Completed projects
Steelworks and foundries
Centralized Vacuum System for Copper Concentrate
Inside one of the largest open-pit mines in South America, with estimated reserves exceeding 1.6 billion tons and an annual production of approximately 200,000 tons of copper, the management of dust and copper concentrate dispersed along the production lines represented a crucial aspect both from an operational and a safety standpoint.
In a mining operation of this scale, managing copper concentrate dispersed along the production lines is an especially complex challenge. The accumulation of material along conveyor belts, hoppers, and transfer points can compromise plant efficiency, increase extraordinary maintenance activities, and lead to the loss of reusable material.
MATERIAL TO VACUUM
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OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT
The customer needed to implement a centralized system capable of keeping the production lines clean and efficient, minimizing downtime while improving operational and environmental conditions throughout the mining site.
A key aspect of the project also concerned the recovery of copper concentrate dispersed during the production process.
In a plant handling thousands of tons of material every day, even small losses can translate into significant economic impact. Recovering the vacuumed material and reintroducing it into the production cycle therefore meant not only reducing waste, but also increasing the overall efficiency of the plant and improving the sustainability of both the process and the working environment.
SOLUTION
To meet these requirements, Sibilia designed and built a fixed centralized vacuum system extending over 1,500 meters, divided into two lines and equipped with the S30E central unit rated at 90 kW, along with two cyclone filter with a capacity of 1.7 m³ each.
The system includes more than 40 suction points distributed across the various operational areas of the site, allowing fast and effective cleaning operations throughout the entire production line. The highest point of the installation reaches 50 meters in vertical height, highlighting both the technical complexity of the project and the need to guarantee high vacuum performance even across significant elevation differences.
Both cyclone filters were configured with continuous discharge directly onto two separate conveyor belts, allowing the recovered material to be immediately reintroduced into the production cycle without interrupting plant operations.
The copper concentrate dust recovered on a daily basis generates an economic value amounting to several thousand euros per day, contributing not only to waste reduction but also to a rapid return on investment for the project.
Thanks to the installed system, the customer can now rely on greater operational continuity, a significant reduction in extraordinary maintenance activities, and a tangible improvement in both safety conditions and the working environment within the mine.
PRODUCTS USED
S30E
The central unit of the S30 model maintains the same characteristics and performance as the model with a filter apparatus. Combined with the 1.7 m³ PR3058 C cyclone filter, it allows for the creation of high-performance centralised systems.
PR3058 C 1,7 m³
The PR3058 C cyclone filter is a compact 1,7 m³ hopper equipped with an integrated cyclone and large filtering surface, designed to perform a dual function: filter apparatus for central units and collection container for vacuumed material.
It can be equipped with safety devices, various types of material discharge and filter cleaning systems. Combined with the S20, S30 or S40 central units, it allows for the creation of high-performance centralised systems.
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