Dewatering Valves
Air Release and Ball Check Valves for Mine Dewatering
Reliable and robust solutions for pumping and transporting fluids in mining operations Mine dewatering is a critical process that involves removing groundwater and excess water from mine pits, shafts, and tunnels. It is essential for ensuring the stability and safety of the mine, as well as improving the efficiency and productivity of the mining equipment and operations. However, mine dewatering also poses many challenges, such as dealing with abrasive and corrosive
slurry, managing air entrainment and vacuum conditions, preventing water hammer and reverse
flow, and reducing maintenance and downtime costs. That is why you need SlurryTuff™ air release and ball check valves from Bray. These valves are designed specifically for heavy duty services such as slurry, tailings, and dewatering applications, and offer great operational reliability, durability, and performance.
SlurryTuff™ Ezi-Vac Air Release/Vacuum Break Valves
Air release valves are conventionally installed on long distance water pipelines to prevent pipe rupture and collapse due to air accumulation or vacuum formation. However, conventional ARVs are not suitable for dewatering or slurry service, as they can easily get fouled and clogged by the solids or scale buildup.
SlurryTuff™ Ezi-Vac Valves are Different
They are heavy duty air release and vacuum break valves that can handle the most arduous applications including dewatering lines process or tailings slurries. They have a simple and robust design, using a spherical float and large profile seal to create a full-bore air and vacuum release valve.
The Ezi-Vac Advantage
- They exhaust large volumes of air from the pipeline during filling, and allow air to re-enter during draining, protecting the pipe from rupture and collapse
- They have a full port design, with no restrictions or complicated internals, which allows for
smooth and uninterrupted flow of slurry. - They have a self-cleaning mechanism, as the seal flexes and rolls, wiping the spherical float
and creating a larger surface area to seal each time. - They have low maintenance requirements, as they can be easily flushed and inspected
through the purge port.
SlurryTuff™ Maxi-Check Ball Check Valves
Check valves are used to permit flow in one direction and prevent backflow in the opposite direction. They are commonly used in pumping applications to protect the pumps from reverse flow and damage, which is vital in dewatering applications. However, not all check valves are created equal. Some check valves, such as swing check valves, have high head loss, high slam potential, and high wear and maintenance issues in dirty or scaling services.
The Maxi-Check Difference
Maxi-Check valves are high performance ball check valves that can handle high pressure, wear and scale encountered in dewatering applications. They use a free moving ball, which unseats to allow flow in one direction, but seals against a seat to prevent backflow. The ball is either metal with an exterior coating of urethane, or metal finish with a wide profile annular rubber seal. The ball self- cleans while operating and thus seats on at a different position of its surface each time, preventing excessive wear and deterioration.
The Maxi-Check Advantage
- Fast acting backflow prevention with only a single, self-cleaning moving part.
- They have very low water hammer and slam characteristics, as the ball is only slightly heavier than the media, and the seal acts as a cushion during closing
- Available with a replaceable seat and seal, allowing for easy maintenance and extended
service life. - They are available in three types: Maxi-Check L for low pressure and low wear applications, Maxi-Check H for high pressure and high wear applications, and Maxi-Check I for dual function as a check and lock closed capability.
SlurryTuff™ air release and ball check valves are the ideal solutions for mine dewatering applications. They are proven to reduce maintenance costs, improve pump efficiency, enhance pipeline integrity, and increase operational reliability. To learn more about these valves, visit www.slurrytuff.com and contact us today.