When a Mpumalanga Platimum mine required a clean and reliable gland water supply solution for their slurry pumps, they chose Mechanical Rotating Solutions (MRS) as best equipped to offer them the most suitable option available.Mechanical Rotating Solutions supplied and installed two Vertical Multistage centrifugal pumps supporting the unit in supplying gland service water to five Envirotec slurry pumps, pumping in series, ranging from 4 to 15 bar pressure to the stuffing boxes. 

The complete MRS installation supplying gland water to the client’s slurry pumps 

According to Mechanical Rotating Solutions Managing Director, Franscois Steenkamp, clean and reliable gland water supply is an essential utility at any mining operation. “Pressurised gland water is pumped into the Gland Packed Stuffing box of slurry pumps in order to keep them clear of dirt, debris and impurities. This gland seal water enables the pump sleeve to rotate within its stuffing box with minimum friction whilst preventing the slurry from back-flowing into the gland Packing and damaging the sleeve. It is critical that the correct fit for purpose pumps and support systems be selected ensuring that sufficient gland water flow and pressure is maintained. Operating without clean gland water will cause the slurry to back-flow into the pump’s stuffing box and damaging the rotating pumps  sleeveAs part of the project, Mechanical Rotating Solutions also supplied a self-cleaning electrical filter joined to the supply tank discharge valve via a Straub Flex pipe coupling.  The Straub Flex pipe coupling is designed to allow for slight misalignment and can easily handle gaps of 5mm between pipe ends.  The installed Purging Strainer is a completely autonomous in-line self-cleaning strainer. It utilizes a wedge wire basket as its straining component, from 50 micron upwards. 

An MRS supplied Straub Flex coupling joining the supply tank discharge valve to the self-cleaning electrical filter 

The system being on-line at all times through these cycles utilizes the operational pressure to force the dirt out through the purge valve. The unit self-cleans while in operation, with minimal pressure loss, allowing production to continue without interruption.Completing the MRS installation was the supply and installation of a stainless steel manifold consisting of an array of monitoring gauges and valves attached to flexible hosing. The manifold can be described as the arrangement of lines and valves used to direct and control fluid on a pumping unit. The most important factor in designing a gland water system is to ensure the system is reliable and has sufficient pressure. If gland water pressure is too low, it will not be able to overcome back-pressure from the pump and cause the slurry to back-flow into the stuffing box.Among its product offering and related turnkey solutions, Mechanical Rotating Solutions is currently servicing the Mpumalanga area with the AESSEAL® product range of mechanical seals and systems, Labtecta Bearing Isolators, Belzona Engineered Coatings and Superbolts, as well as supplying the whole of South Africa with innovative Straub pipe couplings, and turnkey pumping solutions including KSB pumps and valves, HCP pumps, DAB pumps and other world-class products.

Straub pipe couplings has proven itself the world over to be the best pipe-coupling product on the market available today. Based on the original STRAUB coupling technology, which has been demonstrated in more than 40 million pipe connections worldwide, Straub Couplings are the easiest way to join pipes of all materials.

Straub couplings require no special tools or pipe-end preparation and utilising its innovative progressive sealing effect it ensures that when the pressure in the pipe rises, the contact pressure on the sealing lips increases due to the flow through the pressure equalisation channel.

Furthermore, its progressive anchoring effect ensures that when the axial tensile load on the pipe rises, due to increased internal pressure or external influence, the teeth continuously penetrate deeper into the surface of the pipe to compensate.

As a South African agent of Straub products, Mechanical Rotating Solutions is able to procure, install and commission the right Straub connection, which will meet the project-specific requirements fully. Straub Couplings come fully assembled and ready to install.

A torque wrench is the only tool required to do the job. Lightweight and with a low profile, Straub couplings are easy to handle and can be installed in the tightest of spaces. The unique lip seal design seals on even rough pipe surfaces. STRAUB couplings are used to join virtually any plain end pipe or tube including steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, FRP, PVC, CPVC, C900, concrete pipe, copper and CuNi piping.

The removal of a suction pipe for pump maintenance or repair usually requires that either the flange bolts are manually removed, which is highly time consuming, or are removed utilizing a cutting torch which entails acquiring the necessary permits to conduct welding, flame cutting, soldering and similar operations in a plant. Utilising Straub couplings such as the Straub Open Flex cuts pipe disassembly down to 15 minutes!

Whether for water management, renewable energy sectors, industry, shipbuilding and offshore: the STRAUB product range offered by Mechanical Rotating Solutions, stands for sophisticated coupling solutions for pipe systems made from all materials. Mechanical Rotating Solutions offers the complete range of Straub pipe couplings enabling pipe connections for practically all conceivable pipe diameters, for the same or different types of pipe materials, various media and temperatures as well as for a wide range of the operating pressure values.

Straub Couplings are proudly supplied by Mechanical Rotating Solutions, a supplier of world class Mechanical Seals, Rotating and Engineering Protection, Sealing Equipment, and an accredited agent for AESSEAL® MRS is accreddited to ISO 9001:2000, and ISO 14001:2004 quality and environmental standards as well as the OHSAS 18001:1999 Occupational Health and Safety standards. MRS have the full support of AESSEAL® Engineering, Draughting and Quality Services.

Among its product offering and related turnkey solutions, the company is currently servicing the Mpumalanga area with the AESSEAL® product range of mechanical seals and systems, Labtecta Bearing Isolators, Belzona Engineered Coatings and Superbolts, as well as supplying the whole of South Africa with innovative Straub pipe couplings, KSB pumps and valves, and the full HCP range of pumps.