Case Study

Apron Feeder Chute

Industry
Mining & Minerals Processing, Iron Ore

Site
Iron Ore Port, West Australia

Application
Apron feeder chute

Problem Description
Apron Feeder Chute under car dumpers at a major iron ore port facility. Throughput of 10,000 TPH lump (<40mm) iron ore, creating excessively high wear rates, resulting in lost production during frequent maintenance outages to replace worn wear liners. The situation lead to large investments in exotic weld overlay plate, in an attempt to reduce the wear rates to acceptable levels. The return on investment was unsatisfactory as even exotic weld overlay lasted only 7 week and attempts to increase ROI from the exotic weld overlay plates by - patching” failed

Imatech Solution
In consultation with the client, Imatech designed CorroCube wear liners to reach maximum possible wear life and to facilitate simple installation. In May 2006 the CorroCube wear liners were installed in the apron feeder chute. Design included 44mm high P90 cubes, chamfered ceramic edges, lifting lugs and through-holes with ceramic plugs for scaffolding

The Results
After 4,300,000 tonnes, ultrasonic thickness measurements of the 44 mm thick P90 ceramic were taken. The worst point had 33.4 mm remaining based on the measured wear rates, the expected life of the CorroCube wear liners is 17,200,000 tonnes. Additional CorroCube Kits have been ordered for this car dumper chute and an identical chute under construction.