Publication: MIGRACIÓN DE LA FASE SÓLIDA DE PULPAS SEDIMENTABLES EN DUCTOS DE LARGA DISTANCIA
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Date
2021-05
Authors
SALINAS MONSALVE, CONSUELO PAZ
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Abstract
En la industria minera, ante ciertas variaciones operacionales o emergencias externas se hace necesario detener el transporte de pulpa de concentrado de cobre. En este escenario, bajo la detención del transporte hidráulico, se genera una separación entre la fase sólida y la fase líquida de la pulpa mineral, producto de la sedimentación de partículas, formando un lecho de sedimento en la parte inferior de la tubería. En el caso de que la pendiente de la tubería sea suficientemente grande, las partículas sólidas comienzan a deslizar entre ellas, migrando hacia zonas de baja pendiente y/o puntos bajos del trazado, lo que corresponde a la migración de partículas sólidas. La ocurrencia de este fenómeno genera problemas operacionales durante el reinicio del transporte de pulpa, provocados principalmente por el aumento de densidad de la pulpa en los puntos bajos del trazado.
En estudios anteriores se ha abordado este problema a través de dos enfoques: empleando simulaciones numéricas, complementadas experimentalmente con pulpas idealizadas y con modelos predictivos generados a partir de datos operacionales.
En este trabajo, el enfoque fue analizar la validez del procedimiento de ensayo utilizado actualmente, para evaluar si es posible resuspender las partículas de concentrado de cobre ante una detención. Para esto, se ajustaron algunas características del equipo y la metodología del ensayo, y se implementaron un sistema de extracción de muestras y un sistema de procesamiento de imágenes para describir de mejor forma la mecánica de la migración de partículas y de esta forma, determinar la influencia tanto de la pendiente del trazado como de la concentración de partículas sólidas.
En total se desarrollaron 12 ensayos con pulpa de concentrado de cobre proveniente de un yacimiento minero, combinando cuatro pendientes (entre 5 y 20%) y tres concentraciones de pulpa (Cp entre 55 y 65%), utilizando valores dentro del rango operacional encontrado comúnmente en concentraductos operativos actualmente. El análisis de los resultados obtenidos permitió determinar que ambas variables poseen un efecto en la morfología de la pulpa al final de cada ensayo. Como conclusión principal, se encontró que el comportamiento más desfavorable frente a migración de partículas, dentro del rango de pendientes del sistema y concentraciones exploradas, se encuentra dominado por la concentración de sólidos más baja, correspondiente a 55%, y la condición más favorable por la pendiente del sistema más baja, correspondiente a 5%.
Por último, se analizó la metodología de ensayo existente actualmente y se establecieron algunas oportunidades de mejora. Así como también se proponen algunas oportunidades de trabajos de investigación para continuar con el estudio del fenómeno migratorio a mayor escala y evaluando otras variables que no fueron consideradas en este estudio.
In the mining industry, when faced with certain operational variations or external emergencies, it becomes necessary to stop the transport of copper concentrate slurry. In this scenario, when the hydraulic transport is stopped, a separation is generated between the solid phase and the liquid phase of the mineral pulp, due to the sedimentation of particles, forming a sediment bed in the lower part of the pipeline. In the event that the slope of the pipe is sufficiently large, the solid particles begin to slide between them, migrating towards areas of low slope and/or low points of the route, which corresponds to the migration of solid particles. The occurrence of this phenomenon generates operational problems during the restart of the slurry transport, mainly caused by the increase of slurry density in the low points of the route. Previous studies have addressed this problem through two approaches: through numerical simulations, experimentally complemented with idealized slurries, and with predictive models generated from operational data. In this work, the approach was to analyze the validity of the test procedure currently used to evaluate whether it is possible to resuspend copper concentrate particles upon detention. For this purpose, some features of the equipment and the test methodology were adjusted, and a sample extraction system and an image processing system were implemented to better describe the mechanics of particle migration and thus determine the influence of both the slope of the trace and the concentration of solid particles. A total of 12 tests were developed with copper concentrate pulp from a mining deposit, combining four slopes (between 5 and 20%) and three slurry concentrations (Cp between 55% y 65%), using values within the operational range commonly found in currently operating concentrators. The analysis of the results obtained allowed determining that both variables have an effect on the slurry morphology at the end of each test. As a main conclusion, it was found that the most unfavorable behavior in terms of particle migration, within the range of system slopes and concentrations explored, is dominated by the lowest solids concentration, corresponding to 55%, and the most favorable condition by the lowest system slope, corresponding to 5%. Lastly, the current testing methodology was analyzed and some opportunities for improvement were established. Some research work opportunities were also proposed to continue with the study of the migratory phenomenon on a larger scale and evaluating other variables that were not considered in this study
In the mining industry, when faced with certain operational variations or external emergencies, it becomes necessary to stop the transport of copper concentrate slurry. In this scenario, when the hydraulic transport is stopped, a separation is generated between the solid phase and the liquid phase of the mineral pulp, due to the sedimentation of particles, forming a sediment bed in the lower part of the pipeline. In the event that the slope of the pipe is sufficiently large, the solid particles begin to slide between them, migrating towards areas of low slope and/or low points of the route, which corresponds to the migration of solid particles. The occurrence of this phenomenon generates operational problems during the restart of the slurry transport, mainly caused by the increase of slurry density in the low points of the route. Previous studies have addressed this problem through two approaches: through numerical simulations, experimentally complemented with idealized slurries, and with predictive models generated from operational data. In this work, the approach was to analyze the validity of the test procedure currently used to evaluate whether it is possible to resuspend copper concentrate particles upon detention. For this purpose, some features of the equipment and the test methodology were adjusted, and a sample extraction system and an image processing system were implemented to better describe the mechanics of particle migration and thus determine the influence of both the slope of the trace and the concentration of solid particles. A total of 12 tests were developed with copper concentrate pulp from a mining deposit, combining four slopes (between 5 and 20%) and three slurry concentrations (Cp between 55% y 65%), using values within the operational range commonly found in currently operating concentrators. The analysis of the results obtained allowed determining that both variables have an effect on the slurry morphology at the end of each test. As a main conclusion, it was found that the most unfavorable behavior in terms of particle migration, within the range of system slopes and concentrations explored, is dominated by the lowest solids concentration, corresponding to 55%, and the most favorable condition by the lowest system slope, corresponding to 5%. Lastly, the current testing methodology was analyzed and some opportunities for improvement were established. Some research work opportunities were also proposed to continue with the study of the migratory phenomenon on a larger scale and evaluating other variables that were not considered in this study
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Keywords
TRANSPORTE HIDRÁULICO , SÓLIDOS , ACARREO MINERO
