A prominent overseas mining operator has put five high-performance variable-frequency decanter centrifuge units from GN Solids Control into stable operation within its tailings separation facility. This project marks another successful delivery of tailored solid-liquid separation technology for mining tailings management, following a rigorous international tender evaluation process.
The mine site sits at 4,500 meters above sea level, where thin air, sharp temperature fluctuations and harsh ambient conditions impose strict reliability requirements on all process equipment. Besides the high-altitude environment, the tailings slurry fed into the separation loop carries high-hardness mineral particles that cause continuous abrasive wear, alongside large and fluctuating slurry throughput. Standard separation equipment often struggles to maintain steady output and service life under such combined stressors.
Customised Centrifuge Solution for Heavy-Duty Tailings Processing
To match the site’s slurry characteristics and extreme operating limits, GN Solids Control configured the GNLW764-VFD model with a 30-inch large diameter bowl and variable frequency drive system. The VFD setup allows operators to fine-tune rotation speed and differential speed flexibly according to real-time slurry feed conditions, balancing separation clarity, handling capacity and power consumption. Reinforced wear-resistant components and optimised alloy selections extend service intervals when processing abrasive mine tailings.
Before bulk order confirmation, the customer ran a single pilot decanter centrifuge on-site for an extended trial. The pilot unit delivered consistent cake dryness, clear liquid effluent and low failure rates, which validated GN’s technical design. Satisfied with the field test outcome, the mining client placed the follow-up order for four additional identical machines to complete the five-unit processing train.
Integrated Automated Tailings Treatment Package
The full supply scope also includes a 6,000-litre automatic chemical dosing skid and matched screw pumps. Combined with the centrifuges, this integrated package forms an automated tailings treatment workflow. It supports effective solids recovery, reduces the volume of waste slurry sent to tailings ponds, and assists the mine in meeting local environmental discharge standards.
This high-altitude mining project demonstrates GN Solids Control’s capability to engineer custom separation packages beyond standard product offerings. Moving forward, GN will keep refining its decanter centrifuge portfolio and solid-liquid separation systems, delivering durable, efficient equipment to global mining customers for sustainable tailings management and lower operational expenditure.
