Intensified and sustainable leaching by acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation
Master Thesis
Summary
The process of leaching is an important application for metal and mineral extraction in the mining industry in Sweden and around the globe. To obtain higher recovery of mineral and metal through leaching, this project aims in designing and developing a product that is more efficient than other technologies and procedures currently employed in the industry.
The innovative and the state of the art virtual method that needs to be innovated and tested is the aim of the project. The method implemented needs to be re-designed and further developed. Figure 1, below shows the schematic diagram of the current experimental setup.
In combination with optimization methods, applied transient CFD techniques and turbulence modelling of the flow situation, mass transfer rate and molecular diffusion should be increased. The further development of this ultrasound based method should lead to minimization of duration of leaching process and should also decrease operating parameters like temperature and pressure.
Application of the above mentioned virtual methods will lead to a state of controlled transient cavitation intensity for an ideal leaching process. Further development and optimization of parameters will alleviate in the design process to develop a scalable flow reactor concept for a new innovative, energy efficient, environmental friendly and sustainable leaching that can be used in the mining industry.
The thesis work strives towards the following measurable objectives:
- Publication 1: Literature summary
- Product design
- Development of CFD technology for product design application incl. experimental validation
- Development of risk analysis and design criteria
- Publication 2: Design Manual
- 2 publications in journals/conferences.
The project will be conducted in cooperation between LTU, Vinova and Boliden.
Keywords: Leaching CFD, Optimization, Turbulence Modelling, Innovation, Sustainable Development
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