Engineered to be adaptable to almost any situation, FLSmidth Buffalo™ Feeder Breakers are as reliable as they are efficient – even in harsh operating conditions. In an application on a potash mine in Chile, a recently developed low tonnage reclaim feeder breaker was used to accommodate a feed rate of between 132 tph and 160 tph, with a top feed size of 500 mm.
 

Engineered to be adaptable to almost any situation, FLSmidth Buffalo™ Feeder Breakers are as reliable as they are efficient – even in harsh operating conditions.

A major advantage offered by the FLSmidth Buffalo Feeder Breaker to mining operations is its modularity, according to Leon Kemp, Global Product Line Manager for Buffalo Feeders and Feeder Breakers at FLSmidth.

“The modular design allows the FLSmidth Buffalo Feeder Breaker to be adapted for specific applications on the mine,” says Kemp. In an application on a potash mine in Chile, a recently developed low tonnage reclaim feeder breaker was used to accommodate a feed rate of between 132 tph and 160 tph, with a top feed size of 500 mm.

“Our design allowed the unit to handle potash with a bulk density of 1,600 kg/m3 and an inherent moisture content of 10%,” he says. “The versatility and flexibility of this solution was a key factor in the customer’s choice.”

This FLSmidth Buffalo Feeder Breaker is designed to operate without any civils infrastructure, which enhances its versatility in a mining operation. This means ease of movement and installation, while achieving the required discharge heights.

“The modular design of the feeder allows numerous discharge heights to be achieved by simply configuring the quantity of neck modules to facilitate the required discharge height,” he says. The unit at work in Chile has a deck width of 1200 mm, a length of 5 metres and a discharge height of 2,64 metres.

The FLSmidth Buffalo Feeder Breakers are produced under stringent quality control at FLSmidth’s substantial manufacturing facility in South Africa, which holds ISO 9001:215, OSH 180001 and ISO 14001 accreditations.

“This brand has a strong established reference base of units operating in similar applications globally,” says Kemp. “This allowed the customer to benefit from a productive collaboration between FLSmidth’s South African operation and its Chilean office.”

The feeder breakers are easy to transport in standardised containers. This unit was shipped from South Africa to Chile and assembled on site. The economy of the design also meant that fewer workers were required for assembly and commissioning.

The heavy-duty design features replaceable individual parts throughout the full length of the feeder. Flow control is achieved through adjustable hydraulics, variable speed drives and gearbox ratios. The hydraulic take-up system ensures ideal and consistent chain tensioning on the shaft take-up assembly. The motor control centre, which incorporates a variable speed drive, is located on-board the reclaim feeder; only the power supply needs to be isolated before relocating the unit.

“With auxiliary components such as wheel assemblies, lights, lubrication systems and safety features, the FLSmidth Buffalo low-tonnage Feeder Breaker is a true fit-for-purpose solution,” he says.