Minera San Julián Adopts Pexgol to Improve Water Management
Pexgol Transforms Tailings Transportation at Minera San Julián.
Case Study Nº
165
Customer
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Working Conditions
Pexgol Pipes
Application
Lenght
Categories
The Challenge
San Julián, a mining unit of Fresnillo plc, faced a significant challenge in its tailings (jal) transportation operation in Mexico. The existing line, composed of carbon steel SCH 80 pipes, suffered from severe corrosion and wear problems, and the use of positive displacement pumps generated harmful vibrations. These issues not only compromised operational efficiency but also increased maintenance costs and raised medium-term safety concerns. With the goal of reducing the amount of water used, it was decided to seek a more suitable and durable solution. The water reduction is due to the use of positive displacement pumps that can pump tailings with a higher percentage of solids and consequently less water. To transport this abrasive tailings, Pexgol pipes were chosen.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Minera San Julián decided to implement 8” and 10” Pexgol pipes in SDR 11 and SDR 9 classes. These pipes were selected for their high resistance to chemicals and corrosion, flexibility, long lifespan, and ease of installation. The Pexgol pipes were supplied in 270-meter lengths for the 8” pipes and 150-meter lengths for the 10” pipes. The installation was carried out with the help of an uncoiler, allowing for quick and efficient deployment at the bottom of the tailings pond and along the path to the pond, over emergency gutters.
Connections between the pipes, as well as to the valves and steel pipes, were made with GP flanged couplings, without the need for complex tools.
The implementation of Pexgol pipes eliminated the corrosion and wear problems that affected the steel pipes. Additionally, the supply of pipes in rolls significantly reduced the number of joints required, thus increasing the project’s safety and efficiency.
The material’s flexibility and quick installation minimized interruptions to the mine’s operations, improving overall productivity.
Granulometric Distribution San Julián Tailings Veins
| Product Mesh | Size (microns) | Retained Weight | Retained Weight | % Passing Accumulated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limit | Efectivo | ||||
| 25 | 850 | 850 | 0 | 100 | |
| 50; | 425 | 425 | 0 | 100 | |
| 70 | 212 | 212 | 5.31 | 1.06 | 98.94 |
| 100; | 150 | 150 | 17.46 | 3.49 | 95.45 |
| 140 | 105 | 105 | 46.55 | 9.31 | 86.14 |
| 200 | 75 | 75 | 67.14 | 13.43 | 72.71 |
| 270 | 53 | 53 | 39.47 | 7.89 | 64.81 |
| 325 | 44 | 44 | 40.40 | 8.08 | 56.73 |
| 400 | 38 | 38 | 26.73 | 5.35 | 51.39 |
| Ciclon 1 | 42.7 | 41 | 2.85 | 0.57 | 50.82 |
| Ciclon 2 | 30 | 29 | 21.52 | 4.3 | 46.51 |
| Ciclon 3 | 21.4 | 20 | 41.80 | 8.36 | 38.81 |
| Ciclon 4 | 15.3 | 15 | 31.71 | 6.34 | 31.81 |
| Ciclon 5 | 12.3 | 12 | 23.21 | 4.64 | 27.17 |
| Ciclon 6 | -12 | -12 | 135.86 | 27.17 | 0 |
| Total | 500.00 | 100.00 | |||
| Operative Conditions | Size | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature ºC | 28 | 0.91 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.42 | 1.09 |
| Rotameter (mm) | 180 | 1.02 |
| Elutriation time | 20 | 0.96 |
| General Factor | 0.96 | |
| K80 Size (microns) | 91.3 | |
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