Inline Characterization of mining

slurries by ultrasonic velocity

profile technique (UVP)
William Montes, Pamela Garrido and Cesar Moscoso
 CONTENTS

• ABOUT US (CI-JRI)

• TAKING THE HASSLE OUT OF SLURRY

• ULTRASOUND A NEW TOOL

• THE PROTOTYPE

• APPLICATIONS
ABOUT US
(CI-JRI)
 CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN JRI
In 2010 The Research Center “Centro de Investigación JRI S.A.” (CI-JRI)
was founded with the mission of: “transforming knowledge in technological
solutions to be implemented in mining and metallurgical processes creating
economic value for its customers and for the JRI Group”

Grey aspects exploration, applied

R&D, general services.

Applied
Research Industrial
Laboratory Design and full INGENIERIA

Industry
Services Engineering - Mining
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN
- Engineering

Results & Recomendations

Optimization, Innovation

Acreditación LE 1226
TAKING THE
HASSLES
OUT OF
SLURRY
 TODAY

Variable Sampling In-line approach

• Solid Concentration • Slow • Some densimeters and
(Percentage) • Need laboratory test flowmeters, can deliver it.
• Rheology (stationary regimen) • Only applicable to filled
• Density • Low Frequency and or pressurized pipes
• Particle size distribution / adaptability
morphology • Predictive control is not
• Mineralogy possible
 THE GAP
Real plant conditions:
• Slurry conditions change over time.
• It is not always consistent with the
stationary regime.
• It requires in line solutions, in order
to change de operational
philosophy to a predictive control.

The Bad
The Good Turbulent flow

Wave front

Laminar flow

The Ugly
ULTRASOUND A NEW
TOOL
WHY ULTRASOUND?
Ultrasonic
Sensor
WHY ULTRASOUND?
What are they?

• Ultrasound = Mechanical wave.

• It propagates in gas, liquid, and
solid tissues.
• 20 kHz < frequency < 4 MHz

It has two families:

• Power ultrasound
• Signal ultrasound
 SIGNAL US
Echo-pulse Pulse transmission

• Signal ultrasounds DO
NOT generate physical
and/ or chemical changes.

• Values of “Speed” are

generally used as variable.

• They can be used to

measure distances,
densities (acoustic
spectroscopy).
THE PROTOTYPE
 TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY

• CP max 32%.
• Input v = 3v
• Low resolution

+- 5V
12V

• CP max 60%.
• Input v = up to 100v
• High resolution

12V 24-180V
PROTOTYPE
 UVP SIGNAL PROCESSING

SIGNAL

• UVP for Cp 50% and 25% of

benotnite
APPLICATIONS
 APLICATIONS

ISSUE Problems with CONSEQUENCES

closing balances
Lack of
More
information for The online monitoring /
complex transportation Embanking
slurries management
control of transport
conditions is necessary.
Velocity profile Tailings dam
instability
Solids percentaje
Rheology
Material wear
 BENEFIT
Variable Where Benefit
Solid Percentage • Tailings • Transport conditions
• Slurry • Calculate future incomes
• Open flume
Velocity profile • Tailings • Balances
• Slurry • Control of flume
• Open flume • Planning (transport)
• Design
Rheology • Tailings • Predictive Maintenance
• Slurry • Increase of water recovery (in
thickener operation, up to 3%)
• Open flume • Increment of the effective
operational time (reduce the
downtime up 50%)
• Control of thickener (predictive)
CI-JRI@jri.cl