Tenova Delkor equipment for Vietnam

Tenova Delkor has completed the supply of six thickeners and three horizontal belt filters to the Nui Phao project in Vietnam, a contract that included two of the largest free standing steel thickener tanks in the world.

The scope of the contract covered the design, manufacture, supply and commissioning of six elevated steel thickener tanks of diameters ranging from 6 m up to 60 m, as well as three horizontal belt filters (one 28 m² and two 2 m² filters).

Three contracts were awarded for the different plant areas during 2011 and 2012, with commissioning completed in July 2013 and plant operation commencing in August 2013.

The 60 m and 55 m diameter thickeners were unique in that Tenova Delkor supplied elevated steel tanks as opposed to the typical in-ground concrete designs that are typically used for thickeners of 50 m or greater diameter.  This elevated steel tank design was chosen as this reduced the overall plant footprint and installation time.

Apart from designing a tank capable of holding over 20,000 t of slurry, Tenova Delkor successfully met a number of other design challenges.  These included meeting the client’s request for clear access to the underflow cone by removing support columns.  In addition, the support structure had to be designed to minimise loading so that civil contractors could build the concrete foundation. This required a number of design iterations until the design suited all parties.  Another important requirement was for the tank to withstand the local seismic conditions.

The mine is located some 100 km from Hanoi with limited local industry, which also posed some logistical challenges.

Despite these challenges, Tenova Delkor completed commissioning of the tanks less than 18 months from receipt of the order.

Nui Phao Mining is part of Masan Resources, the leading mineral mining company in Vietnam.  Mining one of the world’s largest identified tungsten deposits outside China, Nui Phao, which came into production in 2013, is now the world’s largest producer of tungsten outside China, and will become among the largest producers of acid-grade fluorspar and bismuth in the world.

Tenova Delkor has an extensive track record in the South-East Asia region having recently supplied a high rate thickener and flocculant plant for the Ban Houayxai gold-silver operation in Laos, and eight counter-current decantation (CCD) thickeners and a clarifier for the Sepon Copper Expansion Project, also in Laos.

The Tenova Delkor High Rate Thickener is a proven performer in a variety of different applications – including minerals, industrial, chemical, water treatment and waste water industries. With units of up to 100 m in diameter having been installed, the benefits of the Delkor High Rate Thickener include its low capital cost, smaller footprint, effective use of flocculant and advanced automation.

Tenova Delkor introduced the horizontal belt filter concept in 1975, and has designed and manufactured over 650 units from small pilot filters to large units. Tenova Delkor Horizontal Belt Filters outperform the rotary drum, disc, tilting pan and table filters in all applications where increased capacity, efficient washing and minimum liquor dilution are required.

Tenova Delkor is an industry specialist in solid / liquid separation and mineral processing applications for the minerals, chemical and industrial markets. Offering comminution, flotation, sedimentation, filtration, screening, and gravity separation systems, Tenova Delkor services range from testwork, process trade-offs and flowsheet design, to installation, commissioning and aftermarket support.

Tenova Mining & Minerals is a total integrated solutions provider to the global mining, bulk materials handling and minerals beneficiation and processing sectors, offering innovative technological solutions and full process and commodity knowledge across the mining and minerals industry value chain.

Technical Enquiries: Mark Taylor    e-mail [email protected]

Tenova is a worldwide supplier of advanced technologies, products, and engineering services for the metals and mining & minerals industries. Further information is available at: www.tenova.com.