How the SupaVac Works
The pumping and material shifting process utilised by the SupaVac is deceptively simple, occurring in a cyclical motion making it not only safer, but also requiring less human intervention, according to Daniel.
“Basically, it uses a proprietary venturi,” he said. “The compressed air runs through that venturi, it expands and creates the vacuum, which draws the material into the vessel under low velocity.
“You’ve got the timer switches on there, so it switches from the suction cycle to the discharge cycle, where it will then switch valves over automatically.
“It then uses the compressed air as a pressure blanket on top of the material to push it down the discharge line under higher velocity keeping it in suspension to push it down the discharge line.”
As for how much solid matter a unit can pump, Daniel was certain of the SupaVac’s prowess.
“The more flowable the material is, the higher the transfer rate, but you can pump completely dry material as well,” he said.
“Typically, we say that solids can form about 70% of the suction and discharge of the pumps.
“The range starts at the SV30, which is a 50mm suction and discharge arrangement and then we go to the SV60 and SV60-V units which are 75mm.
“Then there’s the SV110 and above, right through to the SV510, which are all 100mm suction and discharge units, so by that point you’re looking at a unit that can deal with 75mm solids.”
The SV60-V is a one-person vacuum loading, pressure discharge pump capable of recovering and transferring up to 27 cubic metres per hour at SG1.0 of almost any flowable material.
It generates up to 25” Hg+ of vacuum combined with high airflow, which allows the unit to transfer materials ranging from mining slurries, solids and oil sludge through to cementitious powders and grains.
SupaVac in Underground Coal Operations
According to Daniel, the SV60-V is better for drier materials and most suited for offshore oil and gas rigs. It’s the SV60 that shines in the coal industry and other underground operations due to its lower dimensions.
“The SV60-V is vertical, whereas the SV60 is a horizontal model, giving it a lower centre of gravity and a capacity to accommodate the height restrictions you often find in an underground operation,” Daniel said.
The SV110 slurry and solids pump is a vacuum loading pressure discharge batch system that can recover up to 50m and deliver up to 500m while remaining a one-person or fully automatic operation.
It’s 100mm inlet and outlet, along with its conical tank design, make it a formidable tool for the removal of aggregate and mud slimes behind tunnel boring machines or continuous mining machines.
The larger, SV510 heavy duty solids pump was designed to transfer up to 45 cubic metres per hour of semi-viscous muds and various materials via vacuum load or top load gravity feed.
Like other SupaVac pumps, it possesses an ATEX Zone 2 and CE conformity approval rating.
Although the SupaVac has historically fit into a niche market, it has been used extensively in underground coal mines since the 1990s, where the name has become synonymous with any form of air-operated vacuum pump thanks to its use across the sector.
Daniel said while SupaVac could be used across varied operations its main application has been in coal fines recovery.
“The units have been used for recovering the coal fines and then putting it into the asset stream, also from any sumps or pits,” he said.
“All sorts of things can end up in a sump from bits of rope to used gloves and the unit will pass all of it; whatever fits in will get through.
“That’s because there are no internal moving parts, so there’s nothing to get stuck on.”
Daniel said the other big advantage of SupaVac pumps was that there are no wearing components inside the pump.
“There’s no wear on the vessel and the like, which is what people typically think will happen,” he said.
“Because there are no moving components, the pumps can run dry indefinitely.
“We’ve also got a range of air-operated float switches so that if the pump is at a low level it will actually switch the pump off and as the sump raises it will turn the pump back on automatically.
“That’s all pneumatically controlled and that helps the mine save money with their air consumption as well.”