KSB GIW Inc is set to showcase its GIW® SLYsight slurry pump wear monitoring technology at the MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2024 event, in Las Vegas, later this month, saying the technology addresses the need for real-time pump wear analytics to enable mining operations to optimise maintenance schedules and maximise pump wear life while reducing downtime.
MINExpo attendees will have the opportunity to view a live demonstration of GIW SLYsight on a pump display and see its advanced features and benefits in action, the company says.
Traditionally, pump wear is only discovered during scheduled maintenance or after a pump failure, leaving maintenance teams with limited information to effectively assess part wear and determine the best timing for adjustments. GIW SLYsight revolutionises this dynamic by providing continuous, real-time data on pump wear, the company claims. Additionally, SLYsight includes a “smart stethoscope” to assist customers in making safe and effective live adjustments.
GIW SLYsight technology employs custom sensors strategically placed to measure the wear rate of a pump’s parts, including the internal clearance between the suction liner and the impeller, known as the “nose gap”. As the pump operates, these sensors collect data which is shared through periodic reports. Unlike competitor solutions that estimate wear rates, GIW SLYsight calculates actual material loss as it occurs, KSB GIW says.
Aaron Cutright, IoT & Automation Product Development Manager at KSB GIW, said: “Most of the time when a pump is wearing out, the customer finds out because they replace a part based on a maintenance cycle or because of a destructive failure. With GIW SLYsight technology, we attach sensors to continuously monitor the thickness of wear parts in different locations, and the data from those sensors allows our software to visualise the part’s exact wear pattern over time.”
This comprehensive monitoring system eliminates the guesswork from routine slurry pump maintenance by providing operators with the data to make efficient and safe adjustments. Maintenance personnel are informed precisely which parts need attention, when replacements are necessary and how adjustments can be performed safely. This extends the pump’s wear life, helps to prevent unexpected outages and supports enhanced operational sustainability by reducing pump downtime and maintenance frequency, according to the company.
“In the field trials we’ve conducted so far, customers have been able to see exactly how their pump parts are wearing out,” Cutright said. “At some sites, they have used this data to extend maintenance cycles. Data from SLYsight also tells operators when to do nose gap adjustments, which can lead to significant efficiency improvements and increased wear life for the pump.”
With deployments in multiple industries across the globe, GIW SLYsight is poised to revolutionise slurry pump wear monitoring, the company says. This advanced tool aims to enhance efficiency, reliability and sustainability within the industry.
“As a best-in-class solution for monitoring pump wear, GIW SLYsight underscores KSB GIW’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that support the environmental responsibility of mining operations and address evolving customer needs,” it concluded.
MINExpo 2024 will run from September 24-26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center