Aussie Pump tackes dewatering at Mannering

Centennial Coal was faced with dewatering challenges at its Mannering mine in southern Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. The company chose Aussie Pump’s trailer-mounted 6 in diesel trash pump for the task. Centennial’s sedimentation ponds, of which the biggest is 3.2 megalitres, are dewatered by the Aussie Pump to facilitate dam cleaning and maintenance. The Aussie MQ600TD pump has the ability to pump up to 6,000 litres/min, or 360,000 litres/h. It will self-prime through a vertical lift of 7.6 m, making it possible to set up the pump well above the dam level.

The power is supplied by a 45 kW Deutz-air cooled four cylinder diesel engine. The unit features electric start and built in safety shut down. The shutdown kit protects the pump from low oil pressure, high oil temperature, or v-belt failure. “Contractors like the way the pumps self-prime without an air compressor or vacuum pump,” said Aussie Pumps Area Manager Dean Fountain. “They are easy to set up and clear a huge amount of water fast.”   The pump has a 152 litre fuel tank allowing it to run for at least eight hours a day with no issues. Centennial specified the pump to be mounted on a heavy duty site trailer for easy deployment and accessibility.  The trailer has a jack stand, and lifting bar as standard equipment. It also has an oil-lubricated tungsten titanium carbide mechanical seal enabling it to handle abrasive slurry type liquids. This material outlasts conventional mechanical seals by up to six times.

The 6 in suction and discharge ports can be equipped with either Camlock or Bauer couplings for quick discharge and suction connection. The 90° discharge elbow can be rotated to suit the job requirements. Aussie Pumps offers a free three year pump end extended warranty for the MQ600TD. The company said the 6 in pump hjad proven ideal for this application. “Its specific design allows it to handle dirty water that may contain solids in suspension. Featuring a large non clog impeller with open channels, the pump has the capacity to handle solids up to 3 in in diameter [76mm]. An easy clean out port in the front casing enables the whole pump chamber to be cleaned out in the event of a blockage.”