A mine site asks three different things of the same material: move abrasive slurry, lift water out of a pit, and do both with equipment that is maintained by whoever is on shift.
Three duties, three specifications
| Duty | Governing factor | Typical specification |
|---|---|---|
| Slurry transfer | Abrasion, solids settling | PE100 SDR11–SDR9, flanged at pumps |
| Tailings | Large volume, low head | PE100 SDR17, or SRTP at high head |
| Dewatering | Vertical lift, pressure | PE100 SDR11, SRTP above PN16 |
Why abrasion is the real cost
PE wears by sliding abrasion. A slurry with sharp solids at 3 m/s will polish a wall; at 5 m/s it will cut it. Two practical consequences: keep velocity down where you can, and buy one SDR step thicker than the pressure needs if the solids are abrasive.
A thicker wall does not stop wear — it buys time between replacements. If the duty is severe, SRTP or a lined steel section at the pump discharge is usually cheaper over five years than replacing PE annually.
Joints on a mine site
- Butt fusion — the default for main runs; needs power and a trained operator.
- Flanged sections — at pumps, valves and anywhere the line must come apart for maintenance.
- Repair couplings — keep two per kilometre on site. A line stops for a coupling, not for a fusion machine.
Layout points that decide service life
- Support the line — suspended PE sags and forms low points where solids settle.
- Drain points at low spots, air valves at high spots.
- Avoid tight bends — PE tolerates a curve, but a sharp bend on an abrasive duty wears on the outside of the bend.
- UV — above-ground runs need a stabilised compound or a jacket; black pipe in strong sun degrades at the surface.
What we need to quote
Duty (slurry or water), solids size and concentration, flow rate, length, static lift, and whether the site has fusion equipment and power. With those five we return a diameter, an SDR and a jointing plan — not a list of everything we sell.