Abrégé

A method for electrokinetic dewatering of slurries, consisting of parallel electrode pairs suspended in a slurry deposit. Deployment consists of pulling the ends of electrode sections across a deposit. If solar power is used, floating solar panels are connected to electrodes at fixed spacings and deployed concurrently with the electrode assembly. The electrodes are suspended below or above the mudline by floats. By inflating or deflating the floats, the electrode positions are remotely controlled. External sleeves on the electrodes are used to trap and vent gas generated at the electrodes that otherwise might prematurely terminate the dewatering process. An insulated supplementary conductor is intermittently connected to the anode to decrease power attenuation and mitigate the risk of anode failure. Grid power is regulated by a central control system at the edge of a deposit. Solar power is regulated by dispersed control systems on the floating solar panels.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 11/15 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide de champs électriques, magnétiques ou électromagnétiquesTraitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide d’ultrasons
• C02F 103/10 - Nature de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux ou boues d'égout à traiter provenant de carrières ou d'activités minières

Abrégé

A method for electrokinetic dewatering of slurries, consisting of parallel electrode pairs suspended in a slurry deposit. Deployment consists of pulling the ends of electrode sections across a deposit. If solar power is used, floating solar panels are connected to electrodes at fixed spacings and deployed concurrently with the electrode assembly. The electrodes are suspended below or above the mudline by floats. By inflating or deflating the floats, the electrode positions are remotely controlled. External sleeves on the electrodes are used to trap and vent gas generated at the electrodes that otherwise might prematurely terminate the dewatering process. An insulated supplementary conductor is intermittently connected to the anode to decrease power attenuation and mitigate the risk of anode failure. Grid power is regulated by a central control system at the edge of a deposit. Solar power is regulated by dispersed control systems on the floating solar panels.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 11/131 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par chauffage à l’aide d’ondes électromagnétiques ou d’ultrasons
• B01J 19/08 - Procédés utilisant l'application directe de l'énergie ondulatoire ou électrique, ou un rayonnement particulaireAppareils à cet usage
• C02F 1/469 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques par séparation électrochimique, p. ex. par électro-osmose, électrodialyse, électrophorèse
• C02F 11/12 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement

Abrégé

A method for in situ electrokinetic dewatering of fine-grained slurries, consisting of parallel electrode pairs suspended in the slurry deposit. Deployment consists of pulling the ends of spooled electrodes across the deposit. As they are unspooled, tethers are connected between adjacent electrode pairs, enabling the horizontal spacing between electrodes to be controlled. The electrodes are suspended from the mudline by floats; by inflating or deflating the floats, the electrode positions are controlled. An insulated supplementary conductor is intermittently connected to the anode to decrease power attenuation and mitigate the risk of anode failure. Gas collars are used to trap and vent gas generated at the electrodes to prevent the dewatering process from stopping due to gas buildup in the slurry.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 1/46 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques
• C02F 11/12 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement
• C02F 11/15 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide de champs électriques, magnétiques ou électromagnétiquesTraitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide d’ultrasons

Abrégé

An adaptive electrokinetic dewatering system for dewatering slurry and soil deposits, including tailings deposits and a control system therefor. The control system automatically determines an optimal applied power specification, including sets of power parameters to be applied to the deposit being dewatered and when to apply each set of power parameters during theelectrokinetic dewatering process. Furthermore, the control systemautomatically adjusts the applied power specification throughout the course of the dewatering process to account for the changing properties of the deposit. The control system determines the applied power specifications and adjustments to be made to them by simulating the electrokinetic dewatering process using a simulator which incorporates the latest measurements of the electrical, physical and chemical properties of the deposit being dewatered. The control system uses the simulator to forecast the dewatering performances of alternative applied power specifications and selects and applies the alternative applied power specification having a forecast dewatering performance that satisfies one or more switching criteria set by an operator.

Classes IPC  ?

• B01D 21/30 - Dispositifs de commande

Abrégé

An adaptive electrokinetic dewatering system for dewatering slurry and soil deposits, including tailings deposits and a control system therefor. The control system automatically determines an optimal applied power specification, including sets of power parameters to be applied to the deposit being dewatered and when to apply each set of power parameters during the electrokinetic dewatering process. Furthermore, the control system automatically adjusts the applied power specification throughout the course of the dewatering process to account for the changing properties of the deposit. The control system determines the applied power specifications and adjustments to be made to them by simulating the electrokinetic dewatering process using a simulator which incorporates the latest measurements of the electrical, physical and chemical properties of the deposit being dewatered. The control system uses the simulator to forecast the dewatering performances of alternative applied power specifications and selects and applies the alternative applied power specification having a forecast dewatering performance that satisfies one or more switching criteria set by an operator.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 11/15 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide de champs électriques, magnétiques ou électromagnétiquesTraitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement par traitement à l’aide d’ultrasons
• C02F 11/00 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet
• C02F 9/00 - Traitement en plusieurs étapes de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout
• G06F 30/20 - Optimisation, vérification ou simulation de l’objet conçu

Abrégé

A method is provided of treating liquid tailings using electro-kinetics by creating a variable voltage between two electrodes in the tailings. Flocculation and water release from the tailings is induced by establishing an electrical field between the two electrodes. The electrodes are connected to an electrical power source having the variable voltage to create a cathode and an anode. Compacting the flocculation solids and removing further water released from the compacting solids allows for the creation of a compacted material having a desired load bearing capacity.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 1/46 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques
• C02F 1/463 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques par électrolyse par électrocoagulation
• C02F 1/52 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par floculation ou précipitation d'impuretés en suspension
• C02F 11/00 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet
• C02F 11/12 - Traitement des boues d'égoutDispositifs à cet effet par déshydratation, séchage ou épaississement
• C02F 103/10 - Nature de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux ou boues d'égout à traiter provenant de carrières ou d'activités minières
• C02F 103/18 - Nature de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux ou boues d'égout à traiter provenant de l'épuration des effluents gazeux par voie humide

Abrégé

There is a method of facilitating the consolidation of fine tailings through the application of an electrical current. The fine tailings include a combination of at least some water and some clay particles. Electrodes are placed into contact with the fine tailings. An AC voltage with a DC offset is applied to the electrodes to separate water from the clay particles and to induce movement of the separated water to a collection area. The separated clay particles can consolidate more readily than unseparated clay particles. In an embodiment, the fine tailings are mixed fine oil sands extraction tailings which include residual hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the application of an AC voltage with a DC offset across the electrodes includes applying an AC voltage of about 1 V/cm and a DC offset of about ½ V/cm.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 1/461 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques par électrolyse
• B01D 17/06 - Séparation de liquides les uns des autres par l'électricité
• B03B 9/02 - Disposition générale d'un atelier de séparation, p. ex. schéma opératoire spécialement adapté aux séparations pétrole/sable, pétrole/craie, pétrole/schistes, ozokérite, bitume ou similaires
• C10G 1/04 - Production de mélanges liquides d'hydrocarbures à partir de schiste bitumineux, de sable pétrolifère ou de matières carbonées solides non fusibles ou similaires, p. ex. bois, charbon par extraction

Abrégé

There is a method of facilitating the consolidation of fine tailings through the application of an electrical current. The fine tailings include a combination of at least some water and some clay particles. Electrodes are placed into contact with the fine tailings. An AC voltage with a DC offset is applied to the electrodes to separate water from the clay particles and to induce movement of the separated water to a collection area. The separated clay particles can consolidate more readily than unseparated clay particles. In an embodiment, the fine tailings are mixed fine oil sands extraction tailings which include residual hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the application of an AC voltage with a DC offset across the electrodes includes applying an AC voltage of about 1 V/cm and a DC offset of about ½ V/cm.

Classes IPC  ?

• C02F 1/463 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par des procédés électrochimiques par électrolyse par électrocoagulation
• C02F 103/10 - Nature de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux ou boues d'égout à traiter provenant de carrières ou d'activités minières

Abrégé

There is a method described of treating tailings which are composed of at least some water and clay particles. Within the tailings, at least some water molecules are weakly bond to the clay particles to form a gel like fluid from which water does not readily separate. An alternating current is applied to the tailings to change the electro-chemical properties of the tailings to reduce the weak bonding between the water and the clay particles so that water within the treated tailings is able to separate. Water within the treated tailings is then allowed to separate without further application of electricity. In some embodiments, the treated tailings are allowed to separate through evaporation. Liquid tailings may also be treated with alternating current by applying alternating current to the liquid tailings at a voltage gradient range of 1 to 5 V/cm for a total duration of 24 to 300 hours. The application of alternating current may further comprise applying alternating current at a frequency of 1 to 30 Hz.

Classes IPC  ?

• B03D 1/10 - Traitement ultérieur du produit concentré en enlevant le liquide adhérent aux matériaux séparés
• B01D 21/00 - Séparation par sédimentation de particules solides en suspension dans des liquides
• B03B 9/04 - Disposition générale d'un atelier de séparation, p. ex. schéma opératoire spécialement adapté aux résidus de foyers, scories de fusion ou de fonderie
• B03C 5/00 - Séparation de particules des liquides dans lesquels elles sont dispersées, par effet électrostatique