Cyclic Freeze-Thaw to Assist the Dewatering of Oil Sand Tailings

循环冻融辅助油砂尾矿脱水

• 批准号: 548823-2019
• 负责人: Bajic, Jelena
• 金额: $ 5.46万
• 依托单位: Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=691802
• 关键词: Cyclic; Freeze; Thaw; Assist; Dewatering

The mining of bitumen in Canada's oil sands generates large volumes of fluid fine tailings, a waste materialwhich presents significant challenges to de-watering and consolidation. With over 1,250 million cubic metres of tailings inventory as of 2018, finding a holistic and environmentally responsible solution to tailingsmanagement is a top priority for the Canadian mining industry. The proposed study investigates the potential for utilizing the natural winter climate of northern Alberta to assist the separation of water from tailings solids. Under freezing conditions in the field, a one-dimensional temperature gradient moves slowly through theground, and collects moisture into a reticulated network known as an ice lens. Upon spring thaw, the ice lensesmelt and form channels by which water is released. The replication of field conditions at the laboratory bench scale have historically been expensive and time consuming, and generates data slowly.The present study aims to leverage the funds and findings of a preliminary freeze-thaw study into a more complete investigation into tailings de-watering potential using natural climate cycles, and to develop theprocedures to accurately and economically replicate field freezing conditions at the bench scale, with results obtainable in a timely manner. Through the proper emulation of natural winter conditions, the present researchaims to investigate the effect of flocculant and coagulant addition on the depth to, and speed at which,thickened tailings can freeze. Once the methodologies are established and confirmed to be successful, tailings placement strategies to maximize freeze-thaw de-watering benefits will be further investigated.Finally, this project presents an excellent opportunity for the cross-pollination of knowledge and experience between researchers and industry. The procedures developed in this study will benefit future studies inreplicating one-dimensional temperature gradients, and studies on climate-based methods of tailings sediment de-watering.

在加拿大油砂中开采沥青会产生大量的流体细尾矿，这是一种废弃材料，对脱水和固结提出了重大挑战。截至2018年，加拿大拥有超过12.5亿立方米的尾矿库存，寻找一个全面和对环境负责的尾矿管理解决方案是加拿大采矿业的首要任务。拟议的研究调查的潜力，利用北方阿尔伯塔的自然冬季气候，以协助水从尾矿固体分离。在冻结条件下，一维温度梯度缓慢地穿过地面，并将水分收集到一个称为冰透镜的网状网络中。 春天解冻后，冰透镜融化并形成渠道，水通过这些渠道被释放出来。在实验室规模上复制现场条件历来是昂贵和耗时的，并且生成数据缓慢。本研究的目的是利用初步冻融研究的资金和结果，利用自然气候循环对尾矿脱水潜力进行更全面的调查，并制定程序，以准确和经济地复制现场冻结条件。及时取得成果。 通过适当模拟冬季自然条件，研究絮凝剂和混凝剂的加入对浓缩尾矿冻结深度和冻结速度的影响。 一旦方法被建立并被证实是成功的，尾矿放置策略，以最大限度地提高冻融脱水benefits.Finally，该项目提供了一个很好的机会，交叉授粉的知识和经验之间的研究人员和行业。 本研究所开发的程序将有利于未来的研究，在复制一维温度梯度，并研究基于气候的尾矿沉积物脱水方法。