Chile Copper Mine: Scale Cut on 6–30 Inch Pipelines

Case Study from HydroFLOW Chile

Large diameter pipeline scale at a copper mine

Large diameter pipeline scale was costing copper mining operations in Chile pumping energy on their water lines. It also threw flowmeter readings out, forced costly pipe replacement with lost water and downtime, and made valves and controls harder and harder to operate. The mine had been budgeting for pipe replacement as a recurring cost. HydroFLOW® units were installed externally on pipelines from 6 inch to 30 inch, 152 mm to 762 mm, carrying process, effluent and return water. Scale reduced, flowmeters read accurately again, and pipes, valves and pumps stayed operational without chemicals or mechanical cleaning.

The Challenge

• Large diameter pipeline scale was increasing pumping energy demand
• Flowmeters were producing inaccurate readings
• Pipes needed costly replacement, budgeted as a recurring cost
• Pipe replacement brought water loss and downtime
• Valves and controls were becoming difficult to operate

The Solution

• Unit installed: HydroFLOW® units
• Installation point: externally, on copper mining water pipelines
• Pipe size: 6 inch to 30 inch (152 mm to 762 mm)
• Water: process, effluent and return water

Fitting the units externally meant no cutting into the lines and no shutdown, which is what makes treatment practical on a 30 inch pipe. The signal disrupts the conditions that bond scale to surfaces, so deposits reduce. Large diameter pipeline scale fell across the full range of sizes, and flowmeters, valves and pumps stayed operational without chemicals or mechanical cleaning.