stainless steel impeller option is becoming more popular and it’s highly likely we will standardise on this feature due to feedback from the market. With increasing volumes, we’re finding the cost of 316 stainless impellers are less prohibitive than we would have thought”, Mr Hales said.

The ability of these pumps to self-prime up to 6m and their simple design makes them easy to install and low cost to maintain. Their robust construction and reliability are key factors in their popularity.

Mobile applications too

Although the product range evolved based on electric motor drive mono block close coupled pump design, bare shaft and hydraulic drive are also available. Hydraulic drive is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the mining and drilling industries, for mobile applications from drill rigs to water carts. In some cases, even in fuel transfer as well.

Working with experts in drilling, we’ve evolved our range of hydraulic pumps for use on mud tanks. This abrasive application is particularly hard on pumps and we now include stainless steel impellers and tungsten carbide seals as standard on a Drill Boss range.

Our latest inclusion in the range is a big 4” cast iron hydraulic drive pump that will deliver up to a massive 2200lpm and heads to 30m. A version in 316 cast stainless steel will be available from early next year and drillers are already showing interest in this model.

New stainless steel mine boss breakthrough

Aussie Pump’s Mine Boss series was originally developed with trash pumps for handling dirty water. They featured ports from 2” up to 4” were powered by Yanmar electric start diesel engines. These portable units have been a huge success on mine sites worldwide.

In response to recent enquiries from the market for portable pumps suitable for more abrasive applications, Aussie has started work on new Mine Boss pumps to complement the existing range. These use self-priming cast 316 stainless steel pump wet ends.

Currently available in both 2” and 3” configuration with Yanmar and Hatz diesels, the plan is to extend the range up to 4” using larger Kohler diesel engines in the coming months.

As with the original Aussie Mine Boss series, all pumps come fitted in a robust stainless steel frame with integrated lift bar and all the same safety features including a fire extinguisher, lockable battery isolation and emergency stop.

Diesel fuel pumps … ATEX rated

The self-priming centrifugal Aussie GMP product range lends itself to diesel fuel transfer. Fitted with Viton elastomers, the pumps will handle high flows of diesel fuel and can even be supplied close coupled to appropriate diesel engines.

In electric motor configuration for pumping diesel, the company offers a range of the same pumps, with ATEX rated motors, made by one of Europe’s most specialised ATEX motor manufacturers. These motors are first rate and are ATEX certified flameproof with IP55 protection. They are in accordance with ATEX standard EU directive, 2014/34/UE.

The pumps are colour coded bright red so they can’t be confused with standard configurations. With the range starting from 1 ½” x 1 ½” ports, all the way to big 4” pumps and even 3” pumps with high pressure applications up to 1100lpm and 45m head. That enables long diesel transfer where required.

Evolution fuelled by feedback

Aussie’s self-priming centrifugal pump range is growing all the time. The foundation was conventional cast iron pumps with open impeller designed for effluent and wastewater applications.

“As Australian Pump has learnt more about other applications, we’ve been able to make configuration changes that lend themselves to some of the worst applications in mining. Our Aussie GMP self-priming pump range is available in cast iron, nickel aluminium bronze or 316 stainless steel configuration,” Mr Hales said.

“We also offer the option of mixing components as well. We have the ability to provide NiAL bronze pumps with 316 stainless steel impellers for abrasive seawater applications. In terms of drives, we offer the bare shaft configuration, single or three phase electric motor, as appropriate, even hydraulic drive. The hydraulic drive range is proving popular for mobile applications with mud pump duties being at the forefront.”

“We back up those hydraulic mobile applications by also offering a range of hydraulic drive ‘Big Berty’ Bertolini triplex pump kits, already set up with hydraulic motors, for installation on mobile plants. Those washdown kits feature up to 5000 psi pressure with flows to in excess of 20lpm. That makes them very suitable for any mobile application where high pressure cleaning is required.

“The team at Aussie Pumps is proud to support the mining industry. We’re delighted to work with professionals doing dangerous work, in dirty environments, that is fundamental to this country’s economic stability.”

Further information on the Aussie industrial self-priming pump range is available online at aussiepumps.com.au or by calling them directly on 02 8865 3500.