Eight Ritz 4915 pumps
coupled to 300kW

2 Pole motors

RITZ Chosen for Huge Dewatering Operation

A Massive Job

The enormous task of dewatering one of Tasmania's most historic gold mines is being handled by Ritz pumps supplied by Pump Power. The Beaconsfield mine, potentially one of Australia's richest, is being reopened. Water problems contributed to the closure of the mine in 1914. The new pump station currently dewatering the old mine has a discharge of 60.5 ML/day - purportedly the highest mine dewatering capacity in the Southern Hemisphere. A staggering 3.8 MW of hydroelectricity is consumed powering what lies beneath a deceptively uncluttered site!

Ritz Well-Priced and Reliable

Neville Wiggs of Neville J.Wiggs & Assoc. Pty Ltd said he chose Ritz because they came in at the best price in a highly competitive field. "The product has a reputation for reliability," he added. This reliability was demonstrated when two Ritz submersibles were installed in the shaft itself last year with no problems.

Obstacles and Ingenuity

An undertaking such as reopening a mine like this has many challenges. "The pumping system is virtually a closed loop, needing air traps to keep the O2 out," Neville Wiggs continued. "Anaerobic operation is essential to prevent precipitation of iron out of the water". John Shanasy, Pump Power's Managing Director visited Beaconsfield and was struck by the ingenuity of the mine personnel. "They often cannot use 'surface' equipment, but have to excavate, lay large pipelines and run armored cable hundreds of metres underground."

Ritz's Design a Plus

Well suited to the confined environment, the Ritz 4915 pumps are relatively compact. "The design uses balancing drums, which keeps axial thrust to a minimum," John Shanasy commented. "This means smaller bearing housings. The units are sturdy, but designed and balanced well."