John Crane, a global leader in flow control technologies and a business of Smiths Group plc, has retrofitted a mechanical seal on a large underflow thickener slurry pump at a major copper mining operation, cutting the clean water needed for sealing by around 288,000 liters per day and supporting a move away from frequent, high-risk maintenance interventions on a production-critical asset.
Underflow thickener pumps are a key link in tailings handling, moving high-density slurry from the thickener into the tailings transport system. In this application, the Warman 550 pump operates at approximately 65% solids, where reliability is essential and any unplanned interruption can have an immediate impact on production.
Prior to the retrofit, the pump used a traditional stuffing box (packing) arrangement. In abrasive service, that approach led to accelerated wear on the shaft sleeve, with replacement required around every four months. Although the impeller and rubber liners were typically replaced annually, sleeve change-outs were major events involving a full mechanical crew working across two shifts (around 36 hours), a 100-ton crane, and extended exposure to safety and downtime risk.
John Crane designed a mechanical seal package to be installed at the rear of the pump replacing the original stuffing box (packing) arrangement and enabling a retrofit without modifications to the pump. The scope also included an adapter sleeve to suit the shaft. To support performance in mining service, the seal uses a controlled seal-flush arrangement to maintain a clean fluid environment at the seal faces and is specified with diamond-faced materials for robustness in the event that seal-flush pressure drops and solids enter the seal chamber.
Following installation and commissioning, the sealed pump is operating well. The seal-flush system was designed around approximately 11 m3/h at 75 psi, with actual operating flow running at approximately 7.5–8 m3/h. By comparison, a parallel pump operating with packing has been consuming around 20 m3/h of water. This indicates a reduction of roughly 12 m3/h, equivalent to approximately 288 m3 (288,000 liters) per day, subject to site operating conditions.
The retrofit is designed to align maintenance with the site’s planned annual major service interval, when the impeller and liners are replaced, reducing the need for additional intrusive interventions during the year.
“Underflow thickener pumps are among the most critical assets in a mine’s tailings circuit, so customers are understandably cautious about change,” said Warren Smith, Global Mining Market Director, John Crane. “This project is a practical example of how improved sealing can reduce maintenance exposure and cut the clean water required for sealing, while supporting more predictable planned maintenance.”
This installation also represents a milestone for John Crane. With a shaft diameter of approximately 270 mm, it is the largest slurry seal sold by John Crane to date.