Correct decisions in valve selection guarantee efficient liquid flow in pipes. Robust valves are the recommended for demanding needs of African mining projects.
New underground mines have come on stream in some regions in Africa, following the completion of Greenfield projects. In addition, Brownfield projects, involving mine expansion, are progressing at various stages of completion. All the more, indicating that the trend is for a long haul: new projects are continually unfolding.
Demand for valves
This increase in mining activity has created demand for essential equipment used in mining operations, including valves. Some members of the South African Valve Manufacturers Association (SAVAMA) are keen to be involved in the supply of various valves to cater for various needs.
Recently, Mining Business Africa sent a survey to ten member organisations of the association focusing on suitable valves specific to mining requirements in Africa, customised solutions, and the growing role of remote monitoring.
The member organisations have previous experience in the African mining sector. Thus, in their own right, they are authorities on continental trends.
Suitable valves
Usually, in mining, valves control the flow of high-pressure, abrasive and corrosive slurry in pipes. Thus, they have to be robust and perfect to ensure that the flow is smooth and efficient. This means the material of construction should have a suitable level of resistance.
Customised turnkey solutions
However, it is one thing to identify suitable valves that are robust, and entirely another to tailor solutions for diverse operations. The suppliers of valves are cognisant that mines operate in different conditions. For this reason, they engage clients in customising solutions to devise solutions specific to their unique needs.
One of the processes in customising entails rigorous testing to ensure that the valve supplied meets or surpasses industry requirements. Deliberately, this approach ensures that valves meet required standards and exceed client expectations.
Comprehensive and convenient, turnkey delivery of solutions is generally preferred. More or less, the turnkey solution covers everything from the initial enquiry, design, supply and installation, to maintenance advice to ensure increased uptime and satisfaction.
Remote valve management is allowing mining companies to benefit from valves delivered through a customised turnkey approach.
Remote valve management for remote operations
The rise in remote management, facilitated by the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, have transformed valve management in remote mining areas. These have eliminated the need for on-site manual inspections, which are difficult, time-consuming and potentially expose the personnel deployed to hazards.
Two of the most groundbreaking innovations are smart valves and remove actuators and control panels.
- Predictive maintenance
Smart valves with data analytics capabilities actively monitor and regulate flow rates, detect faults in real-time and predict maintenance requirements. In this way, it improves performance while reducing downtime.
- Centralised management
Remote actuators and control panels enable centralised management. This reduces costs, enhances safety and eliminates the need for on-site personnel.
Groundbreaking strides
Clearly, innovations, including IoT and artificial intelligence integration, design enhancements, and materials innovations, indicate groundbreaking strides in research and development efforts. This is especially evident through the increased role of IoT and artificial intelligence, design enhancements and materials innovations. These innovations meet the need for increased efficiency, enhanced safety and sustainability in the application of valves.
Onus on end-users
All told, the onus is on end-users. Bearing in mind the critical role of valves in mining operations, it is advisable that end-users exercise due diligence.
Rigorous assessement of both the product and the supplier’s integrity is non-negotiable. So, selected valves must demonstrate superior performance, through smooth operation and reliable slurry management. There should be no half measures in product selection.
