Using a biocompatible polymer to enhance tailings transportation and save water in a copper-cobalt-zinc mine: A CASE STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/Abstract
Water is a key source of instability and even failure in tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Simply reducing the amount of water in TSFs could be the best way to ensure the safety of nearby communities. This case study investigates the effects of reducing the water content in tailings slurry at a copper-cobalt-zinc mine located in Mexico. More specifically, it investigates the use of an environmentally friendly polymer as a new drag reduction agent (DRA) to offset the increase in solids percentage when the water content is reduced. It also examines the potential effects of the increased solids concentration on the tailings transportation system. A series of “what if” studies were conducted to assess whether adding the polymer would allow the solids concentration percentage to be increased without changing the pressure loss in the transportation pipeline. They entailed conducting pipe loop tests to investigate these changes under various solids/polymer concentrations and then constructing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation model using the test results. Once the model was validated, it was used for several analyses. First, the optimal polymer percentages—those needed to maintain the same pressure loss under baseline (30% solids) conditions—were determined. The model was then used to assess the potential risks to the pipelines as the solids percentages were increased; these risks include clogging via settling particles and increased erosion rates on pipeline wall. Finally, the potential water savings were estimated based on usage records.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Yongsik Jeong, Kwangmin Kim
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