Client: Anglo-American – Quellaveco Copper Mine
Industry: Mining & Mineral Processing
Region: Moquegua region of Peru
Product: Kleerflo Automatic Self-Cleaning Filter – 6 x CS6E4/2000/40 DA BB
Installation: 2024

Challenge

• Anglo American’s Quellaveco Copper Mine is one of the largest and most well-known copper mining projects in the world
• They use Eriez CrossFlow® hydraulic classifi ers and Eriez HydroFloat® coarse particle flotation cells in their recovery processes (efficiently scavenging coarse material from the Quellaveco concentrator rougher tailings)
• CrossFlow® and HydroFloat® Separators require the introduction of teeter water
• Blocked teeter water pipes cause production delays (when the production lines must be shut down to remove and unblock pipes) and signifi cant suboptimal recovery/efficiency (when the units are operated with some of their outlets blocked)
• In addition, the control- and instrumentation equipment required to operate the separators are also subject to orifi ce blockages when fed with dirty water. This leads to further ineffi ciencies and additional downtime
• During the initial operational phase of the CPF project at Quellaveco, blockages in the teeter water pipes and issues with control and instrumentation equipment caused signifi cant problems
• It soon became evident that fl uidisation water strainers were required to ensure that oversized particles never block the teeter water pipes.

Application

• Primary Filtration – Filtration of Fluidisation Water for Coarse Particle Flotation process
• Filtration of raw feedwater to remove oversize particles, preventing blockages in the teeter water pipes.

Solution

• The inherent simplicity of the Kleerflo strainer design combined with the peace of mind of a 40+ year track record in similarly demanding mining environments appealed to DRA (the project engineers) and Anglo American
• Superior Filtration engineers collaborated with the client to specify the correct models and ensure the installation configuration was fit for purpose
• Supply included control and instrumentation housed in a Nema4x enclosure
• Current installed units:
  • Kleerflo Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainers
    • 6 x CS6E4/2000/40 DA BB
    • Processing a combined total of 5 600 m3/h water
  • Key Features that make Kleerfl o automatic self-cleaning strainers uniquely suitable for this demanding mining application:
    • no rotating parts
    • very few moving parts
    • no close tolerance elements
    • no electric motor
    • effective removal of oversize solids
    • simple maintenance procedures
    • high-quality, durable, stainless steel wedge wire screens.

Results

• The client subjected the strainers to a 50-day performance review
• The outcome was that Kleerflo strainers effectively removed oversized solids to prevent blockages in the teeter water pipes
• The result is increased uptime and improved recovery efficiency
• Inherent simplicity and rugged design ensure low maintenance costs and high in-service time.

Client experience

“The filter installation is performing according to our expectations for what was designed. Thanks for all your support.”
Luis Roman: Director & Senior Manager – Operations & Processing