Reducing water consumption by online measuring of rheology using a pipe rheometer

Authors: Nieuwboer, B; Talmon, A; Hamu, G Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2655_53

Cite As:
Nieuwboer, B, Talmon, A & Hamu, G 2026, 'Reducing water consumption by online measuring of rheology using a pipe rheometer', in AB Fourie, M Horta, M Oliveira & S Wilson (eds), Paste 2026: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-16, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2655_53



Abstract:
Due to the shortage of freshwater, identifying strategies to reduce water consumption in mining areas has become crucial. One of the primary methods employed to reduce water consumption is the use of tailings thickeners, which promote the settling of suspended solids and allows water to be recovered and reused within the process plant, thereby reducing the need for external freshwater sources. Transporting thicker tailings will result in water savings at the cost of an increased pressure loss in pipeline transport. However, control of these thickeners based on solids content measurements or density measurements alone has been proven insufficient, making rheology measurements necessary. Yet, manual rheology measurements do not provide sufficient information for the control system, due to the low measuring frequency – most often once or twice a day. The autonomous rheology meter (ARM), a pipe rheometer, addresses this limitation by measuring rheology every 15 min, providing real-time values for Bingham yield stress and plastic viscosity. By providing, high-frequency rheological data, the ARM enables operators to safely reduce the water content in tailings while ensuring that the slurry remains transportable without risking pipeline blockage. The working principle of the ARM is based on measuring the pressure differences in a U-loop. This results in a wall-shear stress, which is used to compute the yield stress and Bingham viscosity. This paper compares these results against a conventional Haake roto-viscometer laboratory test. Additionally, possible water savings will be estimated, based on the theoretical, calibrated and validated relationship between water content to fines ratio and rheological parameters for tailings. From the water content to fines ratio, the mixture density can be computed, as well as the energy required for hydraulic transport.

Keywords: autonomous rheology meter, water savings

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