ADVERTORIAL VEGA RADAR MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Robust problem
solvers
VEGA radar measuring instruments hold their own in the difficult environment of gold and platinum mining
I
t can take some time to find the right measuring method for a specific application. Two mine operators in South Africa also found this to be true. A breakthrough in level measurement was finally achieved with 80-GHz radar
sensors from VEGA.
Dirt, noise and deposit build-up The Sibanye Beatrix 4 gold mine is located in the Witwatersrand
It was then calibrated and put into operation. This measuring
Basin in Welkom, South Africa, about 240km southwest of
situation was challenging even for the rugged VEGA sensors.
Johannesburg. Sibanye Stillwater is one of the 10 largest
The impressive result: VEGAPULS 69 measured absolutely
gold producers and the third largest platinum and palladium
reliably even under extreme conditions. For Sibanye, returning
producer in the world.
the measuring instrument was out of the question; in fact, the
The ore body is accessed from the surface through vertical shafts, sometimes from depths up to 2km below earth’s surface.
company ordered two more sensors from VEGA. These are also now in use in the mine.
Dislodged rock is moved underground through quartz veins, using gravity between the different floor levels to transport the
Application in flotation cells
material and reduce distances. In one such quartz vein the level
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) also tested a radar-
of ore has to be accurately measured. The depth of this section
measuring instrument from VEGA – VEGAPULS 64, the 80-GHz
of the quartz vein is 55m and the diameter approximately
radar level transmitter for liquids, which used in the Upper
5m. Of great concern – at least from the point of view of level
Group 2 plant in Rustenburg.
measurement – is the very humid atmosphere, which leads to heavy deposits on the measuring instrument. VEGA suggested trying VEGAPULS 69, radar based on 80GHz technology that generates a very narrow beam angle. In
largest UG2 facility. VEGAPULS 64 was installed in a collection tank that holds the final concentrate.
the few years it has been on the market, this radar-measuring
The now-installed VEGAPULS 64, with its narrow beam
instrument has proven to be a problem solver in many difficult
angle of 10°, worked perfectly in this environment, delivering
applications.
a reliable and repeatable echo that provides the basis for
VEGA offered to install a VEGAPULS 69 on a trial basis and
88
The UG2 concentrator at the Waterval Smelter Complex has a capacity of 400 000 tons per month, making it the company’s
an accurate measurement. This, in turn, yields a stable level
let the company test it for three months. The radar sensor was
measurement unaffected by the extreme conditions and the
installed with a plastic horn antenna and a mounting bracket.
heavy build-up on the upper side of the instrument.
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