Catastrophic mass flows resulting from tailings impoundment failures

Structured methods for improving flow measurement accuracy in pipelines

Izmeritel`naya Tekhnika ◽

10.32446/0368-1025it.2020-5-30-35 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 30-35

Author(s):

Gurami N. Akhobadze

Keyword(s):

Flow Measurement ◽

Measurement Accuracy ◽

Directional Coupler ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Scattered Wave ◽

Orthogonal Polarization ◽

Flow Sensors ◽

Information Signal ◽

Mass Flows ◽

Processing Device

In the age of digital transformation of production processes in industry and science the development and design of intelligent flow sensors for granular and liquid substances transferring through pipelines becomes more important. With this in view new approaches for improving the accuracy of microwave flowmeters are proposed. Taking into account the characteristics ofelectromagnetic waves propagating through a pipeline, a wave scattered by inhomogeneities of the controlled medium is analyzed. Features of the transformation of the polarized scattered wave limiting the geometric dimensions of the pipeline and optimizing the values of the useful scattered signal are revealed. Expediency of collection of the information signal with orthogonal polarization of the scattered wave and through a directional coupler is substantiated. The method of estimating the measurement accuracy with reference to the signal-to-noise ratio at the input of the processing device is given. The research results can be used in cryogenic machine engineering to measure volume and mass flows of liquid cryogenic products.

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Sensitivity Analysis of OTEC-CC-MX-1 kWe Plant Prototype

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14092585 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 2585

Author(s):

Jessica Guadalupe Tobal-Cupul ◽

Estela Cerezo-Acevedo ◽

Yair Yosias Arriola-Gil ◽

Hector Fernando Gomez-Garcia ◽

Victor Manuel Romero-Medina

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Caribbean Sea ◽

Ocean Model ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Working Fluid ◽

Ocean Energy ◽

Mexican Caribbean ◽

Water Temperature Data ◽

Mass Flows

The Mexican Caribbean Sea has potential zones for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) implementation. Universidad del Caribe and Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, with the support of the Mexican Centre of Innovation in Ocean Energy, designed and constructed a prototype OTEC plant (OTEC-CC-MX-1 kWe), which is the first initiative in Mexico for exploitation of this type of renewable energy. This paper presents a sensitivity analysis whose objective was to know, before carrying out the experimental tests, the behavior of OTEC-CC-MX-1 kWe regarding temperature differences, as well as the non-possible operating conditions, which allows us to assess possible modifications in the prototype installation. An algorithm was developed to obtain the inlet and outlet temperatures of the water and working fluid in the heat exchangers using the monthly surface and deep-water temperature data from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model and Geographically Weighted Regression Temperature Model for the Mexican Caribbean Sea. With these temperatures, the following were analyzed: fluctuation of thermal efficiency, mass flows of R-152a and water and power production. By analyzing the results, we verified maximum and minimum mass flows of water and R-152a to produce 1 kWe during a typical year in the Mexican Caribbean Sea and the conditions when the production of electricity is not possible for OTEC-CC-MX-1 kWe.

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LATERITE AS A POTENTIAL SEEPAGE BARRIER FROM A KARST-DEPRESSION TAILINGS IMPOUNDMENT

Clays and Clay Minerals ◽

10.1007/s42860-020-00103-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hai-Yan Gao ◽

Ze-Min Xu ◽

Zhe Ren ◽

Kun Wang ◽

Kui Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tailings Impoundment ◽

Karst Depression

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Prediction of Trace Metal Distribution in a Tailings Impoundment Using an Integrated Geophysical and Geochemical Approach (Raibl Mine, Pb-Zn Alpine District, Northern Italy)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031157 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1157

Author(s):

Nicolò Barago ◽

Stefano Covelli ◽

Mara Mauri ◽

Sara Oberti di Valnera ◽

Emanuele Forte

Keyword(s):

Electrical Resistivity ◽

Metal Distribution ◽

Tailings Impoundment ◽

Secondary Recovery ◽

Chemical Content ◽

Bulk Chemical ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Ground Penetrating ◽

Tailings Ponds ◽

Geochemical Approach

When mines are decommissioned, tailings piles can act as sources of contamination for decades or even centuries. Tailings, which usually contain high concentrations of metals and trace elements, can be reprocessed for a secondary recovery of valuable elements with an innovative approach to a circular economy. This study offers new results for tailings ponds characterisation and chemical content prediction based on an integrated geophysical-geochemical approach. The study of the Raibl Pb-Zn tailings impoundment was done using bulk chemical analysis on borehole samples, Electrical Resistivity Tomography surveys, and Ground Penetrating Radar measurements. We found valuable and statistically significant correlations between the electrical resistivity of the mining impoundments and the metal distribution, thus providing a practical opportunity to characterise large volumes of metal-bearing tailings. In particular, these results can be useful to aid in the development of environmental monitoring programs for remediation purposes or to implement economic secondary recovery plans.

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Numerical Simulation of Radon Atmospheric Dynamic Diffusion from a Flat Ground Uranium Tailings Impoundment

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.807-809.628 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 807-809 ◽

pp. 628-631

Author(s):

Xiao Yong Peng ◽

Xin Zhang ◽

Shuai Huang ◽

Xu Sheng Chai ◽

Lan Xia Guo

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulation ◽

Mass Fraction ◽

Space Distribution ◽

Time And Space ◽

Tailings Impoundment ◽

Diffusion Characteristics ◽

Atmospheric Dynamic ◽

Uranium Tailings ◽

Dynamic Diffusion ◽

Flat Ground

with a flat ground uranium tailings impoundment as the object of the paper, CFD technology was used to study the atmospheric dynamic diffusion characteristics and the evolution of time and space distribution of radon in the uranium tailings impoundment. Results show that, within 1500m range of the leeward of uranium tailings impoundment the falling gradient of radon mass fraction improves with distance increases at the same moment, however the falling gradient flattens with the increase of time gradually; During the first 30 minutes, the radon mass fraction of tailings impoundment in the leeward direction has a larger growth gradient, then flattens out slowly, and stabilizes after 75 minutes.

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Geochemistry of the infiltrating water in the vadose zone of a remediated tailings impoundment, Kristineberg mine,northern Sweden.

Applied Geochemistry ◽

10.1016/s0883-2927(02)00156-7 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 659-674 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Erik Carlsson ◽

Björn Öhlander ◽

Henning Holmström

Keyword(s):

Vadose Zone ◽

Northern Sweden ◽

Tailings Impoundment

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Screening of Human Antibiotic Substances and Determination of Weekly Mass Flows in Five Sewage Treatment Plants in Sweden

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es048143z ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (10) ◽

pp. 3421-3429 ◽

Cited By ~ 385

Author(s):

Richard H. Lindberg ◽

Patrik Wennberg ◽

Magnus I. Johansson ◽

Mats Tysklind ◽

Barbro A. V. Andersson

Keyword(s):

Sewage Treatment ◽

Sewage Treatment Plants ◽

Mass Flows

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Effect of a one-time application of municipal biosolids on plant growth at a metal mine tailings impoundment in a semi-arid climate, Utah, USA

International Journal of Surface Mining Reclamation and Environment ◽

10.1080/09208119808944018 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 29-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R.L. McNearny ◽

Elena B. Belyaeva

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Arid Climate ◽

Tailings Impoundment ◽

Metal Mine ◽

Municipal Biosolids ◽

Semi Arid

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Effect of waste rock inclusions on the seismic stability of an upstream raised tailings impoundment: a numerical investigation

Canadian Geotechnical Journal ◽

10.1139/cgj-2014-0447 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 52 (12) ◽

pp. 1930-1944 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Behnam Ferdosi ◽

Michael James ◽

Michel Aubertin

Keyword(s):

Ground Motions ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Horizontal Displacement ◽

Waste Rock ◽

Seismic Stability ◽

Environmental Damage ◽

Total Width ◽

Tailings Impoundment ◽

Downstream Slope ◽

Potential Failure

Over the years, seismic activity has been a relatively common cause of tailings impoundment failure. The flow of liquefied tailings from such ruptures can result in very severe consequences, including loss of life and environmental damage. A co-disposal technique consisting of placing waste rock inclusions in tailings impoundments prior to and during tailings deposition was proposed by the authors. The waste rock is placed to create continuous inclusions within the impoundment, which provide a number of environmental and geotechnical benefits, particularly with respect to seismic stability. The results of numerical simulations previously performed have shown that the UBCSAND model can predict the seismic response of tailings. The UBCSAND constitutive model was used to conduct simulations to evaluate of the use of waste rock inclusions to improve the seismic stability of a tailings impoundment. The evaluation consists of numerical analyses of an actual tailings impoundment as constructed (without inclusions), and then assuming that it was constructed with inclusions, subjected to earthquake loads of various energy contents and with different predominant frequencies. The analyses were conducted in static, seismic, and post-shaking phases. The displacement of the surface of downstream slope of the tailings dyke was recorded during the analyses. The results indicate that the presence of waste rock inclusions can significantly improve the seismic behavior of the impoundment by reducing the displacements of the surface of the downstream slope and the extent of potential failure zones. Also, the results show that in most cases, the influence of a low-frequency earthquake on the displacement of the downstream slope of the tailings dyke is more important than that of a high-frequency earthquake. The performances of the tailings impoundment with different configurations of waste rock inclusions (varying width and center-to-center spacing) were classified based on the average normalized horizontal displacement of the downstream slope (ARx) for a range input ground motions. Charts were then developed to show how ARx is influenced by the total width of inclusions, their spacing, and the input ground motions.

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