Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers

Lei-ming Wang; Sheng-hua Yin; Ai-xiang Wu

doi:10.1007/s12613-020-2059-3

Volume 27 Issue 7

Jul. 2020

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2020 > 27(7): 900-909

Lei-ming Wang, Sheng-hua Yin, and Ai-xiang Wu, Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 7, pp. 900-909. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2059-3

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Lei-ming Wang, Sheng-hua Yin, and Ai-xiang Wu, Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 7, pp. 900-909. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2059-3

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Research Article

Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers

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Corresponding author:
Sheng-hua Yin E-mail: ustb_ysh@163.com;csuysh@126.com
Received: 5 August 2019; Revised: 9 December 2019; Accepted: 9 December 2019; Available online: 12 April 2020

Abstract

Abstract

Ore particles, especially fine interlayers, commonly segregate in heap stacking, leading to undesirable flow paths and changeable flow velocity fields of packed beds. Computed tomography (CT), COMSOL Multiphysics, and MATLAB were utilized to quantify pore structures and visualize flow behavior inside packed beds with segregated fine interlayers. The formation of fine interlayers was accompanied with the segregation of particles in packed beds. Fine particles reached the upper position of the packed beds during stacking. CT revealed that the average porosity of fine interlayers (24.21%) was significantly lower than that of the heap packed by coarse ores (37.42%), which directly affected the formation of flow paths. Specifically, the potential flow paths in the internal regions of fine interlayers were undeveloped. Fluid flowed and bypassed the fine interlayers and along the sides of the packed beds. Flow velocity also indicated that the flow paths easily gathered in the pore throat where flow velocity (1.8 × 10⁻⁵ m/s) suddenly increased. Fluid stagnant regions with a flow velocity lower than 0.2 × 10⁻⁵ m/s appeared in flow paths with a large diameter.
- fine interlayer;
- flow behavior;
- computed tomography;
- segregation;
- preferential flow

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