Visualization of flow behavior in ore-segregated packed beds with fine interlayers

Abstract

Ore particles, especially fine interlayers, commonly segregate in heap stacking, leading to undesirable flow paths and changeable flow velocity fields of packed beds. Computed tomography (CT), COMSOL Multiphysics, and MATLAB were utilized to quantify pore structures and visualize flow behavior inside packed beds with segregated fine interlayers. The formation of fine interlayers was accompanied with the segregation of particles in packed beds. Fine particles reached the upper position of the packed beds during stacking. CT revealed that the average porosity of fine interlayers (24.21%) was significantly lower than that of the heap packed by coarse ores (37.42%), which directly affected the formation of flow paths. Specifically, the potential flow paths in the internal regions of fine interlayers were undeveloped. Fluid flowed and bypassed the fine interlayers and along the sides of the packed beds. Flow velocity also indicated that the flow paths easily gathered in the pore throat where flow velocity (1.8 × 10⁻⁵ m/s) suddenly increased. Fluid stagnant regions with a flow velocity lower than 0.2 × 10⁻⁵ m/s appeared in flow paths with a large diameter.

Keywords

fine interlayer / flow behavior / computed tomography / segregation / preferential flow

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