Vale Canada Limited
Vale’s Copper Cliff North Mine faced challenges with its 2200 Level pump room, where three 600 HP dewatering pumps had reached the end of their operational life
BESTECH conducted a comprehensive assessment and determined that replacing the outdated pumps with two 800 HP dewatering pumps would meet the mine’s needs.
SCOPE
The project included a redesign of the pump room, new general arrangements, and detailed piping plans. Structural enhancements involved adding monorails for maintenance of the new pumps. The electrical system was modernized by installing new Benshaw starters, a Modicon M580 PLC, a new human-machine interface (HMI), and updated instrumentation for better control and monitoring.
OUTCOME
The upgrade improved the dewatering system’s reliability and efficiency. The new standardized PLC design enhanced system integration and maintenance. Mechanical modifications allowed isolated servicing of each pump without shutting down the entire system, reducing risks associated with high system head pressure. Additionally, the power supply was split between two switchrooms, minimizing the risk of complete shutdown due to a single failure. This upgrade ensured continuous dewatering operations and improved the safety and resilience of the mine’s infrastructure.