Highlights

Design, supply and installation of new filter plantto replace a vertical tower press that was operating below design productivity and availability.
Since installation, charges related to smelter penalties associated with excess moisture content in the concentrate have been significantly reduced, along with costs for transport.
Filters chosen for lower energy consumption, and competitive maintenance and operating costs.

Challenge

Traditional tower press filters are maintenance-intensive and, without schedule preventative downtime, their operating costs can escalate over time. With low mechanical availability, the client was forced to increase filtration cycle times to maintain mill throughput, which pushed concentrate moistures above the transportable-moisture-limit set out by local smelters.

 

Solution

We installed two CX5-50 (50 m2) ceramic disc vacuum filtration systems over the course of two brownfield projects at this privately held, underground copper mine in Copiapo, Chile.

 

Benefit

Since the installation, the company has experienced increased flexibility in their operations; transitioning to a continuous process has allowed for increased capacity/output. There has been a significant decrease in smelter penalties associated with excess moisture content in the concentrate. The company’s selection of ceramic disc-vacuum filtration equipment was based off its dramatically lower energy consumption (USD$/kWh), and competitive maintenance and operating costs.