Knife Gate Valves for Mining Industry

Slurry Knife Gate Valves Pilot Experiment - Chile 2012-2013

Introduction

Chile has the world's largest copper reserves and is also the largest producer and exporter of the metal with 30% of the total world copper production. In Chile, copper represents 38% of its total exports.

Only in 2012, nearly 5.3 million tons of copper were produced.

Chile also participates in other metal mining industries such as iron, gold, silver, molybdenum and others. Chile is also active in the non-metal mining industry with the production of boron, calcium carbonate, sulphates, lithium and others.

Linuo partnered with a Central American mining company to run (3) challenging tests on its knife gate valves. Read the results below.

Pilot Study 1 Operational Data:

The Lino slurry knife valve with pneumatic actuator was located in "El Soldado" on October 3rd 2012. It is located on the bank of cyclones secondary crushing. This valve was subject to high slurry percentage, low pressure, regular temperature and regular cycles per day.

• Slurry (Solid Particles percentage) 70-80%
• Pressure (Bar): 12 Bar
• Temperature (C): 0-40 C
• Number of cycles/day: 15
• Overall time since installation: 6 months

Pilot Study 1 Operational Results:

• No internal leakage
• No blockage of shaft
• No ruptures 

Pilot Study 2 Operational Data:

The slurry knife valve with manual override actuator was located in "El Soldado" on September 13th 2012. The valve is installed in a discharge duct going to tailings dam. This valve was subject to medium slurry percentage, high pressure, regular temperature and low cycle rate.

    Slurry (Solid Particles percentage) 50%
    Pressure (Bar): 4 Bar
    Temprature (C): 0-40 C
    Number of cycles/day: 2
    Overall time since installation: 7 months

Pilot Study 2 Operational Results:

• No internal leakage
• No blockage of shaft
• No ruptures 

It is important to mention that even though the valve has worked low cycle rates it has been exposed to severe pressure conditions.

Pilot Study 3 Operational Data:

The slurry knife gate valve with pneumatic actuator was located in Chuquicamata, Codelco Norte on August 6th 2012. It was placed in a pump slurry pipeline.

• Slurry (Solid Particles percentage) 20-25%
• Pressure (Bar): 2 Bar
• Temprature (C): 25 C
• Number of cycles/day: 35
• Overall time since installation: 8 months

Pilot Study 3 Operational Results:

• No internal leakage
• No blockage of shaft
• No ruptures