Synthesis and formation mechanism of HfB_(2) ultrafine powders with low oxygen via flocculating settling assisted process and carbo/borothermal reduction

In this study,ultrafine HfB_(2) powders with low oxygen were synthesized by a flocculating settling process which yielded ceramic precursors and subsequent carbo/borothermal reduction of the precursors.The liquid phase precursor method can achieve uniform mixing of components at the molecular level through multiple complexation reactions,and then realize the carbo/borothermal reduction reaction at a lower temperature to obtain ultrapure HfB2 powders.The as-resulted quasi-spherical HfB2 powders under the optimum conditions(atomic molar ratio M:B:C=1:2.8:10)calcined at 1500°C for 1 h have an average particle size of 205 nm and an oxygen content of 0.097 wt.%.Detailed analysis of the phase evolution of precursors shows that the formation of HfB2 particles is a mass diffusion mode from the external to internal HfO_(2)cores.We reveal that below 1300°C,HfC is not an intermediate product of HfB2 powder during the transition of precursors.Instead,HfC was formed as a by-product at high temperatures in the carbo/borothermal reduction process.The proposed formation mechanism of HfB_(2) is completely different from the traditional two-step transformation method.After the sintering of the ultrafine powders,the HfB_(2) ceramics show a relative density of 96.1%and superior mechanical properties compared to other works.Furthermore,by simply replacing the initial metal source,chlorinated group IV and V transitional metals(Ti,Zr,Ta,Nb)can also convert into high-purity and ultrafine diborides.This work shows that flocculating settling assisted carbo/borothermal reduction has potential in lot size production of various high-purity and ultrafine boride powders.

Numerical study of flocculation settling and thickening of whole-tailings in deep cone thickener using CFD approach

Deep cone thickener (DCT) is the key equipment in cemented paste backfill (CPB), so it is essential to study the flocculation settling and thickening characteristics of the whole-tailings in DCT. Coupled with population balance model (PBM), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to study the characteristics, namely particle size distribution (PSD) and underflow concentration in DCT. Based on actual production, the effects of rake rotational speed, feed rate and tailings slurry concentration were simulated and analyzed in a certain range. The PSD varied with rake rational speed, feed rate and tailings slurry concentration almost in the same trend, but the influence of feed rate was less than that of rake rational speed and tailings slurry concentration. The underflow concentration increased at first and then declined with rake rational speed and feed rate, but it rose and fell with the tailings slurry concentration. Finally, the optimal key parameters on the flocculation settling and thickening of the whole-tailings in DCT were obtained: rake rotational speed of 17 r/min, feed rate of 3.25 m^3/h and tailings slurry concentration of 20%, giving the reference values to the industrial production in Baishitamu Copper Mine.

Numerical simulation of flocculation and settling behavior of whole-tailings particles in deep-cone thickener

Rapid dewatering and thickening of whole-tailings with ultrafine particles is one of the most important processes for the whole-tailings paste preparation. Deep-cone thickener, a kind of such process for the flocculation and settling of whole-tailings, is particularly necessary to study. However, there exist many problems in observing the flocculation and settling process of whole-tailings, as well as the particle size distribution(PSD) of whole-tailings floccules in deep-cone thickener. Population balance model(PBM) is applied to predict the PSD in deep-cone thickener, and LUO model and GHADIRI model are employed to study the aggregation and fragmentation mechanism of the whole-tailings particles, respectively. Through three-dimensional numerical simulation on the whole-tailings flocculation and settling in deep-cone thickener using computational fluid dynamics(CFD)-PBM, the distribution of density and turbulent kinetic energy in deep-cone thickener were obtained, at the same time the spatio-temporal changes of whole-tailings floccules particle size distribution are analyzed. Finally, the major flocculation position in deep-cone thickener is found and the flocculation settling rules of whole-tailings are achieved.

Flocculated unclassified tailings settling efficiency improvement by particle collision optimization in the feedwell

Efficient thickening of tailings is a prerequisite for the metal mine tailings backfill and surface disposal operation.The effective collision of ultrafine tailings particles in suspension with flocculant molecules is essential for flocs aggregates formation and settling.Unreasonable feeding speed and flocculant adding method will lead to the failure of effective dispersion of flocculant and high particle content in thickener overflow.In this work,the effect of turbulence intensity and flocculant adding method on floc size,strength,and movement characteristics are analysed.Aiming to solve the turbidity increased,a pilot-scale continuous thickening test was carried out.Taking a single particle and multiple flocs of full tailings as the research object,the particle iterative settlement model of flocs was established.The influence of turbulence intensity on collision effect is studied by tracking and simulating particle trajectory.The results show that in the process of single particle settlement,chaos appears in the iterative process owing to particle adhesion which caused by micro action.When the turbulence intensity is 25.99%,the maximum particle size of tailings floc is 6.21 mm and the maximum sedimentation rate is 5.284 cm·s^(−1).The tailings floc presents a multi-scale structure of particle-force chain system when hindered settling,and the interweaving of strong and weak force chains constitutes the topological structure of particles.The results are applied to a thicker in plant,the flocculant addition mode and feed rate are optimized,and the flocs settling speed and overflow clarity are improved.

Application of polymeric flocculant for enhancing settling of the pond ash particles and water drainage from hydraulically stowed pond ash

Delayed settling of the ash particles and poor drainage of water from the pond ash are the major problems faced during the hydraulic stowing of pond ash. In this study the effect of polymeric flocculant on settling of the ash particles and drainage of water during pond ash stowing are investigated. In addition, the parameters, viz. drainage and absorption of water during pond ash stowing are quantified by stowing a mine goaf model with pond ash slurries of five different concentrations added with and without flocculant. The study revealed that addition of only 5 10 6 of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Na-CMC) flocculant with the pond ash slurries during stowing offers best result in terms of quicker settling of the ash particles and enhanced water drainage from the hydraulically stowed pond ash. Besides, it resulted in drainage of more than 85% of the total water used in the initial 45 min of stowing. The improvement in drainage is caused due to coagulation and flocculation of the pond ash particles because of charge neutralization and particle-particle bridging. This study may provide a basis for estimating the drainage and absorption of water during the real pond ash stowing operation in underground mines.

Siltation Prediction for Navigation Channels and Harbour Basins on Muddy Beach

This paper, after briefly reviewing the experimental research on sediment transport on muddy beach since the 1950s, improves and perfects the method for forecasting siltation in navigation channels and harbour basins which was first put forward in China by the authors. In consideration of silty sediment and sand, some factors in forecasting methods have been changed and modified. Consequently, the modified methods can be used either to compute siltation in navigation channels and harbour basins on muddy beach or to compute siltation and scouring in navigation channels and harbour basins on both silty beach and sandy beach. The verification of field data from eleven large, medium and small natural harbours shows a good agreement between the forecasting by the modified method and the natural conditions. Finally, the paper deals with the rational utilization of water area after the construction of the West Dyke in Lianyungang, the maintenance of water depth of the navigation channel at the entrance, siltation distribution, siltation in the navigation channel and harbour basin for ships of 100 thousand tonnnage. Results once again prove that the prospect of constructing Lianyungang Harbour into a deepwater harbour is bright.