Phoenix Process Equipment on dewatering of fine tailings

Phoenix Process Equipment Co was founded in 1984 and is well known in mining for equipment including its HYDROSORT Classifier which has been deployed in the minerals industry including foruranium ore processing as an example. But a key technology focus area since the company’s inception has been dewatering of fine tailings from mining applications with its filter presses and HiFLo high rate thickeners which it says are now increasingly in focus for tailings projects.

CEO Gary Drake told IM: “We have hundreds of successful installations worldwide dewatering tailings. In particular we have been extremely successful installing HiFlo Thickeners in silica, granite and similar mined construction materials processing applications, plus in silica processing for mined industrial mineral applications such as frac sand production.” Other markets include coal and metals. Depending on the application requirements, he said these systems may include Phoenix HiFlo Thickeners, Phoenix Belt Filter Presses or Filter Presses, and Phoenix AutoChem automation technology used to optimise the thickening process and the associated usage of dewatering chemicals.

Drake adds: “Our strength lies in our extensive experience and our unique ability to characterise, simulate, and model the required thickening and dewatering processes in our Louisville, Kentucky laboratory. We annually evaluate hundreds of samples from various applications while adding to our existing data base resulting from decades of research, development, and successful commercial installations. We additionally maintain mobile pilot plant equipment that allows us to verify thickening and dewatering processes in the field.”

He says an important consideration learned from its decades of application experience is that tailings are highly variable and require flexible equipment and system design. “Our thickeners, filters and automation systems are all designed with a keen focus on the upstream process and the downstream tailings disposal options to be employed. Phoenix tailings process equipment is designed and built for the rugged demands of the mining environment. Our Phoenix HiFlo Thickeners are custom-designed and sized by application with standard unit sizes up to 45 m in diameter.”

Features include heavy-duty all electric centre rake drives with integrated rake lift, radial flow feedwell designed for even feed distribution, and all bolted tanks, factory powder coated with thermosetting fusion bonded epoxy.

Phoenix Belt Filter Presses he says are specially designed for high capacity, high pressure tailings dewatering, and are available in model sizes up to 3 m belt width. “Our Phoenix-F&B high pressure-fully automatic Filter Presses are available in recessed chamber and membrane models, with filter plate sizes up to 2.5 m x 2.5 m. Features include overhead split beam design, robotic plate shifting and plate shaking, hydraulic opening and pull to close system. Because tailings applications are so variable, equipment capacity ratings are extremely application specific.”

Our support services include laboratory and field process evaluations, flowsheet development, integrated system design and supply, field startup and optimisation, preventative maintenance programs, extensive replacement and wear parts, and dewatering chemical inventories.