Bateman-Ultrasep thickeners for Brazil
As the international demand for Bateman Engineering's specialised
thickening technology grows, the company has fulfilled orders for
Bateman-Ultraseps from two Brazilian companies: AVG Mineração
SA and V & M Mineração Ltda (part of the Vallourec
& Mannesmann Group).
AVG Mineração SA is a privately- owned company based
in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which produces lump iron ore and sinter
feed. V & M Mineração Ltda operates Pau Branco Mine,
located in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, where iron ore is extracted,
processed and marketed.
In terms of the contracts, Bateman Engineering supplied the engineering
and drawings for both Bateman-Ultraseps, for fabrication and erection
by Brazilian manufacturers, under the Bateman Engineering agent's
supervision. Bateman Engineering also supervised the commissioning
of the Ultraseps, and provided fully manufactured flocculant optimisers
with underflow pump control. In the case of V&M Mineração
Ltda, further key components of a flocculant plant were supplied,
together with a design for local fabrication and procurement of the
non-core components.
Sizing of these 10 m diameter Bateman-Ultraseps was based on process
data as well as testwork in Bateman Engineering's Johannesburg, South
Africa laboratories on samples provided by the clients. Both units
handle tailings from spiral plants at a feed rate of 90 to 95 t/h.
AVG Minera‹o SA and V & M Minera‹o Ltda
selected the Bateman-Ultrasep as they required a very efficient method
to recover water from a feed containing a high proportion of ultra-fine
material. Representatives of both companies visited South Africa,
where they were introduced to the technology by Bateman Engineering
and visited operating sites.
An additional advantage of the Bateman-Ultrasep is its very high
rise rates which reduce the required thickening area significantly,
effectively processing the flow rates and tonnages that normally require
a large conventional or high-rate thickener. As the unit is a fraction
of the latter's size, capital costs are as low as 50 % of the cost
for the same duty.
Bateman-Ultraseps have no moving parts, thus virtually eliminating
the need for maintenance. With a high tolerance to process fluctuations,
they are quick to start up and stabilise and easy to automate. Bateman
Engineering's scale-up capability enables the units to be sized to
within 90 % accuracy using bench-scale tests, with fine-tuning being
done via pilot plant tests using a 0.5 m or 1.0 m diameter unit.
Since 1996, more than 90 Bateman-Ultraseps have been installed in
the metallurgical and minerals-processing industry for mill-circuit
thickening, countercurrent decantation, backfill and carbon-fines
recovery, dewatering and water recovery and slag treatment. They are
supplied as complete turnkey systems ready to be plugged into new
or existing plants and are available in standard sizes from 0.5 m
to 12 m diameter. Manufactured to international quality standards,
their bolted design and construction permit short delivery and installation
times.
For further information, contact Craig Gilbert, Manager, Processing
Technologies, on +27-11-201-2300 or email engtech@batemanengineering.com.
