"Telemetry, My Dear Watson": Talking Pumps for QMAG
Queensland's QMAG is one of the world's largest producers of magnesia, mining about three million tonnes of ore annually from its Kunwarara mine, 70kms north of Rockhampton. Balancing product quality by sequentially developing a number of pits mainly ranging from 15m to 18m in depth, QMAG required a high volume water management solution - water being critical for the running of the plant.
Allight's Andy Borthwick, based in Rockhampton, delivered with a CD200 and two CD300 variable speed skid-based dewatering pumps. With flow rates of 220L and 350L per second, respectively, Andy Borthwick said that the Kunwarara magnesia miners were impressed with the high capacity capabilities of the CD200 and CD300 pumps.
Not only did QMAG need high flow rates, however, they also needed their pumps to 'talk'; as the pumps are out in the field and out of sight of operators, the units were fitted with wireless data transfer, or Telemetry, systems. The system facilitates remote measurement and communicates information to nominated QMAG personnel, forewarning of any impending water loss or mechanical problems, and ensuring the smooth running - and fast flowing - operations at QMAG.
