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Reconstructed rheometer for direct monitoring of dewatering performance and torque in tailings thickening process

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Abstract

To further clarify the dewatering performance and torque evolution during the tailings thickening process, a self-made rake was connected to a rheometer to monitor the shear stress and torque. The dewatering performance of the total tailings was greatly improved to a solid mass fraction of 75.33% in 240 min. The dewatering process could be divided into three stages: the rapid torque growth period, damping torque growth period, and constant torque thickening zone. The machine restart was found to have a significant effect on the rake torque; it could result in rake blockage. Furthermore, the simultaneous evolution of the torque and solid mass fraction of thickened tailings was analyzed. A relationship between the torque and the solid mass fraction was established, which followed a power function. Both the experimental and theoretical results provide a reference for the deep cone thickener design and operation to enhance the dewatering performance.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51804015 and 51834001) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. FRF-TP-17-024A1).

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Correspondence to Ai-xiang Wu or Zhu-en Ruan.

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Wang, Y., Wu, Ax., Ruan, Ze. et al. Reconstructed rheometer for direct monitoring of dewatering performance and torque in tailings thickening process. Int J Miner Metall Mater 27, 1430–1437 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2116-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2116-y

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