Leached Slurry Transportation

Slurry transportation with high nickel levels

Case Study Nº

18 Customer

Moa Nickel S.A. Sherritt

Cuba

2013

Working Conditions

Extreme transport temperature (110°C).

Pexgol Pipes

Pexgol 500 mm, Class 15 & Pexgol 355 mm, Class 15.

Application

Slurry transportation.

Lenght

350 m.

The Challenge

Moa Nickel used to transport leached slurry from the tubular reactors to the CCD thickener feed line. This process caused several issues on different pipe materials. The transported fluid was composed by:

28-32 g/l acid
1,00 g/l N
0,54 g/l Co
1,00 g/l Fe
21,00 g/l SO4
30,0 g/l free acids
Solids: 0,086% Ni, 0,013% Co, 46,00% Fe

Previously, titanium Sch20 pipes were installed, but if suffered deformations and it needed to be repaired constantly. The titanium pipe was replaced for a stainless steel pipe 316 Sch40, and it lasted 8 years and it finally required to be replaced because it presented wear issues.

Pexgol Solution

Golan provided 11.8 meters of pipes sections with mechanical joins that could resist corrosion, high temperatures and wear with no effort.

Regarding the prices per meter, installation costs and maintenance, versus stainless steel and titanium pipes, Pexgol proved to be the most convenient option.