Rheology is the science that studies the flow and deformation of matter under the application of a force. In simple, it focuses on how a material behaves: whether it flows as a liquid, it deforms as a solid, or exhibits properties of both, in response to a stress, or stress.
To understand the rheology, it is necessary to focus on a few relevant concepts, such as viscosity, elasticity and plasticity.
Viscosity: It is the measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow. A material with high viscosity (such as honey) is flowing slowly, while one with low viscosity (such as water) flows quickly.
Elasticity: It is the ability of a material to return to its original shape after the force that deforms has been deleted.
Plasticity: It is the ability of a material to deform permanently without breaking.
Rheology in the mining
In mining, the rheology is a key area to understand the behavior of the materials being processed. To understand the rheology of mixtures of minerals helps the design, control and optimization of processes.
One of the applications of rheology most important is the transport of pulp. The pulp mining, a mixture of mineral and ground water, must be transported through pipelines. Know its viscosity and plasticity helps to determine the diameter of the pipes and the energy required to move the material. Inadequate knowledge may result in blocking of the pipes and expensive downtimes.
In the stages of thickening and filtration, rheology of the pulp influences the speed at which it is to settle out the solid particles. A rheology control suitable improves the efficiency of these processes, reduces consumption of water and energy, and increases the recovery of the valuable mineral.
How to Konatec uses the rheology in your favor
Konatec used rheology to measure the properties of suspensions of minerals and avoid the errors caused by the sedimentation of particles, which are common in mining operations. Its technology consists of a rheometer, called KRHEO, which operates online and is distinguished by the use of capillary tubes with a geometry helical.
How does it work?
Rheology is the study of how materials deform and flow in response to the applied force. In the context of the mining, the rheological properties of the pulp, minerals (particle suspensions in water) are crucial for the efficiency of processes such as grinding, flotation and thickening.
The rheometer Konatec KRHEO solves a common problem in the mining industry: the sedimentation of particles in the measurements, which leads to inaccurate results. The geometry helical their capillaries is the key of our recipe. When the pulp flows through these tubes, the particles tend to settle towards the outside wall at the bottom of the helicoide, and towards the inner wall at the top. As a result, the particles maintain a spatial position constant on average, which allows precise measurements and in real-time.
These results are not the product of chance, but of more than 10 years of research and development dedicated by the leading experts in rheology in Chile, with doctoral training in one of the major schools of mining in the world, as it is British Columbia, Canada.
This invention is particularly useful for suspensions of minerals with a high solids content (between 20% and 70%), where the sedimentation is a significant problem. Our invention patent, registered with their first release in 2017, and with near 10 years research and development, demonstrates that its technology provides measurements more effective in comparison with the reómetros traditional teaching laboratory, especially for copper concentrates and tailings of flotation that tend to settle. What is more, the KRHEO is the first device that operates in mining, obtaining real-time measurements.
KRHEO, designed to be compact and easy to carry, includes the following major components for its operation:
- Capillaries of geometry helical: These are the distinctive element of the invention, manufactured with materials resistant to abrasion.
- Differential pressure sensor: Measure of the pressure in the tubes, protected with stainless steel membranes.
- Ultrasonic flow meters: Measure of the flow rate of the pulp without direct contact with the fluid.
- PLC or micro-controller: Receives and processes the signals of the sensors, automating the system.
- Positive displacement pump: Drives the pulp through the system.
- Damper flow pulses: Ensures a steady flow and without interruptions.
