Ghana pit dewatering: submersible pump head falls short, how to fix?
Kwame A.
Verified member · Mine equipment manager
It is 78 m from pit floor to the discharge point, with a 4-inch line about 120 m long and two bends.
The pump is rated at 90 m head, but measured flow is half the nameplate figure and the motor runs hot.
Do we move up one pump size, or add a transfer sump inside the pit?
Discussion (3)
Chanda M.Verified member · Service engineer2026-10-13
Calculate friction loss first: 120 m of 4-inch pipe plus two bends costs nearly 12 m of head, leaving little margin over 78 m.
Fatou D.Verified member · Procurement lead2026-10-13
Do not forget civils and cable for a staged lift. Above 60 m of lift, a transfer sump is steadier and the pump lasts longer.
Yusuf B.Verified member · Dealer2026-10-14
If the water carries sand, impellers wear fast. Upgrade the wetted parts when selecting; it beats replacing pumps.
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