Diagnosis of the Technological Efficiency of the Miniseries„ Work in the Industrial Leaching of the Caron Process at Punta Gorda Plant, Cuba

Abstract

The present experimental work was carried out to scale of Demonstrative Unit of Production (UDP) in the Leaching Plant of the Punta Gorda in Cuba with the objective of establishing a sure procedure for the diagnosis of the technological efficiency of the miniseries work, which allows to detect on time: the obstructions in the system and the unequal distribution of pulp with the purpose of operating the aeration parameters of the optimum form, and so to negotiate the cleaning of the pipes with readiness to avoid the extended unbalances of the Ni and Co leached (LixNi-Co) in the Series of the first leaching stage (IraEL). This to proceed was demonstrated, and validated the order of their parts, which consists of three steps: First, the daily study of the pulp densities in the system: Contacts Tanks (TC)-Series of IraEL to detect the critical values of the densities; Second to achieve tests of LixNi-Co in the two miniseries when this values of densities advise it; Third  -  to determine the distribution of the pulp flow in each miniseries from the residence time to confirm the results of the two previous steps and to calculate again the volumetric flows of air for each miniseries and turbo-aereator. It was established that the critical  values of densities that permit to predict an excessive obstruction for each pipe of the miniseries are: 1 175 kg/m3 in relation with the  ρprom  in TC of (1160-1165) kg/m3, as it is the 1  185 kg/m3, in regard to  ρprom  near or smaller than 1170 kg/m3.