One of deepest open cast mines in India has highly challenging dewatering system with complex piping route. Working pressure exceeds 18 Bar. Project site had three stages of pumping with each stage crossing 1500 meters of pipe length with pipe working pressure reaching 18 to 20 Bar.
Site deployed combo of steel and HDPE pipes. There has been constant burst out of pipes due to very tough pipe lay out profile. The ambience at site varies from 5 deg C to almost 52 degree C, leading to material expansion and contraction. Thus constant failure of HDPE joints. needing constant maintenance, stoppage of dewatering as well.
In addition as the pumps were driven by diesel engine, there has been huge diesel fuel operational cost as well client was incurring.
SOLUTION BY RWTPL
Multiple visits by RWTPL closed into conclusion of making proposal which included heavy duty LONG COILED PIPELINE which must be suitable for constant working pressure of 21 Bar even at 50 deg C. To make the installation easy pipe of single long span was selected.
First ever break thru award was achieved when RWTPL was awarded job in 2021. Complete installation was completed within few months. The same is in operation till date without any instant of any failure.
PROJECT TAKEAWAY
Pipes were designed to be installed as an absolute vertical hanging method which is not only challenging but gives over all project benefits as below,
- Drastically eliminating long pipe travel thru’ bench—— 180 meters of vertically hanging pipe 280 mm size of single length– In total 800 meters have been installed
- Reduction in overall pumping head thereby saving operational cost
- Unique nature of these pipe is to maintain low friction loss thru’ out it’s life span. Based on many global site users pipe life can cross decades of operational life.
- As on 1/04/2025 pipes have been not a single leakage / pipe burst has occurred. Comple elimination of all pipe maintenance activities.
It is evident these pipes have greatly increased reliability of dewatering.