An Investigation into the Effect of Operational Factors on Tailings Deep Cones Efficiency at Miduk Copper Complex

Authors: Garmsiri, MR; Haji Amin Shirazi, H Paper is not available for download Contact Us

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_12

Cite As:
Garmsiri, MR & Haji Amin Shirazi, H 2009, 'An Investigation into the Effect of Operational Factors on Tailings Deep Cones Efficiency at Miduk Copper Complex', in R Jewell, AB Fourie, S Barrera & J Wiertz (eds), Paste 2009: Proceedings of the Twelfth International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 101-107, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/963_12



Abstract:
The significance of dewatering and high capital cost of conventional thickeners considering installations and required surface area, lead to deep cone development. In comparison with conventional thickeners, diameter to height ratio of deep cones, having shorter diameter and greater depth, requires less area. Thus in spite of less surface area requirement, using deep cone results in 20–40% increase in recycled water. Being recently innovated, the effect of operational factors on deep cone thickener efficiency has not been reported. In this work the effect of sludge depth and flocculant dosage on underflow concentration of deep cones of Miduk copper complex was investigated. Then the effect of feed rate variation and feed solids per cent on deep cone efficiency was studied. It is shown that 4m increase in sludge depth contributed to 4% increase in underflow solids concentration. Increasing flocculant dosage resulted in decreasing underflow solids per cent, however in comparison with the effect of sludge depth, its impact is not considerable. In addition, 0.6% increase in feed solids per cent resulted in about 1% increase in underflow solids per cent. It is concluded that there is an optimum level for feed solids concentration, above which hindered settling is responsible for a reduction in settling rate and hence disturb deep cone operation, however its impact on underflow solids per cent is desirable.

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