Leveraging decades of investment in elastomer technology for rubber linings, Weir can supply rubber linings on almost all its pumps. This provides a particular advantage in applications where abrasive material containing large particles is being pumped from mills, according to GM for Pump Products Marnus Koorts.
“Rubber is very good at absorbing and transferring the energy from moving particles, whereas metal liners are more readily worn away by those impacts,” says Koorts. “This makes rubber linings ideal on the larger mill pumps and similar applications, which is where our customers get optimal value from this solution.”
He notes that Weir has spent decades developing its elastomer technology and trialling it in the field, giving it considerable advantage over competitors – many of whom have only recently begun introducing rubber lining on their pumps.
“We have helped customers to deal with some of the most abrasive applications to be found in mining. These conditions are commonly found where hard rock is mined, crushed, and milled, and the coarse particles leave the mill to be pumped further,” he says. “Among our case studies are installations where the pump’s wear life was improved significantly after it was lined with rubber.”
Another benefit of using rubber in these large pumps is that it is relatively lightweight compared to unlined metal pumps, enhancing safety and easing maintenance of rubber parts.
“A mill pump is a mission-critical item of equipment, so maintenance really needs to be as fast and infrequent as possible,” emphasises Koorts. “The whole plant process often comes to a halt when the mill stops if there is no standby pump, what we call a Service Class 5 pump.”
Replacing a rubber lining on a pump can be done quickly, and less often – giving the plant optimal uptime. He points out that this also provides a higher level of safety against the risk of particle wear actually breaking through the shell of the pump. In cases where these incidents have occurred, the high pressure inside the pump can spray slurry up to a couple of hundred metres – presenting considerable safety and environmental hazards.
“Where the rubber lining is present, it is encapsulated by a metal shell for added support,” he says. “Maintenance planning can be enhanced by using Weir’s Synertrex wear monitoring technology, which would alert the operators to the need for parts replacement, avoiding failures.”
He highlights that many of Weir’s pump ranges are available with the option of either rubber or metal liners. This has allowed many customers to easily trial the rubber lined option, as this can be done through a simple swap-in process during the plant’s shutdown period.
“We’ve seen a definite shift in the mining industry towards rubber lining on pumps, as mines recognise their value in these applications,” he concludes. “This is also a time when mining companies are starting to consider their upstream and downstream carbon impact. They can gain from the lower carbon footprint associated with rubber linings compared with steel.”
