Oct 31, 2017 | News

Forsta Self-Cleaning Filters; Mining, Efficiency, and the Water/Energy Nexus

3x F12-LP180V self-cleaning filters

Filtration for Mining Water Use
3x F12-LP180V-316L Model Filters with High Porosity 200u 316L Stainless Screens

Like other industries, mining operations of all varieties rely on water. According to the USGS, the United States mining industry withdrew an estimated 5,320 millions of gallons per day (mgal/d) in 2010 from a combination of surface water and groundwater sources.

The USGS information on mining water use includes the additional fact that groundwater was the source for 73 percent of total withdrawals for mining and, of that, seventy-one percent of the groundwater withdrawn for mining was saline. Total percentage of saline water withdrawls from groundwater and surface water were 58%.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “The interdependencies between our water and energy systems are clear — and becoming more prominent. Water is used in all phases of energy production and electricity generation, and energy is required to extract, convey and deliver water and to treat wastewaters prior to their return to the environment.”

Mining is an integral part of the transition towards clean energy production. Lithium mines, for example, provide material for the production of lithium-ion batteries for goods ranging from household electronics to battery-powered electric vehicles such as the Tesla. Mining water use requirements include quarrying, milling (crushing, screening, washing, and flotation of mined materials), re-injecting extracted water for secondary recovery, and other operations.

Efficient and reliable filtration of mining water contributes to energy and water sustainability. It is critical to have filtration systems constructed from materials designed to operate in the majority saline environments so as to avoid equipment failure. Forsta self-cleaning filters for saline mining operations are available from 316L stainless, Duplex/Super Duplex Stainless, Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic, and more. Forsta specializes in custom, highly engineered equipment designed to operate in the most demanding environments with minimal water loss.

Mining Water Filtration

Filtration for Mining Water Use
2x D10-180-FRP with 40u Duplex Wedge Wire screens

Forsta engineers collaborate with system consultants, OEMs, engineering firms, and contractors to provide model info/drawings/pricing and spec language tailored to each mining water use filtration project.  Use Forsta’s application datasheet to get a proposal for your mining water filtration requirement today!