Mixtec Granular Pump Screen

There are many carbon-in-pulp and resin-in-pulp screening devices which are at present in use in the South African mining industry. Each one of these screens has been an improvement, from the very basic air cleaned and 'EPAC' types which were either circumferential or · diametrical launder screens, which were developed for C I P in the early 1980's, through to the more sophisticated LAP and Kambalda Screens. Each one of these screens not only increased the performance or throughput per square metre than its predecessor, but also addressed maintenance problems, wear, reliability and the ability to handle surge conditions, thereby preventing tank overflow. However, very little theory has been presented concerning, the flow of pulp through internal screens, carbon loss and screen wear rates. Almost all this information is based on empirical data. The NKM screen continued this trend and was able to offer flow rates in excess of 180 cubic metres per square metre of screen per hour and an average screen life of approximately six months. However, with increasing sophistication of the screen and the use of wedge wire as opposed to the normal woven wire, the mass was significantly increased and costs began to mount. Therefore, Mixtec undertook to develop a radically different screen, which incorporated many of the advantages of .the existing equipment and combined a few of its own.