Flow visualization simulation of cemented tailings backfill slurry by
particle tracking technology
Abstract
Pipeline flow visualization of cemented tailings backfill slurry (CTBS)
improves the safety and stability of transportation. High turbidity and
low resolution make it difficult for conventional methods to monitor the
particle distribution state of CTBS in a short period of time. Particle
tracking technology (PTT) is used to simulate and investigate the flow
characteristics of CTBS pipeline, combine with theoretical analysis to
construct a CTBS pipeline visualization model, elaborate the particle
distribution state when CTBS flows in the pipeline, and explore the
effects of pipe diameter (PD), flow velocity (FV) and tailings gradation
(TG) on the particle distribution. The results show that particle
tracking technology is better applied to investigate the particle
transport distribution characteristics of CTBS tailings. Three concepts
of particle accumulated gravity Ga, static
friction angle θ and diameter dividing line are defined, and the
transport pipe is divided into light wear zone, medium wear zone and
heavy wear zone. The increase in pipe diameter increases the content of
fine particles at the pipe wall and the thickness of the lubrication
layer becomes larger, which improves the safety and stability of CTBS
transport. The increased flow velocity reduces the settling phenomenon
of large size particles and improves the transport efficiency, which
increases the pipeline transport resistance. The wider the range of
tailings gradation and the smaller the ratio of the number of large size
tailings to small size tailings, the more suitable the tailings are for
pipeline transportation as a backfill aggregate.