Numerical study of flocculation settling and thickening of whole-tailings in deep cone thickener using CFD approach

作     者：WU Ai-xiang RUAN Zhu-en LI Cui-ping WANG Shao-yong WANG Yong WANG Jian-dong 吴爱祥;阮竹恩;李翠平;王少勇;王勇;王建栋School of Civil & Resources Engineering;University of Science & Technology Beijing

作者机构：School of Civil & Resources Engineering University of Science & Technology Beijing Key Laboratory of High-Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines of the Ministry of EducationUniversity of Science & Technology Beijing 

出 版 物：《Journal of Central South University》 (中南大学学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2019年第26卷第3期

页      面：711-718页

核心收录：

学科分类：081901[工学-采矿工程] 0819[工学-矿业工程] 08[工学] 

基　　金：Project(2016YFC0600709)supported by the National Key R&D Program of China Projects(51574013,51774039)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project(FRF-TP-17-024A1)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China 

主　　题：deep cone thickener flocculation settling thickening whole-tailings computational fluid dynamics 

摘      要：Deep cone thickener (DCT) is the key equipment in cemented paste backfill (CPB), so it is essential to study the flocculation settling and thickening characteristics of the whole-tailings in DCT. Coupled with population balance model (PBM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to study the characteristics, namely particle size distribution (PSD) and underflow concentration in DCT. Based on actual production, the effects of rake rotational speed, feed rate and tailings slurry concentration were simulated and analyzed in a certain range. The PSD varied with rake rational speed, feed rate and tailings slurry concentration almost in the same trend, but the influence of feed rate was less than that of rake rational speed and tailings slurry concentration. The underflow concentration increased at first and then declined with rake rational speed and feed rate, but it rose and fell with the tailings slurry concentration. Finally, the optimal key parameters on the flocculation settling and thickening of the whole-tailings in DCT were obtained: rake rotational speed of 17 r/min, feed rate of 3.25 m^3/h and tailings slurry concentration of 20%, giving the reference values to the industrial production in Baishitamu Copper Mine.