Slurry Valves for Mining in Africa: How to Stop internal Pipe Wear and Jamming
The Heavy Cost of Slurry Wear in African Mineral Processing
In Sub-Saharan Africa’s gold, platinum, and copper fields, unexpected downtime can cost operations hundreds of thousands of Rands or Dollars an hour. One of the primary culprits behind process plant stoppages is the rapid degradation of pipelines and flow-control systems due to highly abrasive tailings and mineral slurries. Standard industrial valves frequently fail under these heavy-duty conditions.
Why Standard Valves Jam and Leak in Mine Tailings
When high-density slurry flows through a generic valve, two major issues occur:
-
Turbulence Wear: Any minor internal lip or change in the pipeline’s diameter creates turbulence, which acts like a sandblaster against bare metal.
-
Solids Settlement: Cavities within standard valve seats offer the perfect trap for solids to settle, compact, and eventually jam the gate from closing fully.
Engineering Solutions for Sub-Saharan Conditions
To eliminate these chronic failures, mine operators are shifting to heavy-duty, engineered slurry valves built for African operations.
The Polyurethane Advantage
CMO’s polyurethane-lined knife gate valves fully encapsulate the cast iron or steel body. This design ensures that the abrasive chemical media never makes contact with the metal underneath. Additionally, its molded, seamless interior leaves zero cavities for solids to catch on, eliminating gate jamming entirely.