vertical turbines are in operation.
These pumps are powered by 200 hp
motors and Randolph G200 right
angle drives with automated float
controls. These pumps were designed
and installed as a turnkey project for
the Gibson County South mine. Water
is discharged from the main
underground sump through a 12 in.
line approximately 1200 ft in length
with 565 ft of vertical lift. The pumps
are rated at 1000 gal./min. each.
Once it has been brought to the
surface, the water needs to becarefully
managed. Firstly the water is
discharged into a mixing chamber for
solids removal and pH control. After
being diluted with fresh water, the
mine water is pumped away with a
Goulds 14RJMC, 1 stage, vertical
turbine. This pump is powered by a
15 hp hollow shaft motor with
automated controls. The pump
discharges diluted mine water through
a 12 in. line approximately 13 000 ft at
a capacity of 1200 gal./min.
In order to move water from
various parts of the mine to the main
sumps, the Xylem team devised a
system incorporating a series of Flygt
2610 MSHA-permissible mining duty
dewatering pumps. These pumps take
water from various parts of the mine
and pump to the main sump. 1.9 hp
Flygt submersible pumps and pump
panels are used underground in the
mine as they are extremely light
weight (less than 55 lb) and rugged –
ideal for the extreme conditions of
underground coal mining.
Decanted water from the fine
refuse impoundment is pumped to
settlement ponds using Flygt
dewatering pumps (Flygt 2201 58 hp
submersible pumps) positioned on
custom float barges designed by
Xylem specifically for this application.
These barges are designed to ensure
that proper submergence of the pump
is maintained, while keeping the
pump off the bottom at all times. The
pump discharges approximately
1000 ft through a 12 in. line.
Rod Lydle, Outside Sales
Representative with Xylem said: “No
two dewatering projects are the same.
Designing application specific
solutions is key to moving and
managing water in as effective and
efficient a manner as possible. We
have developed a great working
relationship with the Gibson County
team over the years, which has
resulted in great teamwork and a
positive end result for all involved.”
Water on the surface is either used
in the preparation plant operations or
other parts of the mining process. In
the preparation plant, washing and
sizing processes remove unwanted
contaminants such as dirt, rock
and oversized coal that needs
further crushing. Most operations
use between 1000 gal/min. and
4000 gal./min. of water depending on
the size of the preparation plant.
Figure 4. Pictured is Gibson County Coal South Process Water Pond where a Goulds
vertical turbine pump is used to supply water to the preparation plant for washing coal.
Figure 3. Gibson County Coal South settling pond for water discharged from
underground. A Xylem's Goulds vertical turbine is used for water circulation.
48
|
World Coal
|
December 2015
