A pipeline full of orders for Dragflow

The first contract for five dredgers of model DRH300E23 was won for sand and gravel extraction operations in the Middle East. Each is equipped with a Dragflow hydraulic pump of model HY 300 and a Cat C13 engine. Operating to depths of 40m for sand extraction, the vessels will deliver material over a distance of 1km through a 350mm diameter hose.

The second contract was signed with a large multinational which processes aggregates for concrete, cement and asphalt production at facilities in 90 countries. It chose a Dragflow Remote Control Dredge of model DRP120 equipped with a Dragflow electric pump of model EL1204 and two EXEL120 electric excavators to dredge a settlement pond fed by an aggregates washing plant.

Based on this client’s request, the dredging operation can be controlled remotely on via onboard panels, including a PLC which manages all parameters including the vessel’s location. Should the side excavators become blocked during operation they can be unblocked automatically by the PLC inverting the cutter heads’ rotational direction. The dredging unit can work partially out of water thanks to a custom designed water cooling system. A high pressure water jet-ring system enables dredging of mud at minimal water levels.

One of the world’s largest mining companies placed the third order, for a Dragflow Dredge model DRH85/160E22 to be used at an iron mine in Brazil. Iron ore mixed with water will be pumped over more than 500km through a ‘Mineral Duct’ pipeline. Booster stations and speed control pipelines are placed along the pipeline. When these are receiving maintenance the pumping to shore must stop and materials diverted into a tailing pond. It is here where the Dragflow dredger will be positioned. The iron tailings will be dredged and returned to the circuit going to the coast. Maintaining the maximum capacity of this pond is crucial to the project in case there is a need to deal with emergencies.

The iron tailings have a high content of iron, with specific gravity of 4.9kg/dm3. Only a heavy duty dredging pump with an oversize motor could do the job. This dredging unit features a Dragflow pump of model HY85/180 with two EXHY20 hydraulic excavators and a jet-ring system. The hydraulic power pack onboard is equipped with an electric motor with the power cord floating from shore. The dredger can be controlled by one operator onboard or directly from shore via a wireless joystick.

Finally, Dragflow has delivered two Remote Control Dredgers of model DRP60 to the biggest phosphate mining company in Morocco. They have a capacity of 400m3/hr as well as a water jet system to help break up settled material, thus increasing overall efficiency. The dredgers will be used on two tailing dams to pump processed phosphate ore back to the plant for reprocessing. The dredgers are part of a slurry pipeline in which three other Dragflow pumps are being used, including a 300hp electric submersible slurry pump.

By Larz Bourne