Aquamonix integrates flow monitoring for major gold producer

One of the world’s leading gold producers, with operations in the Western Australian goldfields, required a flow monitoring solution that would not only meet the demanding operating conditions of large-scale gold processing but also provide consistency and reliability across multiple sites.

Flow monitoring is critical to gold extraction and gold processing, where water and slurry fluid transport protocol which will operate under tough conditions. Inaccuracies or failures can cause production delays, increase maintenance costs, and create operational optimisation and safety risks.

After carefully reviewing the requirements, Aquamonix supplied its Emflux 2060 series electromagnetic flowmeters, engineered with materials suitable for challenging slurry and water applications.

The Emflux range of Australian-made flowmeters combines proprietary technology with full-bore construction with no moving parts, and is designed to provide high accuracy and minimal pressure loss, even in dusty, desolate, remote environments.

Aquamonix worked closely with the site electrical and implementation planning team to develop a specification-approved framework, enabling site personnel to identify the correct meter by knowing just two key factors: size and application.

“We wanted to make things as simple and efficient as possible for the customer,” said Trent Nimmo, Project and Technical Sales – Mining and Infrastructure, Aquamonix. “We worked closely with key onsite personnel to gather relevant data, including 12 years of material selection and suitability in the mining and oil and gas sectors. We collated data on salinity, temperature, pressure, and total suspended solids.

“The result was that if any onsite staff provided the size and application, we could discern right away whether we are using polyurethane lining with Hastelloy C276 electrodes or 6 mm rubber lining with stainless steel 316/316L electrodes, for example.”

Typically, the types of installations being used by this gold miner require three component considerations: the flow meter, the transmitter, and the length of cable between the install location and transmitter. By collating and running statistical analysis of indexed data already on hand, Aquamonix identified an opportunity to further streamline this process.

“Rather than asking them for the cable length they required each time, we made the decision to always supply the maximum length possible, which is 30 m,” Nimmo explained. “This was done for two main reasons. Firstly, if the length is not sufficient, adding cable to existing cable is a lengthy process that can create a vulnerable point if not done correctly. Secondly, if the full 30 m is not required, it can simply be cut onsite to the desired length. It removed all doubt and potential water ingress failure points.”

The collaboration has now set a new standard across the gold miner’s global assets, reinforcing Aquamonix’s role as a trusted partner in flow monitoring solutions for the red dirt and brownfields sectors.

“They were so impressed by the solution, they are currently working on rolling out the same methodology on their other sites globally,” Nimmo said.

Top image credit: iStock.com/BecCreeper