Pumping technology
helps reopen mine.
6 billion gallons dewatered quickly
This strip mine lay dormant for eight years, waiting for the right combination of technology and equipment to allow it to reopen. The coal from the centre vein had run out, leaving a two mile long cut in the earth, the width of a football field. Over the years, inflow and rainwater had built up the water level of this dormant strip mine to over 100 feet. The only way the coal could be mined was to expose the high walls by pumping away the accumulated water. To make the project profitable, this had to be accomplished within six months.
Godwin Pumps responded with high volume, high head centrifugal pumps. Four model HL10 pumpsets, each with a 500 HP motor and pumping at 4,500 usgpm met the deadline. The suction line consisted of 16 inch piping reduced to 12 inch, running 200 feet from the centre of the water to the pumps. The discharge point was an out-fall pond 500 feet away and 100 feet up.
The Godwin Dri-Prime pumping system operated 24 hours a day with maximum flows of 18,000 usgpm, keeping everything on schedule. As the water receded, the pumps were lowered five times to maintain maximum flow rates.
Six months later, the water had been removed, the coal veins on the sidewalls were exposed, and the Company proceeded to extract coal from a mine that had been closed years before. All that they had to do was remove just a little water: 6 billion gallons.
Godwin Dri-Prime cast iron and 316 stainless steel centrifugal pumps to 12 inch, hose and piping to 18 inch are available for rental or purchase from stock.
Unique self-adjusting, oil-bath lubricated mechanical seal is located away from the harmful effects of the flow, enabling true run dry operation. Recent installations include dewatering pumps at the largest open pit and underground mining operations, temporary fire protection system at a nuclear power plant, effluent and pump station bypass systems at pulp and paper mills and municipalities, and an emergency 12,000 GPM @ 200 feet tdh critical plant water supply pump system installed at major metallurgical plant within days of a major flood, enabling production to resume.
