The capillary process coexists with gravity flow within leaching heap due to the dual-porosity structure. Capillary rise is responsible for the mineral dissolution in fine particle zones and interior coarse rock. The ...The capillary process coexists with gravity flow within leaching heap due to the dual-porosity structure. Capillary rise is responsible for the mineral dissolution in fine particle zones and interior coarse rock. The effect of particle size and heap porosity on the capillary process was investigated through a series of column tests. Macropore of the ore heap was identified, and its capillary rise theory analysis was put forward. Two groups of ore particles, mono-size and non-uniform, were selected for the capillary rise test. The result shows that particle size has an inverse effect on the capillary ultimate height, and smaller particles exhibit higher capillary rise. Meanwhile, the poorly graded group exhibits small rise height and velocity, while the capillary rise in the well-graded particles is much greater. The relationship between porosity and fitting parameters of capillary rise was obtained. Low porosity and high surface tension lead to higher capillary height of the fine gradation. Moisture content increases with the capillary rise level going up, the relationship between capillary height and moisture content was obtained.展开更多
Two-dimensional images of the granular ore media with different grain sizes were obtained from the X-ray computed tomography.Combined with the digital image processing and finite element techniques,the original graysc...Two-dimensional images of the granular ore media with different grain sizes were obtained from the X-ray computed tomography.Combined with the digital image processing and finite element techniques,the original grayscale images were transformed into the finite element models directly.By using these models,the simulations of pore scale fluid flow among particles were conducted with the COMSOL Multiphysics,and the distribution characteristics of fluid flow velocity and pressure were analyzed.The simulation results show that there exist obvious preferential flow and leaching blind zone in each granular medium.The flow velocity at pore throat is larger than that of pore body and the largest velocity reaches 0.22 m/s.The velocity decreases gradually from the center of pore throat and body to the surface of particles.The flow paths of granular media with larger grain size distribute equally,while the fluid flow velocities in most of areas of granular media with smaller grain size are lower,and some of them approach to zero,so the permeability is very low.There exist some pore clusters with different pressures,which is the basic reason for the uneven flow velocity distribution.展开更多
The production of dump leaching of the Dexing Copper Mine was affected by a preferential solution flow. Formative mechanism of the preferential solution flow was investigated by analyzing the relationship between both...The production of dump leaching of the Dexing Copper Mine was affected by a preferential solution flow. Formative mechanism of the preferential solution flow was investigated by analyzing the relationship between both dump permeability and surface tension and ore diameter. The preferential solution flow occured in the fine ore area when the application rate was low. The preferential solution flow entered into the coarse ore area because the negative pore water pressure disappeared with an increase of the application rate. The preferential solute transportation experiment was conducted by selecting NaCl as mineral. Results of the experiment showed that the concentration of the outflow solution reduced over time. The concentration of the coarse ore area outflow solution was greater than that of the fine ore area. The process of NaCl leaching can be divided into two stages. NaCl was carried out directly by diffusion--convection during the first stage, so the leaching rate increased sharply. But in the second stage, only a small amount of NaCl dissolved in the immobile water. The leaching rate increased slowly because NaC1, dissolved in the immobile water, can only be leached by diffusion.展开更多
In 2006, SOMAIR decided to increase the uranium production by 50% using heap leaching for the treatment of low grade ores. These ores, which come from different lodes with various properties, have been studied in four...In 2006, SOMAIR decided to increase the uranium production by 50% using heap leaching for the treatment of low grade ores. These ores, which come from different lodes with various properties, have been studied in four steps： （ 1 ） Lab tests： to compare the ores （characterization, acid consumptions, recovery...）; （2） Column tests on an average sample： to define significant parameters for a feasibility study; （3） Column tests on specific samples： to optimize recovery for each ore and identify problems of percolation due to the clays; （4） Pilot tests in large boxes （stalls）： to validate process parameters. Uranium production by heap leaching started in July 2009.展开更多
基金Project(51374035)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(201351)supported by the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of ChinaProject(NCET-13-0669)supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University,China
文摘The capillary process coexists with gravity flow within leaching heap due to the dual-porosity structure. Capillary rise is responsible for the mineral dissolution in fine particle zones and interior coarse rock. The effect of particle size and heap porosity on the capillary process was investigated through a series of column tests. Macropore of the ore heap was identified, and its capillary rise theory analysis was put forward. Two groups of ore particles, mono-size and non-uniform, were selected for the capillary rise test. The result shows that particle size has an inverse effect on the capillary ultimate height, and smaller particles exhibit higher capillary rise. Meanwhile, the poorly graded group exhibits small rise height and velocity, while the capillary rise in the well-graded particles is much greater. The relationship between porosity and fitting parameters of capillary rise was obtained. Low porosity and high surface tension lead to higher capillary height of the fine gradation. Moisture content increases with the capillary rise level going up, the relationship between capillary height and moisture content was obtained.
基金Projects(50934002,51074013) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Two-dimensional images of the granular ore media with different grain sizes were obtained from the X-ray computed tomography.Combined with the digital image processing and finite element techniques,the original grayscale images were transformed into the finite element models directly.By using these models,the simulations of pore scale fluid flow among particles were conducted with the COMSOL Multiphysics,and the distribution characteristics of fluid flow velocity and pressure were analyzed.The simulation results show that there exist obvious preferential flow and leaching blind zone in each granular medium.The flow velocity at pore throat is larger than that of pore body and the largest velocity reaches 0.22 m/s.The velocity decreases gradually from the center of pore throat and body to the surface of particles.The flow paths of granular media with larger grain size distribute equally,while the fluid flow velocities in most of areas of granular media with smaller grain size are lower,and some of them approach to zero,so the permeability is very low.There exist some pore clusters with different pressures,which is the basic reason for the uneven flow velocity distribution.
基金Project 50325415 supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 50574099 and 50321402 by the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China and 2004CB619205 by the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Program
文摘The production of dump leaching of the Dexing Copper Mine was affected by a preferential solution flow. Formative mechanism of the preferential solution flow was investigated by analyzing the relationship between both dump permeability and surface tension and ore diameter. The preferential solution flow occured in the fine ore area when the application rate was low. The preferential solution flow entered into the coarse ore area because the negative pore water pressure disappeared with an increase of the application rate. The preferential solute transportation experiment was conducted by selecting NaCl as mineral. Results of the experiment showed that the concentration of the outflow solution reduced over time. The concentration of the coarse ore area outflow solution was greater than that of the fine ore area. The process of NaCl leaching can be divided into two stages. NaCl was carried out directly by diffusion--convection during the first stage, so the leaching rate increased sharply. But in the second stage, only a small amount of NaCl dissolved in the immobile water. The leaching rate increased slowly because NaC1, dissolved in the immobile water, can only be leached by diffusion.
文摘In 2006, SOMAIR decided to increase the uranium production by 50% using heap leaching for the treatment of low grade ores. These ores, which come from different lodes with various properties, have been studied in four steps： （ 1 ） Lab tests： to compare the ores （characterization, acid consumptions, recovery...）; （2） Column tests on an average sample： to define significant parameters for a feasibility study; （3） Column tests on specific samples： to optimize recovery for each ore and identify problems of percolation due to the clays; （4） Pilot tests in large boxes （stalls）： to validate process parameters. Uranium production by heap leaching started in July 2009.
