HPD, a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, has been selected to provide its brine concentrator technology for a uranium mine in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The brine concentrator will treat nearly 5,000 m³/d for Energy Resources Australia (ERA), one of the largest uranium producers in the world, at its Ranger mine. ERA considers this technology a proven, long-term solution to minimize the environmental impact of operations and significantly reduce process water inventory
The Veolia brine concentrator uses thermal energy to evaporate water, which produces clean distillate that will meet strict water quality requirements for release into ERA’s constructed wetlands system.
HPD was selected for this project because of its extensive experience in volume reduction applications, its ability to meet future needs of the mine, and its testing capabilities. This includes shipment of a pilot-scale brine concentrator unit to Australia for demonstration of the process.
Commissioning of the brine concentrator plant is expected to be completed in mid-2013.