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Numerical simulation and optimization of red mud separation thickener with self-dilute feed

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Abstract

In order to acquire the flow pattern and investigate the settling behavior of the red mud in the separation thickener, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), custom subroutines and agglomerates settling theory were employed to simulate the three-dimensional flow field in an industrial scale thickener with the introduction of a self-dilute feed system. The simulation results show good agreement with the measurement onsite and the flow patterns of the thickener are presented and discussed on both velocity and concentration field. Optimization experiments on feed well and self-dilute system were also carried out, and indicate that the optimal thickener system can dilute the solid concentration in feed well from 110 g/L to 86 g/L which would help the agglomerates’ formation and improve the red mud settling speed. Furthermore, the additional power of recirculation pump can be saved and flocculants dosage was reduced from 105g/t to 85g/t in the operation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Tian Zhou  (周天), Mao Li  (李茂), Chenn-qian Zhou  (周谦) & Jie-min Zhou  (周孑民)

  2. Hunan Key Laboratory of Energy Conservation in Process Industry, Changsha, 410083, China

    Tian Zhou  (周天), Mao Li  (李茂), Chenn-qian Zhou  (周谦) & Jie-min Zhou  (周孑民)

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, 46323-2094, USA

    Mao Li  (李茂) & Chenn-qian Zhou  (周谦)

Authors
  1. Tian Zhou  (周天)
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  2. Mao Li  (李茂)
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  3. Chenn-qian Zhou  (周谦)
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  4. Jie-min Zhou  (周孑民)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mao Li  (李茂).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(50876116) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

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Zhou, T., Li, M., Zhou, Cq. et al. Numerical simulation and optimization of red mud separation thickener with self-dilute feed. J. Cent. South Univ. 21, 344–350 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-1946-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-014-1946-z

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