A novel method to locate and profile the bed of a thickener

Cook, Robert A.; Johnson, Jerold

doi:10.36487/acg_rep/1504_01_cook

Cited by 2 publications

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“…The premature release of the feed stream from the feedwell was also shown to be able to carry the heavier solids of floccules to one side of the thickener (Cook, 2015). This generated a 'sand bar' to one side, which was easily discernible with the manual bed level method.…”

Section: Figure 1 Un-collected Fines Short Circuiting To the Overflowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feedwell is the heart of a thickener

Johnson¹,

Accioly²

2017

Proceedings of the 20th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings

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Thickeners that produce non-Newtonian underflow suspensions use the same feedwells as with other thickener types. The functions of converting the horizontal momentum of the feed to a vertical flow and the promoting flocculation of the suspended solids are the same for any thickener. The industry has correctly addressed the feedwell design in recent years. The effectiveness of the feedwell design to accomplish these functions has generally been poor in the industry. Short circuiting flows carry the solids into the thickener prematurely before all the suspended solids have been captured. Also these flows generate such force that solids are carried to the overflow launder before settling can occur. Paste thickeners are oftentimes used as the final dewatering stage of the tailings and the main source for process water return. Clarity of the process water is often regulated if discharged and poor clarity recirculates solids that cause a burden on the system. The patented Evenflo TM feedwell has been installed in all types of thickener in China and around the world with significant improvements to overflow clarity and overall thickener operation. This paper provides case study results of clarity and elimination of short circuiting.

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Section: Figure 1 Un-collected Fines Short Circuiting To the Overflowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feedwell is the heart of a thickener

Johnson¹,

Accioly²

2017

Proceedings of the 20th International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings

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“…The key is to identify and maintain the bed level. Installing the MudMax bed level sensor will provide direct measurement of the compacting solids (Cook & Johnson, 2015). This straight forward control requires accurate bed level measurement.…”

Section: Trend Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Modernization of Chinalco Toromocho Copper Tailings Thickeners

Johnson¹,

Vizcarra²

2020

Proceedings of the International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings

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The Chinalco Toromocho copper mine uses four (4) 43-m diameter paste-type tailings thickener, each is designed to process over 1,300 dry metric tons per hour, mtph and 3,600 cubic meters per hour, m 3 /h of slurry. The target non-Newtonian underflow was designed to be pumped to the tailings storage facility, TSF to be surface stacked. Difficulty has been experienced achieving the target underflow causing water balance, pumping capacity and other issues. Chinalco contracted WesTech to perform an optimization study to evaluate the benefit of retrofitting their feed system and mechanism of their thickeners with the latest advances in the market. Plant trend data was analyzed over the past 1.5 years, establishing the current operation of the site. The tailings stream variation range in dry mtph, particle size distribution, PSD, and flocculant consumption, are shown. The underflow weight percent and overflow clarity operating ranges were tracked. The analysis gives the effect these critical parameters have on thickener performance. A comparison is provided of the predicted modernization performance in response to the established operating variability. This paper provides a review of the Toromocho thickeners trend data based performance, optimization study results, and the mine's way forward to optimize their tailings thickeners.

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A novel method to locate and profile the bed of a thickener

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Feedwell is the heart of a thickener

Feedwell is the heart of a thickener

Modernization of Chinalco Toromocho Copper Tailings Thickeners

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