Mining operations are quite resource-intensive and require a lot of caution and forethought behind every decision. Be it as simple as hiring manual help or deciding on machinery to be used in the process, every decision is to be made based on the material being mined, the kind of waste that is generated and the medium which is to be dug into. In this regard, mining pumps play a very important role in the mining process. Most of the sludge, slurry or liquid that needs to be removed during mining needs machinery that can help the team and other equipment progress faster with the mining rather than deal with waste.

Searching for ‘mining pumps Australia’ can land you with quite a few results. There might be those of you who are looking at buying a new pump or those who are looking for reliable repair and service options. There might even be some of you who are looking at procuring spares for your existing equipment. The best choice, therefore, would be to select a store or a service that offers you all the above and even more.

While we can talk about spares and service in another article, let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider before purchasing a pump to be used in mining. There are two main categories of pumps that are normally considered for use in mining. They are –

Centrifugal Pumps

These use impellers, rotating blades that generate suction to help move fluid through the pipes. The rotation of the impeller creates a centrifugal force, thus the name. Under this category come three types based on the flow they generate –

• Axial Flow
• Radial Flow
• Mixed Flow

Positive Displacement Pumps 

These operate by creating an expanding and contracting cavity on the suction and discharge ends respectively. The pressure difference thus created pulls and pushes fluid with enough force to create a flow. The types in this category are –

• Reciprocating Pumps
• Rotary Pumps

There might be combinations of flow created by mixing and matching different operating mechanisms to achieve the best efficiency, so if you are not really sure what will really work for your purposes, it’s best to speak with support personnel and discuss the same at length.

When deciding to buy a pump, it is also important to consider the following –

• What medium is to be transported or conveyed (the viscosity or density of the material)
• The distance for the medium to be moved from source to destination
• The amount (volume) and the speed (flow rate) required for the movement
• The power source to be used (electricity, compressed air, any other kind of fuel)

Always remember that transporting water is the easiest, albeit if the water is heavily mixed with a lot of minerals, it can cause significant damage to the internal parts of the pump over a long period of time. For oil and slurry mixed with abrasives, you will require a pump powerful and durable enough to transport these materials easily over long periods of time.