Global demand for BATEMAN flotation & thickening equipment

Demand for BATEMAN's minerals-processing equipment continues to grow internationally with recent contracts coming from, amongst others, Kazakhstan in the CIS, South Africa and Botswana.

Thickeners

BATEMAN was awarded a R2M contract by Gold Fields to supply the Suzdal sulphate plant in Kazakhstan with four Bateman-WesTech high-rate thickeners. The plant, located in Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, is owned by the Kazakhstan Joint Stock Company, Alel-FIC. Gold Fields' Biox technology is currently being installed at the plant to process gold and makes use of bacteria to make sulphide ores more amenable to leaching by cyanide.

Of the four thickeners, three are counter-current decantation (CCD) units treating 8 t/h of washed Biox product. All wetted parts are fabricated from 304L stainless steel and have high-rate lift mechanisms. The washed Biox product will be processed at a pH of 1,2 to 4 to assist the solids to settle.

The fourth thickener is a water-recovery thickener fabricated from mild steel, for use in the dewatering of neutralised effluent. It will treat 8,2 t/h at a pH of 6 to 7.

The units are 10,6 m in diameter each, and the tanks will be manufactured in Kazakhstan by the client, based on BATEMAN designs and drawings and built under license from WesTech. BATEMAN will check the completed thickener tanks and commission them after the installation of the mechanisms. The drives for the thickeners, supplied by BATEMAN, were manufactured in South Africa. The sizing of the thickeners was determined after test work on samples provided by Gold Fields.

BATEMAN also supplied the control instrumentation for the thickeners, including control panels, the level-detection instruments and pressure transducers for all of the thickeners.

A 3 m diameter Bateman Ultrasep thickener, fabricated from 304L stainless steel, is also being supplied to thicken the 8,0 t/h underflow from the last CCD thickener. A flocculant optimiser for flocculant addition control and bed-vibration instrumentation to maximise the underflow density are being provided for the Ultrasep.

The order was received in March 2004 and the drawing and drives were delivered to the client at the end of July 2004.

The Bateman-WesTech high-rate, heavy-duty thickeners offer a superior performance over other models, due to their unique drive mechanism complete with lift capabilities. Advantages include a reduced power consumption with efficiency ranges 40 to 50 % higher than competitive units, a long operating life and minimum maintenance requirements even in the harshest conditions. The high-rate thickeners are provided in sizes ranging from 1 m to 75 m in diameter, with duties rated at over 5M Nm of torque. The configuration of these units can be suited to meet the needs of the client and each design is customised. All drive-heads are backed by comprehensive warranty and service programmes.

The Bateman Ultrasep permits very high allowable rise rates in the thickener and thus reduces the required thickening area significantly, affording a far more cost-effective thickening solution. In addition, the Ultrasep thickener has no moving parts and thus the need for maintenance is virtually eliminated. It is used in the metallurgical and mineral processing industry for mill-circuit thickening, CCD, backfill and carbon-fines recovery, dewatering and water recovery and slag treatment.

Flotation

BATEMAN flotation cells are being supplied, through a R3M contract, to MDM for its Mupane Gold project in Botswana. The mine is owned by Gallery Gold of Australia and is located 30 km south-east of Francistown. The order comprises six Bateman BQR400 (40 m³) Flotation Cells for roughing and scavenging applications, as well as an operating and standby blower. The assembled equipment will be delivered by BATEMAN to the client in South Africa who will transport and install it on site under BATEMAN supervision. The cells will be installed two per level for control by one set of actuated dart valves, thereby maximising cost effectiveness.

Gold ore processing at the 1M t/yr Mupane plant is due to commence in the last quarter of this year.

A further order for BATEMAN flotation cells has been received for the RK1 Consortium concentrator, in Kroondal near Rustenburg, South Africa. The order, worth approximately R3,8M, comprises four Bateman BQR200 (20 m³ ) Rougher Cells, three BQR100 (10 m³ ) Cleaner Cells, one BQR50 (5 m³ ) Recleaner Cell and one BQR50 (5 m³ ) Re-recleaner Cell. A blower for the flotation air, together with instrument panel, is also being supplied.

The layout of the plant makes use of the slope of the land on which the plant is to be built, making it possible for the tank flotation cell pairs to be terraced, thereby reducing the height that would normally be required by a conventional plant. The complete plant will therefore be built with a difference in elevation of only 1,5 m. In addition, the plant's footprint is concentrated within an area of 20 m by 50 m.

Delivery of the cells is complete and installation is nearing completion. BATEMAN is responsible for the fabrication, delivery to site and installation of mechanisms in the cells and will also install the interconnecting walkways and piping between the cells.

BATEMAN's range of round-tank flotation cells achieve optimum operation through purpose-designed levels of solids suspension, air-rate adjustment, easy froth-cone positioning and a stable pulp-froth interface. The cells are used in roughing, scavenging, cleaning and re-cleaning, unit and pilot cell applications to process copper, zinc, platinum-group metals, phosphates, graphite, slag and effluents.

For further information, please contact Craig Gilbert, BATEMAN Manager, Processing Technologies, on +27-11-201-2300 or email engtech@batemanengineering.com.

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