A description of the sedimentation

process during dynamic thickener

operation

Andrew Vietti & Fredre Dunn

Paterson & Cooke

Overview
Sedimentation Fundamentals
Static Batch Mode
Dynamic Batch Mode
Dynamic Continuous Mode

Consolidation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Consolidation Profile
Mud Bed Density Profile

Sedimentation Fundamentals
STATIC BATCH Sedimentation (first described by Coe & Clevenger 1916)
Zone A - Clear Water Zone
Zone B Initial Slurry Concentration Zone

Liquid/Solid Interface
B

C
C
Mud Bed Interface

Zone C Transition Zone

Zone D Compaction Zone

Sedimentation Fundamentals
Sedimentation under STATIC conditions - Slinky Spring analogy

STATIC BATCH Sedimentation (Kynchs theory of Sedimentation 1952)

Slinky Spring analogy

Sedimentation Fundamentals
STATIC BATCH Sedimentation
A

C
C
D

Liquid/solid

Critical
Sedimentation
Point

Interface
Height
Mud bed

Time

Sedimentation Fundamentals
DYNAMIC Sedimentation (Dynamic Batch Mode)
Feed

Feed

No Feed

C
D

C
D

DYNAMIC BATCH MODE

Liquid/solid

STATIC BATCH MODE

Critical
Sedimentation
Point

Interface
Height

Mud bed

Time

DD

Sedimentation Fundamentals
DYNAMIC Sedimentation (Dynamic Batch Mode)cont.
Feed

Feed

Feed

Feed

C
D

DYNAMIC BATCH MODE

Liquid/solid

sliming

Interface
Height
Mud bed
Time

Sedimentation Fundamentals
DYNAMIC Sedimentation (Dynamic Continuous Mode)
Feed

Feed

Feed

Feed

Constant Mud Bed

Interface Height

C
C

C
D

DYNAMIC BATCH MODE

Liquid/solid
Interface
Height
Mud bed
Time

DYNAMIC CONTINUOUS MODE

Sedimentation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Rise Rate (Dynamic Batch Mode)
1800

Mud Bed Interface (mm)

1600
1400
1200
1000
800
0.4 t/m2.h

600

0.6 t/m2.h

400

0.8 t/m2.h

200
0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Time (hr)

For the same slurry, the mud bed rise rate is a function of throughput

Sedimentation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Rise Rate continued

Mud Bed Interface Rise Rate (m/h)

2.5

Platinum Mill Feed

Platinum Tails

1.5

Gold Tailings
Gypsum Precipitate
Kaoline

Diamond Tailings
Coal Fine Tailings
Andalusite Tailings

0.5

0
0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6
Solids Flux Rate (t/m2.h)

0.8

1.0

1.2

For different slurries, the mud bed rise rate is a function of mineral type

Consolidation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Consolidation Profile (Dynamic Batch Mode)
Feed

A
B
C

C
D
D

Intermittent Discharge

DYNAMIC BATCH MODE

80

Feed

Underflow Solids (%m)

Feed

0.4 t/m2.h

75

0.6 t/m2.h

70

0.8 t/m2.h

65
60

55
50

10

Time (h)

Under Dynamic Batch mode, mud bed consolidation profile represents the density of an
element of slurry at the base of the thickener undergoing increasing load with time

Consolidation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Consolidation Profile (Dynamic Continuous Mode)
80
Continuous Feed

Constant Mud Bed

Interface Height
Steady State

Underflow Solids (%m)

A
B
C

0.4 t/m2.h

75

0.6 t/m2.h

70

0.8 t/m2.h

65
60
Dynamic Continuous
Mode

55
50

Continuous discharge

Time (h)
DYNAMIC CONTINUOUS MODE

The mud bed consolidation profile shows a transition from Dynamic Batch to Dynamic
Continuous Mode

10

Consolidation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Density Profile (Dynamic Continuous Mode)

Density Profile

Slurry Column Height (mm)

1600

1400
0.4 t/(m2.h)

1200

0.6 t/(m2.h)

1000

0.8 t/(m2.h)

800
600
400
200
0
50

55

60

65

70

75

80

Underflow Solids (%m)

Transition from DYNAMIC BATCH to DYNAMIC CONTINUOUS MODE

Actually describes a density profile of an element of slurry as it passes through the slurry
column from top to bottom as a function of throughput (true residence time)

Consolidation Fundamentals
Mud Bed Density Profile (Dynamic Continuous Mode)

Underflow Solids (%m)

80
75
0.4 t/m2.h

70

0.6 t/m2.h
0.8 t/m2.h

65

0.4 t/m2.h at Steady State

0.6 t/m2.h at Steady State

60

0.8 t/m2.h at Steady State

55
50

10

Time (h)
DYNAMIC CONTINUOUS MODE

True mud bed residence time as a function of thickener throughput Under Dynamic
Continuous mode (at Steady State)

Summary

The thickening process consists of sedimentation and compaction subprocesses.

Optimum operation of a thickener involves an appropriate balance

between the accumulation rate and consolidation rate of the mud bed.

Optimum consolidation of the mud bed involves adequate residence

time and the introduction of shear (picket raking) to overcome the
compressive yield stress and permeability limit.