Visualization of flow behavior during bioleaching of waste rock dumps under saturated and unsaturated conditions
A simulation framework is outlined for the analysis of the saturated and unsaturated flow behavior within a waste rock dump. The traditional inherent blackbox approach for treating waste rock dumps has resulted in generalizations that sometimes are proved to be inaccurate. The hydrodynamics plays an important role in terms of leaching reaction kinetics, heat and solute transport. The coexistence of saturated and unsaturated flow within the dump makes the flow behavior complicated. In this study, X-ray CT (SOMATOM Sensation 16) was used to obtain the real pore structure of the packed waste rocks. The meso-scale saturated flow process was visualized through solving the governing equation by the COMSOL Multiphysics software. As the velocity field depends strongly on the distribution of channels, pore connectivity and throat size, the macro-scale unsaturated velocity field and metal concentration within the dump were obtained by combining the unsaturated flow equation with leaching reactions and solute transport kinetics. The simulation shows good agreement with the experimental and other numerical results. The information drawn from this model can be used to improve the understanding of the hydrodynamics within waste rock dumps.
bioleaching visualization flow behavior waste rock dump
Shenghua Yin Aixiang Wu Hongjiang Wang Kaijian Hu
Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083,
国际会议
The 19th International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium(第19届国际生物湿法冶金大会 IBS2011)
长沙
英文
182-189
2011-09-18（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）