Tsurumi Pump is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of submersible pumps, with an annual manufacturing capability of more than 1.4 million pumps. With more than 90 years’ experience, Tsurumi has developed a comprehensive range of super-efficient pumps for the mining and quarry industries.
Australian Pump Industries (Aussie Pumps) is the Australian distributor for Tsurumi. Over the past three years the company has more than doubled Tsurumi’s market share in Australia by working with the Osaka head office to cut prices and increase awareness of the brand.
“We aim to help quarries cut operating costs by offering submersibles specifically designed to work well in the toughest operating conditions,” Aussie Pumps product manager Craig Bridgement said.
“There are key features that set Tsurumi pumps apart. The pumps deliver life cycle costs below the industry average by incorporating a range of no-compromise design features. They last longer, perform better and carry a three-year warranty.”
Aussie Pumps offers three submersible pumps suitable for quarry applications: compact slurry pumps, viscous sludge pumps and high head dewatering pumps.
COMPACT SLURRY PUMPS
The KTV slurry series features compact, portable submersible pumps with powerful agitators. They are ideal for quarry dewatering and pumping sediment as the agitator stirs the silt, allowing it to pass smoothly through the pump.{{image2-A:R-w:120}}
“These highly reliable aluminium agitator pumps are easy to set up, have abrasion resistant internals and are cost-effective,” Bridgement said. “They have a proven record in quarries across North America and Europe.”
The KTV slurry series offers capacities of up to 720 litres per minute flow and heads as high as 22 metres. The series includes both 50mm (2”) and 80mm (3”) discharges.
KTV series pumps are fitted with three-phase, two-pole, high efficiency motors with thermal and amperage protection against dry running or overloading.
Tsurumi Pump developed the product range to fill a need for compact, portable pumps that are robust enough for arduous applications such as concrete production and quarry dewatering.
The KTV slurry pump range features a high capacity semi-open style impeller to minimise the risk of impeller lock at start-up. The impeller is made from high chrome cast iron for wear resistance and the casing is synthetic rubber-lined. The shaft seal is a double design, silicon carbide, while the pump shaft is 420 grade stainless steel.
“The popular KTV series is expected to be of real interest to the concrete batch plants and quarries, particularly for waste water recycling and dewatering,” Bridgement said. “The series complements our popular heavy-duty KRS series cast iron slurry pumps.”
VISCOUS SLUDGE PUMPS
Pumping the viscous sludge generated in the process of gravel extraction requires a powerful agitator pump. The KRS range of slurry pumps was developed in response to demand from the North American and Japanese markets for super tough pumps for mining and quarry applications.
Tsurumi designed the KRS series to efficiently pump solid-laden liquids. The pumps incorporate wear-resistant agitators that enable viscous sludge to pass smoothly through the pump.
The KRS slurry series offers capacities of up to 3250 litres per minute flow and heads as high as 22m. The complete series includes discharge bores from 80mm (3”) through to 150mm (6”).
The KRS series pumps are fitted with three-phase, heavy-duty, four-pole, high efficiency motors with thermal and amperage protection against dry running or overloading. The four-pole motors mean the pumps are running at 1450 revolutions per minute, affording a considerably longer service life.
The KRS pump range features a high capacity semi-open style impeller to enable a combination of flow and pressure, even in the toughest conditions.
The impeller is made from high chrome cast iron for wear resistance, and the suction cover, designed for a long, trouble-free life, is made from ductile cast iron. The shaft seal is a double design, silicon carbide, while the pump shaft is 420 grade stainless steel.
“The pumps have a top discharge so water passing through cools the motor,” Bridgement said. “This means these pumps can operate in a minimum of 25cm of water. The heavy-duty KRS series is expected to be of real interest to quarries, particularly for pumping waste water from gravel pits.”
HIGH HEAD DEWATERING PUMPS
A new heavy-duty dewatering pump that delivers heads of up to 200 metres has been introduced to the market. The new model, called the LH4110-W, is expected to change the way mining engineers, quarry and construction operators carry out dewatering duties. {{image3-A:L-w:320}}
“Being able to use one pump to get up to a 200m total head is a huge breakthrough,” Bridgement said.
“To think that Tsurumi has been able to achieve this with a pump that provides a 1000 litres per minute maximum flow but that is only 23” [592mm] in diameter is a revolution for quarry operators.”
The LH-W series is a super high-head version of the existing LH range. The pumps feature two abrasion-resistant, high chrome closed impellers and a centre-mounted discharge flange that ensures the pump is balanced for lifting.
The range is available with discharge ports of between 50mm and 100mm (2” to 4”) and features a slimline design, enabling the pumps to be used in bores and wells, with major cost reductions for users.
The big benefit for operators is the pump’s ability to move water from substantial depths without needing to stage dewatering through ponds or tanks. That creates a huge opportunity for cost reduction for contractors.
The pump comes with a two-pole, 415-volt motor, driving the impeller through a high tensile, stainless steel shaft supported by deep groove ball bearings. A 1000-volt version will be available soon.
KEY COMMON FEATURES
Tsurumi has built its reputation by incorporating no-compromise features into its entire submersible pump range. Features include a double mechanical seal with both top and bottom silicon carbide seal faces running in an oil-filled chamber.
Isolating the seal faces from the pumped medium extends seal life by minimising abrasion.
The oil chamber also features a unique “oil lifter”, developed to enhance seal performance. The unique design of the chamber forces lubricant over the seal faces regardless of the oil level. The lubrication cools the seal faces, providing longer life and reducing wear.
The anti-wicking cable block on the cable entry is another major breakthrough in dewatering pump design. The block prevents water incursion due to capillary wicking should the power cable be damaged or the end submerged.
Tsurumi claims this eliminates about 40 to 50 per cent of submersible pump failures, again delivering lower operating costs and significantly improving reliability.
All pumps incorporate thermal protection for the motor against overheating from dry running or over-current. This automatically resets when the motor cools to a safe operation temperature.
Source: Australian Pump Industries