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Numerical simulation of flocculation and settling behavior of whole-tailings particles in deep-cone thickener

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Abstract

Rapid dewatering and thickening of whole-tailings with ultrafine particles is one of the most important processes for the whole-tailings paste preparation. Deep-cone thickener, a kind of such process for the flocculation and settling of whole-tailings, is particularly necessary to study. However, there exist many problems in observing the flocculation and settling process of whole-tailings, as well as the particle size distribution (PSD) of whole-tailings floccules in deep-cone thickener. Population balance model (PBM) is applied to predict the PSD in deep-cone thickener, and LUO model and GHADIRI model are employed to study the aggregation and fragmentation mechanism of the whole-tailings particles, respectively. Through three-dimensional numerical simulation on the whole-tailings flocculation and settling in deep-cone thickener using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-PBM, the distribution of density and turbulent kinetic energy in deep-cone thickener were obtained, at the same time the spatio-temporal changes of whole-tailings floccules particle size distribution are analyzed. Finally, the major flocculation position in deep-cone thickener is found and the flocculation settling rules of whole-tailings are achieved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zhu-en Ruan  (阮竹恩), Cui-ping Li  (李翠平) & Cong Shi  (石聪)

  2. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China for Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Zhu-en Ruan  (阮竹恩), Cui-ping Li  (李翠平) & Cong Shi  (石聪)

Authors
  1. Zhu-en Ruan  (阮竹恩)
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  2. Cui-ping Li  (李翠平)
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  3. Cong Shi  (石聪)
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Additional information

Foundation item: Project(51174032) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(NCET-10-0225) supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, China; Project(FRF-TP-09-001A) supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China

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Ruan, Ze., Li, Cp. & Shi, C. Numerical simulation of flocculation and settling behavior of whole-tailings particles in deep-cone thickener. J. Cent. South Univ. 23, 740–749 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-016-3119-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-016-3119-8

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