Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment have successfully installed and commissioned a unique containerised pumping pipeline system for the In Pit Crushing Conveyor (IPCC) and dump conveyor system at Rio Tinto's Clermont Thermal Coal Mine.

Project Requirements: Washdown points at the dump conveyor and IPCC, dust suppression at the conveyor pivot point and IPCC, and future water cart filling points.

• Pumping capability of 10L up to 60L/sec
• Dump conveyor pipeline to have an outlet every 100m for washdown purposes, and the ability to be easily relocated (dump conveyor is regularly moved depending on dumping overburden requirements)
• Existing pumping system to fill large storage tanks for IPCC Water Supply
• Pump that supplies storage tanks must not operate outside of standard operating range
• Pump set controls to meet stringent site electrical specifications
• Pumpset to operate on demand
• Pumpset to be housed in shipping container for ease of onsite relocation

Key Plant Features:

• Grundfos CR64 x 4 EDF Hydro system
• Pump station includes two VFD controls and two soft starters with 37kw motors
• Control Cabinet mounted inside shipping container and built to Rio Tinto specifications
• Pump operates on demand and has the ability to add additional pumps as the demand increases
• Grundfos EDF Control system allows for variable speed and fixed speed controls, which reduced costs on pumpset
• 2x 45,000L poly tanks to supply the Grundfos pump station:
  • 200mm outlets allowing for equal balancing between tanks
• Bermad level control valve with sustaining and flow control pilots fitted for tanks supply:
• Tank fill rate matches maximum Grundfos pump flow of 60L/sec
• Sustaining and flow control pilots allows for system upstream of Bermad valve to operate within in operating range
• 2.1km of 200mm poly pipe installed at dump conveyor with outlets every 100m for washdown purposes
• Manual isolation valves fitted to control the water demand

Additional Equipment Supplied by Rio Tinto:

• Generator and Fuel Cells to operate the Grundfos Pump
• Pump station installation was completed by Rio Tinto