Air-operated Diaphragm Pumps from Kelair Pumps Australia

Case Study
Sales Engineer Anthony Sidawi (NSW)

Sandpiper long on performance in coal mine

The air-operated diaphragm pump is widely used in underground coal mines.

Kelair was recently contacted by a major underground coal mine about the performance problems they were experiencing with their current diaphragm pump.

The mine has been using a 2" plastic flap valve pump and a 11/2" plastic ball valve. These pumps were lasting on average three to four weeks before requiring repairs.

The manufacturer of these pumps claims the 2" plastic flap valve can deliver up to 500 LPM absorbing a maximum 77 SCFM of air pressure, and the 11/2" plastic ball valve delivering up to 300 LPM absorbing a maximum of 55 SCFM of air pressure.

The Warren Rupp factory (manufacturer of Sandpiper pumps) in the USA test-ed the 2" flap valve pump, and their engineers stated the overall structure of the pump appeared weak, and the manifolds had thin walls and were susceptible to breakage.

When these pumps operate, the chambers deform noticeably which causes an air leakage between the inner and outer chambers.

Testing confirmed the maximum flow rate the 2" flap valve was able to deliver was only 345 LPM, 31% less than claimed, absorbing 81 SCFM not 55 SCFM as claimed which is 47% more.

The client was using one 2" flap valve and one 11/2" ball valve for dewatering, near the long wall in the coal mine.

Kelair has replaced both pumps with one 2" Sandpiper heavy duty flap valve metallic construction.

The 2" Sandpiper pump can deliver a maximum flow rate of 530 LPM. The Sandpiper was pumping more than the other two pumps combined.

The 2" Sandpiper pump was used near the long wall for ten weeks and then moved to a different location.

The client was so happy with the reliability and performance of the Sandpiper pumps they ordered a further five.