Developing a new permeability model of the compressible tailings thickening bed based on the pore network structure parameter

Gezhong Chen; Cuiping Li; Zhuen Ruan; Raimund Bürger; Hezi Hou

doi:10.29393/ppudec-10pmgh50010

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Gezhong Chen Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for High efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
Cuiping Li Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for High efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
Zhuen Ruan Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for High efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
Raimund Bürger Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemática, Departamento de Ingeniería Matemática. Concepción, Chile.
Hezi Hou Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education of China for High efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29393/ppudec-10pmgh50010

Keywords:

tailings thickening, thickening bed, pore network model, permeability

Resumen

In the tailings thickening process, the low concentration tailings slurry is separated by solid liquid separation forming a compressible tailing thickening bed structure at the bottom of the thickener This structure provide s a high concentration filling slurry for mine paste backfilling production. Microstructure study of the compressible tailing s thickening bed and analysis of its permeability is essential for preparing high concentration filling slurry and ensuring stable equipment operation. In this study, we employ ed computer tomography to obtain the pore structure of the compressible tailings thickening bed at different pressures with and without shear. We analyzed the evolution of the compressible tailings thickening bed pore structure under mechanical action based on the pore network model (PNM). P ermeability simu lation experiments of the compressible tailings thickening bed structure were conducted to obtain the permeability evolution trend. Based on the PNM model of the compressible tailings thickening bed pore structure and the research on the thickening bed per meability, a new quantitative index Tw was proposed, and a new permeability model was constructed considering the throat structure parameters. Three empirical models were used to predict the compressible tailings thickening bed permeability and were compa red with the simulation results and the new model. The results indicate that the compressible tailings thickening bed porosity decrease with increas ing thickening bed pressure, which reduces the permeability of the compressible tailings thickening bed structure while increasing the concentration of the thickening bed slurry. In c ompar ison to without shear, rake shear action caused forced damage to the compressible tailings thickening bed pore structure, forcing further discharge of fluid in the tailings thi ckening bed structure, resulting in an additional increase in tailings thickening bed slurry concentration and a fur ther decrease in permeability. The diameter of the spherical pores and the diameter and length of the stick throat in the compressible tailings thickening bed structure all decrease with the increas e in the thickening bed pressure. Fluid in the compressible tailings thickening bed structure primarily discharged to the top of the thickening bed through the throat structure in the PNM model, and the compressible tailings thickening bed structure permeability decreases with increasing Tw value of the throat. The new model proposed in this study, considering the throat structure parameter Tw , is more accurate in predicting the compressible tailings thickening bed permeability compared to the empirical model.

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