DIMENSIONING OF LEACHING PILES

Design data

Tonnage 30 TMS
Law 1.4 % Cu
Recovery 80%
Height of the stack (h) 1 (m)
Length/Width ratio (m) 1
Mineral density 1.45 (ton/m)3)
Leaching cycle time 30 days
Angle of repose of the mineral 40°

The pile to be sized is of a square base of the permanent and static type.

b
The volume of a rectangular base stack is given by:
h
V=* [ ( 2*A+a ) B+ ( 2 * a + A * )b]
6

Where:
B = n*A
2*h
a = A−
tanα
2*h
b=B-
tanα

By replacing, we obtain:

h 2*h 4*h 2*h

V = *3* A− *B+3*A− *B−
6 tanα tanα tanα

Considering that B=n*A, we have:

h n+1 4 h2 V
A2− * A+ * − 0
tanα n 3n*tan2α h*n

Replacing the values:

8 3+1 4 82 1833348
A2− * A+ * − 0
tan 40 3 3 3* tan240 1.762*8*3

A2- 12.71A-39372.2=0
By solving the quadratic equation, we have:

A=214.6 m
A=-201.9m
Therefore, the width of the leach pile, considering it to be a
the big sole pile is 211.2m, and the other dimensions are:

B=n*A= 3 * 214.6 = 643.8m

2*h 2*8
a=A− 214.6− = 195.5m
tanα tan 40
2*h 16
b = B− =643.8− 624.7m
tanα tan 40
Sizing of the slab floor.

For this type of sizing, it is done based on the number of piles that are
they were employed and the area they cover. The land has the characteristic of being compacted
and leveled with slopes between 0.5 - 1%; on top of this, a layer of fine material will be placed
30cm thick reinforced, whose purpose is to protect the waterproof layer from incrustations of
materials, stones from the floor to the top, on this layer of material will be placed the
high-density polyethylene folder (1.5 to 2 mm thick).

Floor structure.

40 cm of screened gravel

30 cm of sand

folder

30 cm of sand

In order to protect the polyethylene folder from incrustations, a ...

second layer of 30 cm. thick of thin material, leaving the carpet protected by both.
surface, on the second layer of particularly fine material a layer of aggregates is placed
40 cm thick, which will protect it and will also serve as a drainage medium for the solutions.
leachates.

Sizing of the folder.

For the purpose of sizing the folder, the dimensions of the stack are used.
complete.
Dimensions of the stack.

66 m.
A; width = 222 m.

Dimensioncarpeta ( A+3 ) * ( B+3 )

Dimensioncarpeta ( 222+3 ) * ( 666+3 )
Folder dimension=150525m2

Sizing of the irrigation system.

For 30 days, it is irrigated with a half-loaded solution (intermediate solution), the

material compacted and arranged in piles. Subsequently, during 13 days the mineral
it will be irrigated with a refining solution, which comes from the extraction stage by
solvent.
The diameter of the main ducts that will transport the will be determined.
semi-charged solutions, for irrigation over 30 days and 13 for transportation of the
refining solutions.
Determination of the irrigation area.

Irrigation area is given by =

( (
A+a ) * B , +b, )
4

Dimensions of the sub-piles.

b,129.4 m.
B, = 133.2 m
 ( 222+203 ) * ( 133.2+129.4 )
4

irrigation area = 27901.2 m2.

Irrigation with refining solution.

The expression of the flow rate that irrigates with refining solution is given by:

Q=TR*AR

TR19.8 ((l/h)/m)2)
ARirrigation area (m2).

Replacing the values, we have:

l l
Q=19.8 2
27901.2m2=552444.7
hm h

l 1m3 1h m3
Q=552444.7 * * 0.153
h1000l3600s s

Due to loss effects, 10% is added to the calculated flow rate.

Q = Q + 10%

m3
Q=0.169
s
Therefore, the diameter of the ducts that have the function will be determined
transport the intermediate solution for the irrigation of the subpiles.

4*Q
duct diameter
π*v

1.3 m/s

Therefore, the diameter of the duct is obtained.

4*0.169
diameter of the duct= =0.165m.
π*1.3

Irrigation with intermediate solution.

27901.2 m23
Irrigation area = 83703.6 m2

The flow rate that irrigates the intermediate solution is given by:

l m3
Q=19.8 83703.6m2=0.46
hm2 s

Q = Q + 10%

m3
Q=0.506
s

Therefore, the diameter of the duct that transports the intermediate solution is as follows.

4*0.506
diameter of the duct 0.704m.
π*1.3
Determination of the diameter of the irrigation lines, flow rate per line, diameter of
each line.

b,
Line number of the ruler =
reach sprinkler

The sprinklers used have a range of 5 meters in radius.

129.4
Line number of the ruler= =12.9 13
10
For each sub-pile, there are 13 irrigation lines and the total for the entire pile is 65 lines.

Flow per line.

ductal tail 0.169 m3

Flow by line= = =0.013
Numberoflines 13 s

4*0013
diameter of irrigation lines =0.112m.
π*1.3

The ducts through the lines are connected to the main duct, which has the function of distributing.

the irrigation solution towards the sprinklers that are located above the stack, the
Sprinklers are located 10 meters apart.

DIMENSIONING OF THE SPRINKLERS

The flow or drip of the sprinkler must fulfill the function of not causing the
generation of fines, caused by the breakdown of the agglomerates, that is why
the sprinkler must have an even watering and the dripping should not be affected by
adverse conditions.
 a reader
Number of sprinklers per sub-pile
areadealcanceaspersor

2
area of reach for the person = π * r =π* 52=78.54m2

27901.2
Number of sprinklers per sub-pile =355
78.54

And the total number of sprinklers = 1776

Number of sprinklers per line in a sub-stack.

sprinklers for sub-fund 355

aspersoresporlínea = =27.3 28
Number of lines 13

Drainage system for solutions.

For the sizing of the drainage system, the use of is made of

utilization of the floor slope and the degree of percolation present in the
cluster.
The output of the leaching solution is discharged through drainage pipes,
located inside the stack, these ducts discharge the solutions towards the
collection gutters for solutions.
The flow that comes out of the collection channel is 66% of the flow that
enter the irrigation

For each substack, there is.

Total flow 0.169m3/s
Wide subpile 133.2 m
Drainage speed = 1.2 m/s

B, 133.2
Númeroducto = 66.6
separation line 2

Duct number = 67

Total flow that comes out of the collection channel is given by

m3 m3
Q=0.169 0.66 = 0.11
s s

Q 0.11 m3
Flow through duct = = 1.66*10−3
Number pipe 67 s

4*1.66*10−3
duct diameter =0.4m.=4.2cm.
π*1.2

Total number of conduits = 335

Sizing of collection gutters.

The collection gutters serve the function of collecting solutions.

leachates and are immersed in the waterproof lining of the pile.
The characteristic slope of the channel is on the order of 0.5 - 1% towards the point of
collection.

The collection gutter is located 0.5 meters from the pile, next to the
same.
Optimal reason to obtain a maximum area value.
y1
= and with K, =0.35
b2

b y

y=c

Q*N
K, =
m*b8 / 3

m ; slope = 1%
N; roughness coefficient = 0.015
Drainage flow = 0.11*5 = 0.55 m3/s.

Solving for b we have to:

3/8
Q*N
b=
m*K,
 3/8
0.55*0.015
0.581m
0.01 * 0.35

y 1
= y=c=0.29m
0.581 2

The other 2 channels (rich solution and intermediate) have identical characteristics.

For the calculation of the actual rich solution flow rate obtained, it is determined based on the

kgCu/h, obtained and at the refining concentrations, rich solution.

kgCu ton 1 year 1 day 1000kg kgCu

=79680.6 * * * =9222.3
h year360days24hours 1 ton h

Rich solution (PLS) = 6.93 g/l

Refining solution (RF) = 0.43 g/l

kCu/h
QSR=
[ PLS ] − [ RF ]

9222.3 m3 m3
QSR= 1418.8 =0.39
6.93−0.43 h s

Sizing of process tanks

 It is necessary for sizing purposes to describe the necessary tanks.
for our system.

-1 rich solution tank.

-1 intermediate solution tank.
-1 water tank.
-1 settling tank.
-1 refining pond
-1 acid pond

Rich solution tank.

The shape of the pond is an inverted truncated pyramid, directly excavated in

land, coated with an impermeable mineral, in a shape similar to that used in the
batteries.
 H

The volume of the pond is given by

TR*aéraderiego* 24
V=
1000

TRirrigation rate = 19.8 ((l/h)/m2)

Irrigation area = 27901.2 m2*3 = 83703.6 m2

19.8*83703.6*24 m3
V= 39775.95
1000 day

The bottom of the pond is square in shape and its walls have an inclination of
45 degrees

1/3 1/3
V 39775.95
L=0.84* L=0.84 65.73m
0.083 0.083

1/3 1/3
V 39775.95
I=0.454* I=0.454 35.52m
0.083 0.083
 1/3 1/3
V 39775.95
H=0.193* H=0.454 15.1m
0.083 0.083

The surface area of the coating is given by.

2/3
V
+20%
0.083

20% corresponds to the surface of upper anchors and edges.

Replacing it has:

2/3
39775.98
0.083

S = 6123.9 m2

S +20% = 7348.68 m2

Intermediate solution tanks.

It has identical dimensions to the rich solution pond.

Process water tank.

 The process water pond must fulfill the function of supplying
water, for a period no less than 1 day, in our case is done for two days and
consider a requirement of 10% irrigation solution (refining flow) plus the
amount of water added to the agglomerator drum.

For irrigation.

m3 m3 m3
Q=0.169 10% = 0.0169 =60.84
s s h

m3 m3
Q=1460.16 =2920.3
day 2 days

For the agglomerator drum.

m3 m3 m3
Q=27.78 666.72 =1333.44
h day 2 days

Total tank capacity = 2920.3 + 1333.44 = 4253.74 (m3/2 days).

Pond dimensions (cylinder D = H).

1/3
4*V
D=
π
 1/3
4*4253.74
D= 17.56m
π

Height

H = D + 10%

H = 17.56 + 10% = 19.31m

Sand settler tank.

The function of this type of pond is to receive the solution from the channels.
for collection and feeding (by overflow) the process ponds, decanting the
suspended solids.

V=Q*T
V; volume (m3).
drainage flow = 0.11 m3/s
120 s

Replacing one has

V=0.11*120=13.2m3

The volume of the pond considers the following expression.

V = a * b * h ; and also a = 3 * b yh=b

V=3*b3

therefore, it is given:

V 13.2
3 3 =1.638m
3 3

a = 4.91 m.
b = 1.64 m.
1.64m

The pond inside contains three plates whose height is:

b*2 2
altodelaplaca =1.638*=1.09m.
3 3

And the distance between them:

length 4.91
separation = =0.98m.
5 5
 The pond is protected by plastic, and the surface is plastic.
required will be equal to the total of the interior faces plus the stabilizing plates of
flow.

a*b*2 + h*b*2 + a*b + 6*2*b*h

Plásticorequerido=4.91*1.64*2+1.64*1.64*2+4.91*1.64+6*2*1.64*1.64

61.81m2

It must be taken into account that for the evacuation of the solution it will be necessary

leave one side of the pond at a lower height, adopting 5 cm.

Therefore the height H = 1.64 − 0.05 = 1.59m

Refining pond.

It has the same geometric shape as the rich solution pond, and it
it will be sized for a day of operation.

m33600 seconds in 24 hours

V=Q * *
s 1h 1 day

m33600 seconds 24 hours m3

V=0.169 * * 14601.6
s 1h 1 day day

1/3 1/3
V 14601.6
L=0.84* L=0.84 47.1m
0.083 0.083
 1/3 1/3
V 14601.6
I=0.454* I=0.454 25.4m
0.083 0.083

1/3 1/3
V 14601.6
H=0.193* H=0.454 10.8m
0.083 0.083

Coating surface(s)

2/3
14601.6
0.083

S +20% = 3767.6 m2
Acid pond.
The consumption of sulfuric acid usually used is on the order of 20 (kgH+/TMS),
contributing 80% of this acid, the agglomerator drum (16 kgH)+(TMS) with it the
tonnage to process over three days to ensure a rational supply, there is
the following:
36 kgH+/TMS.
kgH+ ton kgH
ácidorequerido=36 *1388.9 2 4 [ h] 1200009.6
TMS h 3 days

+
kgH+
1200009.6
day
* 3[ day] =3600002.88 kgH+[ ]
ácidorequerido=3600002.88 [kgH ] =3600 [TonH ]
+ +

ton
deácido=1.8
m3

dough 3600
V=
volume
V=
1.8
2000 [m ] 3
If the pond is in the shape of a cylinder D=H

1/3
4*2000
D= 13.65 [ m]
π

and the height.

H = D +10%

H=13.65+10%=15.02 [ m]

and the coating surface (s) is as follows:

S=2*π*RH+20%

S=2*π*6.82*15.02+20%

[ ]
S=772.34 m 2