Abstract
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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
YANG Bao-hua, WU Ai-xiang, JIANG Huai-chun. Evolvement of permeability of ore granular media during heap leaching based on image analysis [J]. Transaction of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2008, 18(2): 426–431.
CARIAGA E, CONCHA F, SEPULVEDA M. Flow through porous media with applications to heap leaching of copper ores [J]. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2005, 111(2): 151–165.
BOUFFARD S C, DIXON D G. Investigative study into the hydrodynamics of heap leaching processes [J]. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions, 2001, 32(5): 763–776.
LIU Jin-zhi, WU Ai-xiang. Study on the hydrodynamics of heap leaching process [J]. Mathematical Theory and Applications, 2006, 26(3): 123–125.
ACHARYA R C, VAN DER ZEE S E A T M, LEIJNSE A. Approaches for modeling longitudinal dispersion in pore-networks [J]. Advances in Water Resources, 2007, 30(2): 261–272.
CROSS M, BENNETT C R, CROFT T N, MCBRIDE D, GEBHARDT J E. Computational modeling of reactive multi-phase flows in porous media: Applications to metals extraction and environmental recovery processes [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2006, 19(10): 1098–1108.
SHEIKHZADEH G A, MEHRABIAN M A, MANSOURI S H, SARRAFI A. Computational modeling of unsaturated flow of liquid in heap leaching—using the results of column tests to calibrate the model [J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2005, 48(2): 279–292.
MICHALIS V K, KALARAKIS A N, SKOURAS E D, BURGANOS V N. Mesoscopic modeling of flow and dispersion phenomena in fractured solids [J]. Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 2008, 55(7): 1525–1540.
MOUSAVI S M, JAFARI A, YAGHMAEI S, VOSSOUGHI M, SARKOMAA P. Computer simulation of fluid motion in a porous bed using a volume of fluid method: Application in heap leaching [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2006, 19(4): 1077–1083.
LIU Jian-jun, DAI Li-qiang, LI Shu-tie. Numerical simulation of microcosmic flow in porous media [J]. Journal of Liaoning Technical University, 2005, 24(5): 680–682. (in Chinese)
TSAFNAT N, TSAFNAT G, JONES A S. Automated mineralogy using finite element analysis and X-ray microtomography [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2009, 22(2): 149–155.
BOEK E S, VENTUROLI M. Lattice-Boltzmann studies of fluid flow in porous media with realistic rock geometries [J]. Computers & Mathematics with Applications, 2010, 59(7): 2305–2314.
OVAYSI S, PIRI M. Direct pore-level modeling of incompressible fluid flow in porous media [J]. Journal of Computational Physics, 2010, 229(19): 7456–7476.
VIDELA A R, LIN C L, MILLER J D. Simulation of saturated fluid flow in packed particle beds-The lattice-Boltzmann method for the calculation of permeability from XMT images [J]. Journal of the Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2008, 39(6): 117–128.
ROBERTO M A, WILLIAMS R A, JIA Xiao-dong. Combining X-ray microtomography with computer simulation for analysis of granular and porous materials [J]. Particuology, 2010, 8(2): 81–99.
KUTAY M E, AYDILEK A H, MASAD E. Laboratory validation of lattice Boltzmann method for modeling pore-scale flow in granular materials [J]. Computers and Geotechnics, 2006, 33(8): 381–395.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: Projects(50934002, 51074013) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, Bh., Wu, Ax. & Yin, Sh. Simulation of pore scale fluid flow of granular ore media in heap leaching based on realistic model. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 18, 848–853 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-011-0772-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-011-0772-9