Skip to content

Mineral Processing – Brine Transportation

Reduction of material build-up in brine and brine/acid lines

Estudo de Caso Nº

8

Cliente

SQM,Pedro Valvidia Mine
Chile

|

2010

Condições de Trabalho

Ambient temperature -5°C to 0°C (32°F to 23°F). High level of material build-up and corrosion inside the pipe. Working pressure: 15 bar.

Solução Pexgol

Pexgol and elbows 160×14.6, Class 15.

Aplicação

Brine and acid transportation.

Comprimento

12 meters.

Categorias

Mineral Processing - Brine Transportation

The Challenge

As the brine water and acid solution was being transported by the initial HDPE pipeline, salts were sticking to the pipe walls, reducing the inner diameter. Due to the low ambient temperatures, deposits of calcium sulfate formed on the inner wall of the pipes and on the elbows.

The matter was critical since the problem forced complete halting of work at the plant as well as lot of maintenance and reduction of production capacity.

Pexgol Solution

SQM decided to replace its HDPE pipes and elbows with Pexgol’s. Due to the especially smooth internal surface of Pexgol’s pipes and elbows, the replacement of HDPE pipes with Pexgol eliminated the problem of chemical deposits. This resulted in fewer work interruptions and improved production capacity.

The production and transportation of Pexgol’s pipes in coils also reduces the number of joints and possibility of clogging. As a result, it reduced maintenance costs and brought the end of frequent forced halts in the work processes at the plant.

The original mean time between failures (MTBF) of the HDPE pipes was one month. Since changing to Pexgol in 2010, no sign of failure has been detected.

Estudos de Caso Relacionados

The transition to the Pexgol piping system allowed Paladini to ensure a smooth and efficient wastewater transport process for their agricultural irrigation.

Pexgol Pipes for Efficient Wastewater Transport

Paladini
Argentina

 | 

2022
Water Drainage in Harsh Ground

Water Drainage at an Open-Cast Mine

Timmins Gold Corp Group, Molimentales del Noroeste Mine
Mexico

 | 

2016
Water Drainage From the Inside of an Underground Mine

Water Drainage at an Underground Mine

El Peñón Yamana Gold, Meridian Mine
Chile

 | 

2016
Transport of acid slurry at high temperatures

Slurry Transportation

Moa Nickel S.A. Sherritt
Cuba

 | 

2012
Installation of a Drainage System between Dams in a Copper Mine.

Water Transport Between Dams

CODELCO – El Teniente Mine
Chile

 | 

2019
Replacement of Carbon Steel Pipes with Pexgol for the Transportation of Natural Gas.

Natural Gas Transportation with Pexgol

YPF
Argentina

 | 

2022