The mining industry depends on specially designed, high performing valves for a range of applications that keep operations running smoothly - from wet mills and filtration, to tank transfers and pneumatic conveying. And, until more recently, the sector has primarily relied on pinch, slurry, and tailings handling valves to hold up against the abrasive and corrosive nature of mining slurry.
While this way of doing things definitely hasn’t been a hindrance to the clear success of the mining sector, there is always an opportunity for innovation and you should always be on the lookout for ways to improve bulk handling processes. In this case, the trend toward the use of air release valves in mining has unveiled new potential for maintenance and repair operations to enhance functionality in slurry, tailing, and leaching processes.
Air release valves, often just called ‘air valves’, are valves controlled by air pressure. As air pressure builds up, the valve opens. As air pressure drops, the valve closes again. This makes air valves perfect for applications where you need to release large volumes of air from pipelines. Expelling this air then lowers the risk of head loss and flow reductions. All this means enhanced system performance which is the ultimate goal of any process, operation, or organisation as a whole.
Traditionally, air release valves have been used for water, wastewater, and irrigation applications where they are fitted at the highest point of a pipeline to vent unwanted air build up and protect systems from surges.
Air release valves are becoming increasingly popular in slurry, tailing, and leaching processes specifically... and for good reason. They are a favourable choice in these mining applications not only because they are made in an array of sizes, pressure ranges, and corrosion-resistant materials so you can select the best possible valve for a particular job, but because they are able to handle high flow rates and low-pressure drops which lines up well with the nature of mining slurries.
In these applications, valves are used to regulate and restrict the flow of water and slurries through pipelines, controlling the amount of fluid moving through a mining operation. By using combination air valves, or air release valves, you can eliminate air pockets which can disrupt the flow of these fluids, making the entire process more efficient and lowering the risk of obstructions caused by air build up.
Adding to the improved functionality and efficiency that air release valves provide, mining operations can expect a number of long-term benefits by making the switch.
A reduced risk of total system obstruction caused by excessive air build up, coupled with the improved long-term durability that comes with using an air valve that is the perfect size, pressure range, and material for the application at hand, could potentially save your operation on costly damage, downtime, and maintenance issues.
It is possible to avoid these issues when using pinch, knife gate, and ball valves too, by ensuring that they are installed properly and are only repaired and maintained by experts and in line with manufacturer guidelines. Unfortunately, it is quite common for delays and unprofessional errors in the maintenance of these traditionally utilised valves to result in significant repair costs and downtime before it is possible to reinstate the plant’s mechanical reliability and ensure a safe working environment.
Regardless of whether your operation continues to use traditional valves or you follow the trend of implementing air release valves, to avoid valve failure and the devastating financial, safety, and productivity damages that come along with it, it’s always best to have your valves and other equipment installed and maintained by experts in the respective field.
To take advantage of the improved functionality air release valves can provide - as well as the potential of knock-on cost-saving benefits - air valves are being specified for flotation cell and dry discharge outlets, recycle lines, filtration wash lines, and a number of tailings discharge applications.
Other areas where air valves are commonly being installed in the mining sector include potable water lines, solution transmission lines (from ponds, to heap leach pads), major transmission lines, tailings and slurry lines, PLS and barren lines (between processing plants), distribution lines, and on dust control systems.
An issue some mining operators have experienced with the use of air release valves is that suspended solids in slurries have caused plugging and leaking. This could seriously compromise the efficiency of a system and efficiency is ultimately what makes these valves so attractive in the first place.
Luckily, with the greater uptake of air valves for these more abrasive applications, strides have been made in developing industrial air valve lines which are able to separate suspended solids from slurries and other fluids so that they can’t plug up the air valve mechanism.
The fact that the use of air release valves on mines is becoming more common says a lot because operators aren’t going to switch over critical parts if there aren’t clear benefits to doing so.
While properly installed and well-maintained traditional valves continue to be a viable and effective option, air release valves for mining slurry, tailings, and leaching processes offer a cost-effective and reliable alternative worth considering for your mine.
The Valve Company is Australian valve stockist, supplier, and full-service valve solutions partner. You can trust our specialist consultants to assist you in valve specification, selection and installation advice as well as technical support. We have ranges of air release valves ready and available for you to explore. Connect with us for a chat.