Steelmakers worldwide have used reciprocating pumps from RMI Pressure Systems – such as this three-pump system with Quinmax S500 Series pumps – in their descaling operations to significantly reduce energy consumption.

It is turning out to be a busy year for RMI Pressure Systems in the US, with its quality reciprocal pump solutions being supplied to leading players in the minerals sector.

This includes pump systems for underground longwall mines and for industrial press applications in the aluminium segment, according to Gary Punton, RMI’s General Manager in the US. At Warrior Met Coal’s world-class Blue Creek longwall mine near Brookwood, Alabama, RMI is providing its well proven hydraulic power solution for the actuation of self-advancing roof supports.

“The design is based on our popular five-plunger Quinmax S500 high-pressure reciprocating pump,” said Punton. “The manufacture, assembly and testing of two pump systems is planned for completion by end of the fourth quarter of 2024.”

At another of Warrior Met Coal’s operations – Mine 7 East – RMI is supplying new pumps as part of an overhaul and upgrade programme for their ageing S500 units, which were first installed as early as 2011.

“We will be installing new S500 pumps on the pump systems serving the mine’s longwall equipment,” he said. “This is a testament to the longevity and reliability of our equipment, which is well referenced in the mining sector.”

In another recent contract, this time in the industrial space, RMI will be providing an additional S500 pump assembly for a press system at Arconic’s Lafayette facility in Louisiana. Arconic is a leading provider of aluminum sheet, plate and extrusions, as well as architectural products.

“We assembled and tested this S500 pump system in our Jasper facility in Alabama, and shipped it to the customer early this year for commissioning during the third quarter of the year,” said Punton.

He highlighted that the Quinmax S500 pump at Arconic – fitted with 650hp motors – provides a safe and reliable supply of high-pressure water-based fluids for both mining and heavy industrial applications. With its compact horizontal five-plunger design,  this innovative pump facilitates increased crank speeds and loading.

“We use finite element analysis (FEA) to validate our pumps’ performance and reliability, as well as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to maximise the efficiency of wetted components,” he explained.

Using RMI Pressure Systems’ reciprocating pumps for descaling – such as this three-pump system with S-Series Trimax pumps – steel plants have saved so much energy that the investment in the new pump systems pumps can be recouped within three years. 

With energy efficiencies of up to 95%, reciprocating pumps from RMI Pressure Systems – such as this three-pump system with S-Series Quinmax pumps – deliver considerable savings in operating costs for steel plants’ descaling operations.