MARSA - Lima, Peru: GIW Outlasts the Competitor
The Minera Aurífera Retamas S.A. Plant, or MARSA Gold Mine, is located in the Pataz region of Northeast Peru. This remote province is situated on the western flank of the Eastern Mountain range, 110 miles from the city of Trujillo at an altitude of 3900 m.s.n.m. A narrow 250 mile long road through steep slopes is the only access to the mining camp; there is limited access via a small airfield to the city of Chagual where you must then take a car for the remaining 45 mile journey to the plant. The climate of the Pataz region is predominately cold; with only two seasons; heavy rain throughout the months of November and April and dry for the rest of the year.
This harsh environment set the scene for GIW’s success against two of its top competitors. In 2009, GIW rose to the challenge and installed a 150 LCC 20 (XH) cyclone feed pump. MARSA was currently testing two competitor pumps. Competitor 1 installed an 8x6 x 18 and Competitor 2 installed an 8x6 x 20; however, both were unsuccessful. GIW’s pump components had much better responses to the changes in the flow rate at which internal recirculation decreased. Ultimately, the competitors and could not contend with the life cycle of the GIW LCC pump.
Competitor 1’s suction plate lasted for only 10 days (240 hrs.); and Competitor 2’s suction plate lasted only 40 days (960 hrs.). The competitor’s impellers could not surpass GIW’s record of 900 hours and GIW’s shell operated 45% better than either of the competitor’s casings. GIW’s suction liner, impeller and casing, dramatically improved performance in relation to any previous pumps used in the MARSA Mine. MARSA recognized GIW’s LCC pump a success due to the 1.6 improvement in wear life and for matching the required cycle time.
Currently, GIW’s 150 LCC 20 (XH) pump is in operation; which was selected for a flow rate of 350 (m3/H) with a TDH of 23 (m.c.p.). The current total life cycle is 1500 hours for the suction liner, 1500 hours for the impeller and over 2500 hours for the shell. MARSA is extremely pleased with the continued success of the LCC pump and is interested in testing GIW’s LSA pump for their heavy duty applications in the future.
