A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR LOW-RANGE BACKFILL REQUIREMENTS
Underground non-ferrous mines that use paste backfill require a backfill system to provide structural support throughout the life of the mine. Mine backfill also minimizes the volume of tailings that need to be directed to tailings dams on the surface. A high-quality backfill system is vital to ensure mine integrity and the safety of personnel.
The Outotec MPB 80 is ideal for mines with an ore production capacity of between 0.7 and 1M tpa.
UNIQUE PROCESS DESIGN
The MPB 80 is a wet tailings solution that utilizes 80 m2 of vacuum disc filtration. Its unique process design features a combined paste mixer and hopper in place of traditional design with a separate mixer and hopper. This proven advancement enables significant reductions in both plant size and maintenance requirements. The combined unit is directly connected to the borehole, which simplifies the backfill production process.
The solution is an ideal alternative to installing a concrete batching-style plant that has been reconfigured for producing paste backfill. With a dedicated paste backfill plant, mines can produce high-quality paste at a lower cost than is possible with modified concrete plants and larger, previous-generation paste backfill plants.
REDUCED MAINTENANCE AND FASTER INSTALLATION
Integrating the paste hopper with the paste mixer significantly reduces the need for cleaning, meaning the plant can run for multiple shifts without having to shut down. The Outotec Modular Paste Backfill 80 is pre-assembled off-site and delivered in larger, pre-engineered modules, enabling a significantly shorter interval between order placement and installation and start-up.
MODULE DESCRIPTION
- Tailings dewatering: Dewatering of the tailings to form a filter cake using vacuum disc filtration.
- Tailings conveying: Conveying module for transfer of dewatered tailings to the mixing module.
- Binder storage and metering: Bulk storage and continuous, industry-leading accurately metered delivery of binder material to the paste mixing module.
- Tailings and binder mixing: Primary mixing module where the filter cake, binder, and additional slurry are combined to generate high-quality paste with controlled solids content and rheology.
- Backfill distribution: Pumping module for distribution of paste to the underground discharge locations. Only used when gravity distribution pressure is not sufficient.
- Utilities: Ancillary module containing general plant electrification, water, and air services.