AggreSand™ at Dubbo Sands

First AggreSand^™ on Australia Shores

Dubbo Sands, based in NSW, Australia, is a privately owned and operated business that was formed by owners Mardi and Graham Colbran in 2003. The company is a leading producer of sand and gravel serving Central West NSW. It offers a range of products including washed all in sand, washed coarse sand, washed fine sand and washed riverstone in many sizes.

Mineral Washing Systems (MWS), Terex Washing Systems (TWS), distributor in Eastern Australia recently installed the first AggreSand™ Washplant in the Australian Market, located at Dubbo Sands Quarry, NSW.

Efficient delivery and installation

TWS, MWS and the customer, Dubbo Sands, worked together to devise a solution to meet the site-specific needs. After careful analysis of the feed material it was identified that a portion of the Dubbo Sands feed contained high levels of silt therefore demanding a system that would deal with this in one pass. With its old wash plant Dubbo Sands often had to wash this difficult material twice. MWS proposed the TWS AggreSand^™ 165, with a three deck aggregate screen and a single sand plant. The Aggresand^™ 165 provides a fully integrated feeding, screening and sand washing solution on one modular chassis. The entire wash plant including the pre-wash system was transported to Australia from the TWS factory in Dungannon, Ireland, in just seven 40 ft shipping containers. The modular, pre-wired and pre-plumbed concept of the AggreSand^™ 165 allowed for rapid deployment once delivered to site. The plant was fully erected and commissioned within a matter of days.

Feed system

Dubbo Sands wanted the ability to blend varying feed materials from its site, so a dual feeder system was proposed. The feeders both have a 12 m capacity and were configured so that the two grades of feed material can be blended at different rates before being conveyed to the washplant. Both 14 ft feeders are powered from one electric hydraulic powerpack and both have remote control hydraulic tipping grids.

The blended feed material is delivered to the 16 x 5 screen by a heavy duty inclined feed conveyor fitted with a 1000 mm belt. At the head of the conveyor, an integrated wash box gives the material an all-important pre-soak to pre-condition before going on to the screen.

Aggregate rinsing screen

The efficient two bearing 16 x 5 gives a true 80 ft screening area on each deck. The high quality polyurethane modular deck adds high screening and wear qualities to the aggregate rinsing screen. The isolated spray bars fitted with polyurethane gators mean that the spray bars remain static as the screen vibrates. The screen is powered by a 15 kW electric motor and has a 10 mm throw. Access around the screen is provided by walkways on all four sides and an innovative rolling chute to allow easy screen/module access. The inclined feed conveyor is fitted with hydraulic rams, which allow the conveyor to be raised above the screen for even greater access.

The top deck acts as a protection deck while the top and bottom deck materials are stock piled by the AggreSand’s^™ integrated 9 m stock piling conveyors. These conveyors each have a stock piling capacity of 150 m. The conveyors are powered by an electric motor and have a 650 mm wide belt.

Pre-wash system

The pre-wash system is one of the first of its kind in Australia. The polyurethane in the bottom deck of the aggregate screen is split 1/3 –2/3 sections with 1 mm and 4 mm polyurethane modules, respectively. The catchbox under the screen is specially designed to capture and separate the two grades of sand (0 – 1 mm and 0 – 4 mm). The fine material that passes through the 1 mm section of the screen is safely collected and piped to the pre-wash conical sump tank. The conical sump is designed to initially float off any light material (silt) with the heavier material dropping to the bottom of the sloped wall tank.

The conical sump is designed to enable regulation of incoming water and solids flowing in varying conditions without the loss of useful fines.

A rubber lined centrifugal pump then transfers the material from the bottom of the tank to a cyclone/separator. The separator gives a secondary cleansing of the sand and removes more material below 75 µm and sends it off to the Dubbo Sands dirty water management system. The advantage of the separator is that it has the ability to cope with varying levels of silt due to the discharge regulator, which ensures a constant underflow density. This ability to deal with varying silt levels was Dubbo Sands’ number one specification for the entire plant. The adjustable air bleed off valve enables vacuum control, which affects the moisture content underflow material.

The overflow material is directed towards the Dubbo Sands water management system while the underflow is piped to the AggreSand’s^™ sand plant.

Sand plant

The pre-washed sand enters the AggreSand’s^™ sump tank and is pumped by a rubber lined centrifugal pump to a cyclone to remove any remaining silt (<75 µm) before being dewatered on a 12 x 5 dewatering screen. The dewatering screen is producing sand below 12% moisture, which eliminates the need for stockpile drainage. This is a windfall for Dubbo Sands as demand is high for this quality concrete sand, which is instantly saleable and can be loaded onto a truck from the stockpile belt. In addition, the plant is producing two washed aggregates from a 200 tph feed. Niall Donaghy, Sales Manager, MWS, commented: “We were delighted when Dubbo Sands selected MWS as their preferred supplier for the washplant. The new plant is fully satisfying the customer’s aggregate washing needs. The Aggregate screen it fitted with a 65 mm top deck, 22 mm middle deck and the split 1 mm/4 mm bottom deck. The high efficient 16 x 5 screen is producing clean aggregates, which are being used as drainage stone, landscaping stone and for concrete production.

Mardi and Graham Colbran, Dubbo Sands Owners, added: “The professionalism and dedication from the entire MWS team, starting with purchasing right through to commissioning has been outstanding; we feel that there is nothing else currently on the market, that even comes close. Our AggreSand^™ washplant incorporates the pre-wash system, which enables us to bring our sand into spec in just one pass, whilst producing clean sized aggregates, giving us a very cost effective operation. Everyone worked extremely hard to pull this together, and we are positive ours will be the first of many hitting Australian shores.”

Open day

Dubbo Sands hosted TWS’s first open day event in 2014 where they welcomed prospective customers. “The open day proved to be another successful showcase for TWS. Reaction to the plant was exceptional and we received immediate orders as a result. The AggreSand^™ 165 washplant is continually proving to set TWS apart from other providers in the market and is revolutionising the washplant market by introducing innovative solutions and continuing to serve our customers’ needs and demands around the world,” said Fergal McPhillips, TWS Sales Manager.

L–R: Fergal McPhillips, Sales Manager, TWS, Graham Colburn, Owner Dubbo Sands, Niall Donaghy, Sales Manager, Mineral Washing Systems.

“Dubbo Sands where so proud to be involved with TWS and MWS in hosting the very first AggreSand^™ 165 washplant release in Australia. The open day was a huge success, with so many positive comments; we know we made the right decision. The knowledge and expertise has been proven on the ground, with the team sent from Ireland, working alongside Niall, we have exactly what our quarry required and more,” stated Mardi and Graham Colbran, owners of Dubbo Sands.

Adapted from TWS press release.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/product-news/04112014/aggresand-165-in-use-at-dubbo-sands-australia-114/