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Energy Savings and Technology Comparison Using Small Grinding Media Considering the complexity of minerals, the need for finer grinding is increasing along with the energy cost. However, energy is increasing exponentially when grinding finer with conventional grinding balls. The use of small grinding media represents the best potential to improve energy efficiency. Today, it is possible to use grinding media as small as 1 mm. How do they perform in industrial grinding mills? The use of small grinding media (5 - 12 mm), called Millpebs, in regrind mills proved that finer grinding can be achieved at lower energy consumption. In ball mills, energy savings vary from 10 per cent to 40 per cent compared to 25 mm media. A regrind ball mill with a mix of small grinding media can be as energy efficient as an Isa Mill charged with 2.5 and 3.5 mm beads. In vertical stirred mills, energy savings vary from 30 per cent to 60 per cent. To carry out the same final grind, a vertical stirred mill with Millpebs will consume at least 60 per cent less energy than a ball mill using 25 mm grinding media. More potential savings were identified. To achieve those improvements, some operating conditions must be met: 1) feed size should be less than 250 ¦m; 2) the pulp must be fluid enough; 3) finally, the slurry linear velocity should not be excessive. This paper talks about all those industrial results improvement and operating conditions.

Sep 13, 2010

By S. Ferlay

"The main purpose of the ZIMA VAL project (Label EUREKA EU1367 and LIFE ENV/F/000278) is to demonstrate industrial scale recovery and recycling of the main components of used dry batteries (zinc, manganese dioxide, mercury, and stainless steel) into high added value products. The originality of the ZIMA VAL process resides in:1- the use of hydrometallurgy2- alkaline treatment implementation (highly selective) for zinc and mercury3- electrochemical recovery of high quality products.4- the recycling of all the battery components (zinc, mercury, manganese dioxide, stainless steel) ·5- low operating and investment costs.The process consists of physical classification, mechanical dismantling, hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry. The purpose of the demonstration plant in FALAISE (Calvados - France) is to define the technical and technological parameters of an industrial unit for the treatment of 2400 tonnes per year of used batteries."

Jan 1, 2000

By Douglas Ashmead

In his paper Mr. Braley makes no mention of the bacteriological aspects of the problem. It is now quite well established that certain bacteria play a major role in formation of acid mine waters, and it is a simple matter in the laboratory to show that under sterile conditions the rate of acid production from a pyrites suspension is only about one quarter of that obtained from a similar suspension inoculated with drainage from a mine producing an acidic pit water. Under sterile conditions the oxidation is due to direct chemical action and, from the evidence just given and from much other evidence, this increase under nonsterile conditions is due to certain bacteria. Experiments recently completed, and shortly to be published, have shown that this bacteriological oxidation can be prevented by the maintenance of pH conditions above 4. It was found that to raise this pH above 4 at the beginning of the experiments was not sufficient but that, due to the continuing chemical oxidation, alkali had to be added daily to maintain the pH conditions above 4. The amount of alkali added, however, over a fixed period, was only about one quarter of the alkaline equivalent of the acid produced when pH conditions were not controlled over an equal period. The opinion expressed by Mr. Braley that sodium hydroxide has little or no effect on the rate of oxidation of pyrites is not substantiated by the above experiments. The writer does not claim that these results show a practical solution to the problems, especially in abandoned workings, but feels that the application of an alkaline coating, such as lime wash, to exposed accessible workings might be well worth trying. S. A. Braley (author's reply)—In 1919 Powell and Parrl suggested that bacteria, or some catalytic agent, hastened the oxidation of pyritic or marcastic sulfur in coal. Carpenter and Herndon (1933)' attributed the action of Thiobacillus thiooxidans. Colmer and Hinkle (1947)3 observed an organism similar to T. thiooxidans and another organism that oxidized iron. Leathen and Braley 9rst discovered this organism in 1947 in a sample of water from the overflow of the Bradenville mine (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania). They characterized the organism in 1954" and gave it the name Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans. Although Temple and Colmer (1951)' had suggested the name Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, since they claimed it oxidized both ferrous iron and thiosulfate, we have found that pure cultures of the organism do not oxidize thiosulfate, hence the name F. ferrooxidans. In 1955 Ashmead7 isolated an organism, similar to the one called Thiobacillus ferrooxidans by Temple and Hinkle, from acid mine water in Scotland. It is probable that this organism was F. ferrooxidans. In 1954 Bryner, Beck, Davis, and Wilsonh reported microorganisms in effluents from copper mine refuse. These organisms appeared to be similar but were not in pure culture. In view of this history of bacterial investigation of acid mine water and our own ten years of experience, we do not agree with Mr. Ashmead that bacteria play a major role in acid formation. We do not find that any of these bacteria will directly oxidize pyritic material. They do, however, augment the chemical formation of sulfuric acid by atmospheric oxidation. In two papers in 1953% eathen, Braley, and McIntyre discuss the role of bacteria in acid formation and postulate the mechanism through which they operate. Mr. Ashmead in his discussion of my paper has assumed that this work was carried on in the presence of acid mine water in which bacteria would be present. This was not the case. Strictly sterile conditions were not maintained, but the organisms present in mine drainages were definitely absent in these experiments. We believe that we have demonstrated that alkalis do not inhibit the chemical oxidation of pyritic material. This is also indicated by Mr. Ashmead's discussion in which he says that alkali must be added daily due to the continuing chemical oxidation. It is interesting to note that Mr. Ashmead finds that maintenance of pH above 4.00 decreases the activity of the bacteria. We have found also that a decrease in pH below 2.8 also inhibits its activity. Table XIII of published data'" illustrates the decrease in activity with increased acidity, although pH values are not given. These values are in comparison with uninoculated controls and show the marked increase in acidity up to 22 weeks but a decline at 29 weeks, at which time the experiment was terminated. It is probable that after a longer period only chemical oxidation would have continued. From our studiesv we have postulated that the iron oxidizing bacterium (Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans) oxidizes the ferrous iron, resulting from chemical oxidation, to ferric iron. The ferric iron then aids the atmospheric oxidation of the sulfuritic material and is itself reduced to ferrous iron, which in turn acts as food for the autotrophic bacteria. Study of the physiologic properties of F. ferrooxidans shows that its preferred pH is about 3.00 and its activity decreases with variation in either direction. It is extremely inactive above pH 4.00 and below 2.5. This inactivity above 4.00 is indicated by Mr. Ashmead's observations. These properties of F. ferrooxidans then correlate perfectly with our hypothesis. Ferrous iron is oxidized very slowly by atmospheric oxygen in highly acid sohtion and since the bacteria become inactive, acid is formed only by atmospheric oxidation. At a pH of 4.00 or above iron is more readily oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, but the bacterial activity is decreased. However, with a pH above 4.00 the ferric iron is removed from the field of activity since its soluble sulfate hy-drolyzes and precipitates the iron as ferric hydroxide or a basic sulfate. As we have shown in the paper under discussion, the alkali does not inhibit the chemical oxidation, and thus the acid formation continues. This

Jan 1, 1957

By J. L. Snoek

[ ] DISCUSSION J. L, SNOEK*-Stress-induced preferential diffusion in cubic body centered metals in the annealed state provides us with a powerful tool for determining the mobility of interstitially solved atoms as well as their location in the lattice and the exact nature of the distortion brought about in the lattice by their presence. Calculations given by D. Polder31 show that the distortion of the lattice, besides being proportional to the applied stress P, is also proportional to [VC, RT + xVCo] where T, V and Co are the temperature, molar volume of the solvent and molar concentration of the solute respectively and x is a constant describing the mutual interaction energy of the dissolved particles. This calculation obviously is no longer valid if x is negative and the abso¬lute value of xVCo surpasses that of RT. The lattice may then be expected to become tetragonal spontaneously. Such a spontaneous tetragonality seems to have been observed by W. Klemm and L, Grimm for the case of oxygen solved in vanadium.32 Measurements of the internal friction in cold worked iron containing carbon or nitrogen should provide us with information on the mobility as well as the preferential location of these particles in the iron lattice in the cold worked state. The work by T'ing-Sui Kê is a valuable contribution to this problem, The data obtained by T'ing Sui Kê and myself on cold worked samples of iron seem to indicate that carbon and nitrogen in these samples are found either in the normal (1/2 , 0, 0) interstices or in a new preferential position created by the cold working. The latter positions in my opinion can hardly by anything else but the edges of the dislocations. The observed larger distances of diffusion might be explained by assuming that the carbon atoms when freed from a certain dislocation by thermal agitation must diffuse over several atom distances before being caught in another dislocation. The theory however needs working out and no doubt will be much more complicated than the one valid for the annealed state. T'ING-SUI KÊ (author's reply)-It is highly encouraging to read the written discussion given by Dr, Snoek who initiated the theory of stress-induced preferential diffusion in cubic body centered metals in the annealed state, Since the presentation of this paper, the author has done more experimental work on this subject which seems to be able to settle several of the points raised by Dr. Snoek. It has been found that such stress-induced preferential diffusion occurs also in the solid solutions of carbon,33 oxygen,34 and nitrogen35 in tantalum which has a body centered cubic structure. Analysis of the shape of the observed internal friction. peaks indicates that the inter-

Jan 1, 1948

Research into the mechanisation of ore winning from the very narrow reefs characteristic of South African gold mines has been conducted from as early as 1964 through the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation (COMRO) but with limited success. However, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has recently re-evaluated the potential for the mechanisation for the narrow tabular gold mines. It has been determined that there are approximately 22 000 tonnes of gold left in-situ in channel widths of less than 500 mm in thickness. The extraction of ore from such reefs requires a complete paradigm shift in that the current mining cycle (drilling, blasting, cleaning and supporting) is not feasible since such a stoping width would not allow the workers entry into the stope. Consequently, a non-entry form of mining is required. With this target in mind CSIR has invested in a project called the Nederburg Miner which seeks to identify new technologies for drilling, rock breaking, cleaning, and materials handling, the application of which will enable non-entry mining of very narrow ore bodies. The intention is to develop a fully automated system that will not require human involvement at the stope face. The outcomes of research into this proposed system will not only extend the life of South African gold mines but will also enhance South Africa's reputation for excellence in mining research. This paper presents the new technologies under consideration and potential methods for their application into an integrated non-entry mining system.

Jan 1, 2008

Whilst much has been written in past years by geologists, scientists, mining engineers, etc., regarding the well·known and justly notorious anticlinal, or, as they are more commonly known, " saddle" reefs of Bendigo, comparatively little noticehas been given to the synclinal or "inverted saddle "reefs and their relationship with each other. In taking up the question of the synclinal folds, I recognise that it is a large undertaking to confine within the limits of a short paper, and at the same time convey a comprehensive idea of their characteristics, and the importance of their relationship with the anticlinal folds, in the general question of practical mining. However, from a practical point of view I consider the question of great importance, and if an interest in it can be awakened, more particularly among practical men, the object of this paper will be achieved.Before entering into the subject I must briefly state some facts, and perhaps some theories, in respect to the deposition of the Lower Silurian rocks, and their subsequent buckling up, as now seen on the Bendigo gold-field. At the same time, I do not intend to go very closely into the geological aspect of the question, as I wish the paper to be considered as a practical one.

Jan 1, 1902

By L. W. Kemph

The thermal expansion characteristics of aluminum alloys have been examined by several investigators, among whom may be mentioned Shakespear,' Schulz,2 Hidnert13 Hidnert and Sweeney4 and McCullough.' Shakespear compared the expansion of a series of aluminum alloys containing 14 per cent copper, with separate additions of about 1 per cent each of manganese, tin and zinc with that of pure copper. Schulz examined the expansion of aluminum and zinc and some aluminum-zinc alloys. Hidnert determined with a high degree of precision the exp:tnsion characteristics of pure aluminum, some aluminum-copper, aluminum-zinc, aluminum-silicon and some commercial alloys.' Hidnert and Sweeney examined the expansion characteristics of aluminum-beryllium alloys. McCullough, by an interferometer method, determined the expansivity of some aluminum-copper, aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-iron, aluminum-nickel, aluminum-silicon and aluminum-manganese alloys. Incidental to an investigation carried out during the past six years and leading to the development and exploit,ation of an aluminum piston alloy of relatively low thermal expansivity, the expansion characteristics of a wide variety of alloys were examined. Some of the data which might be of general interest are gathered in this paper. Experimental Procedure The apparatus used was essentially similar to those developed by the Bureau of Standards6 and Howard Scott,? with a few minor changes for expediency. The specimen was approximately 4 in. long and the differential length changes between specimen and the quartz tube were

Jan 1, 1933

By R. A. MacGregor

The Stanrock mine of Stanrock Uranium Mines Ltd. is located on Quirke Lake in the Elliot Lake area of northern Ontario, about 25 miles north of Lake Huron. The property was developed and brought into production at a rate of 3000 tons of ore per day during the uranium boom of the mid-1950's. The mine workings are from 1200 to 2100 ft below sea level. Mining was done by the room-and-pillar method with 65 to 80% extraction. The plant is located at an elevation of 1400 ft above sea level. The orebodies are conglomeratic beds, 6 to 40 ft in thickness and dipping 5º to 40º. The ore is a quartz pebble conglomerate with a pyritized sericitic matrix. The ore minerals are brannerite, frequently intergrown with anatase or rutile, uraninite, and some monazite and minor coffinite and thucolite. Sulfides constitute 5 to 10% of the ore as pyrite with minor amounts of pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and galena.

Jan 3, 1969

Beneficiation of Iron Ore - Washing with Surface-Active Agent The stability of the dispersed phase in 10 wt per cent slurry of iron ore slime and fines was studied at pH 5 and different concentrations of surface-active agents. The behaviour of the dispersed phase of iron ore slime and fines is different for different surface-active agents. The improvement of iron value of slime and fines in the presence of surface-active agent is best realized at pH 8, where the Al2O3/Fe and Al2O3/SiO2 ratios in the concentrates are appreciably reduced. The polar functional group like -COO- interacts with hematite surfaces and forms outer- and inner-sphere surface complexes depending on the suspension pH and adsorbate.

Sep 13, 2010

By Jean Descarreaux

"The Rexspar uranium deposits are located near Birch Island in central British Columbia. The property lies within the Omineca crystalline belt of the Cordilleran Orogen. Gneiss, schist, tuffaceous and porphyritic trachyte are the main rock types encountered on the property. These rocks are of pre-Late Triassic or probable Mississippian age.Lenticular bodies of mica and pyrite-rich rock are the host of three closely spaced uranium deposits and are found close to a fluorite deposit. The altered trachytic rock as well as the fluorite and uranium deposits are found in the upper part of the trachyte unit. The latest tonnage estimates are 1,441,820 tonnes averaging 23.46% CaF, for the fluorite deposit, 490,966 tonnes of 0.084% U10afor the 'W' deposit, 164,290 tonnes of 0.074% UP8 for the ""B"" deposit and 459,124 tonnes of 0. 071 o/o UP8 for the ""BD"" deposit.A hydrothermal replacement origin was first proposed for the fluorite and uranium deposits. The mineralizing and altering solutions would have been genetically related to a felsic batholith outcropping a few kilometres south of the property. Another hypothesis has been proposed more recently. A volcanic centre has been tentatively identified in the upper part of the trachyte unit, close to the mineral deposits. The fluorite and uranium deposits could possibly be volcanogenic, rather than related to the Cretaceous felsic batholith.IntroductionFluorite and uranium mineralization occur on the property of Consolidated Rexspar Minerals and Chemicals Ltd. in central British Columbia. The exploration and development works executed over the years are summarized in this paper. The deposits and their geological environment are described but the origin of the mineralization has not been definitely established."

Jan 1, 1986

By S. C. Lamey, P. A. Hesbach

This study evaluated the use of regionally produced coal combustion products to neutralize and remove metals from acid mine drainage (AMD). Synthetic AMD mixtures were treated with a number of fly ashes and fluidized bed combustion (FBC) ashes. All of the ashes reduced the volume of the sludge produced and gave a faster settling rate than the sludge produced by treatment with lime. Faster settling allows greater throughput rates. In addition, the FBC ashes, which generally contain alkaline components used for sulfur capture, completely neutralized the acidity and, if desired, raised the pH above 10. The fly ashes, on the other hand, reduced the final volume of sludge but required additional neutralizing agents to attain a pH >5. The pH of the AMD can be taken to above 10 to insure complete removal of manganese, or it can be taken to a more neutral pH of 7 or 8 to allow for the safe introduction of the aqueous phase into ponds or streams. The process combines two industrial waste products to reduce the disposal volume of one of the waste products and to produce an environmentally safe aqueous discharge.

Jan 1, 2002

By Erick F. Weiland, John W. Lindemann

Introduction Minerals exploration is one step in the mining industry's task of providing raw materials to basic industries. The industry's provision of raw materials involves identifying and evaluating resources, converting them to reserves, and intelligent, economic exploitation of these reserves. The mineral process focuses on identification and evaluation. Reserves are ore bodies and ore bodies are, by definition, wasting assets. Therefore, if an adequate provision of raw materials to basic industry is to continue, these wasting assets (ore bodies) must be replaced with new or different reserves as current reserves are depleted. Minerals exploration is a geologic problem and is fundamentally deductive, flowing from the general to the specific. Past exploration methods and philosophy have amply supplied the resources to meet the demands of an industrial society. During the past decade, however, the framework where mineral resources were identified, defined, and evaluated has changed. Mineral explorationists no longer can rely solely on the successful past methods to provide the necessary resources for our complex society. Productive explorationists must effectively and efficiently use tools and procedures that will maximize exploration efforts. Past tools need not be abandoned, but should be critically reviewed and revised in light of current scientific knowledge and technical advances. Future explorationists will view their craft not as a single discipline, but as a thoughtful integration of geophysics, geochemistry, and geostatistics for solving interrelated problems. This integration of the geosciences will lead to successful mineral exploration. Not only will the productive explorationist generate new information, he will master the use of existing data for identifying and evaluating a mineral resource. The mineral exploration process consists of incentives, ideas, finance, area, staff, time, and luck. The exploration process that stems from the interaction of these elements has three stages, each bound by a major decision point. They are selection, reconnaissance, and definition. Subsequent evaluation and exploitation phases are considered more the function of mining engineers than the exploration geologist. Mineral exploration endeavors that have been productive have three attributes fundamental to success: commitment, competence, and persistence. Commitment Commitment is believing that exploring for mineral resources is worth performing. While the mining industry is the focus of this commitment, government and society must also be committed to the concept of mineral reserve identification through exploration activity. Government demonstrates its commitment by providing access to land for exploration and, if it is successful, exploitation can take place. Realistic legislation relating to taxation, land use, reclamation, and environmental constraints is indicative of government commitment to intelligent resource use. The public must come to terms with mineral resource evaluation and extraction. Without some form of commitment from the public, availability of mineral resources vital to basic industry will be largely in the control of a foreign and potentially unstable mining industry. Commitment to a mineral resource identification-evaluation-extraction system must be shared equally by government, society, and the minerals industry. The scope and direction of this commitment varies, with the industry's commitment to explore for mineral resources being the most apparent. Industry commitment is the belief at all levels of exploration (from senior corporate executives to individual field and support staff) that exploration is worth performing, that exploration goals can be met, and that their particular organization is the best and the only group that can successfully accomplish the project. Commitment can be considered at three

Jan 11, 1983

By John V. Beall

AMONG electrical manufacturers, interest in the outlook for copper supplies has not diminished despite signs of a healthier market following price decontrol. Reason: Electrical utility industry output is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6 pct for the next 15 years. A more graphic description of the growth ahead is given in the Eighth Quarterly Report of the Director of Defense Mobilization as follows: "Power generating capability, which amounted to 63 million kw at the time of Korea, now stands at more than 81 million. The established goal for installed capability at the end of 1955 is 116 million kw. Orders already on the books of power equipment manufacturers, if fulfilled on schedule, will bring installed capability to over 123 million kw by the end of 1956-and more orders for equipment are yet to come." These statistics portend an impressive requirement for copper, not only for power plants and distribution lines themselves but for the multitude of industry and domestic end-uses.

Jan 4, 1953

The seam gas content at Westcliff Colliery is 12-15m3/tonne of coal.Composition ranges from 99% CH4 to 52% C02 in one area. Desorption rates are proportional to gas contents and CH4 is preferentially desorbed. A crushed zone of reduced permeability advances with the face - at Westcliff ribside crushed zones are 2.5 to 6.5m wide. Poor strata control widens crushed zones. 12 months of pre-drainage allowed 2 heading development and longer pillars to be used in a virgin area instead of 3 or more headings without drainage. Machined coal may lose as much as 1.6m3/tonne being conveyed out of Westcliff Colliery. Experience differs from mine to mine. Permeation is affected by time, strata movements, changing water content, and changing stress. Permeabilities vary from lOmd for Pittsburgh Seam to less than 1 and for the Bulli Seam. All these data and differences await further investigation.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. M. Corn

The Non-Time Critical Forest service CERCLA Action at Mansfield Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona designated previous locators of unpatented mining claims as owners/operators of the Hazardous Waste Facility, retroactively liable for all reclamation costs including reclamation of mines acquired by the Forest Service. The CERCLA Action is based on non-existent tailings, a non-existent permanent resident, inaccurate and unreliable data and did not review or consider prior USGS and USBM data. The consequences of the Forest Service action include(1) reduced exploration, (2) loss of credibility, (3)public disillusionment and distrust.

Jan 1, 2000

By M Dalm

More and more mining companies are becoming aware of the potential benefits of sensor-based ore sorting and process optimisation. This is reflected by a growing number of analysers that are available for drill hole logging, conveyor belt scanning, ore sorting, slurry analysis, etc. These tools all rely on a specific sensor technology that can be used to detect a material property such as colour, density, mineralogy, or chemical elements. However, all sensors have restrictions on the minerals and/or elements that can be detected or inferred. This is caused by the physical mechanisms behind the technology and depends on mineral concentration and compositional heterogeneity of the ore. Since nearly every ore deposit is unique in composition and characterised by different geological features that drive heterogeneity, no one-size-fits-all sensor solution is available. This makes it difficult for mining professionals to find suitable sensing technologies that can help them solve problems and improve processes for their specific ore types.

Sep 1, 2024

By Rob Famlield, Gavin Yuill, William Birch

The Blasting Research Group at the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom, continues to be highly active in the area of the environmental impact of blasting. In recent years a major part of this research has been concerned with the use of linear superposition. This technique relies upon the assumption that all the holes in a blast produce identical vibration signals. Previous work at the University has shown that this assumption is not sufficiently robust to be generally applicable. This is due to a number of factors of which the key variable appears to be dynamic confinement

Jan 1, 2002

The minerals industry focus over much of the past twenty years has been on cost reduction and production growth supported, but not driven, by technology improvements. Mergers and acquisitions, and the demands of financial markets, have been high priority items whereas research and development and technology based innovation have received less attention and have been cut back in many companies. Technology improvements will be critical if the industry is to make progress on the stated aims of improving energy efficiency, reducing water usage and maximising recovery from deposits. They will also be important for improving capital efficiency and in treating difficult deposits. However the role technology based innovation will play both in the overall industry, and within individual companies, during the next decade is quite uncertain. There are major challenges in progressing technology based innovation in an industry with limited technical resources which is dominated by long life high capital operations. Specific opportunities for energy and productivity improvements exist but face significant technical and structural barriers that need to be overcome if the industry is to significantly improve performance. Current evidence suggests that changes in approach will be needed for these improvements to be realised. Recent studies in the United States and Canada have highlighted the wide range of energy performance across the industry and the scope for marked improvement from both incremental improvements and increased research and development. Comminution, material transportation and underground mine ventilation were identified as high priority areas. Opportunities within these areas are discussed both in respect of specific technologies and in how they may change performance. The role of open innovation as a source of new technology is also discussed. This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this presentation.

Sep 13, 2010

Newmont?s Twin Creeks Mine, located in northern Nevada, is producing gold ore from surface mining operations. The ore is currently processed at three different on site facilities depending on the ore type and the grade. The processing facilities operate under stringent geochemical blending constraints that must be met from mine ore deliveries and off site sourced ore. To analyze various strategic options, the technical team utilizes the mathematical optimization approach. However, due to the size and the complexity of the operation, there are unique challenges in optimizing life of mine production scheduling. This paper describes those challenges and the methodology developed to take advantage of different scheduling software systems that effectively compensate each other and result in reasonable guidance. The paper also describes how those scheduling results are reflected in detailed mine plan and cost estimate work.

Feb 27, 2013

By L. S. Reid, R. L. Huntington, Chen Chun Ku

The simultaneous adsorption of water and hydrocarbon vapor from natural gas by three grades of alumina has been studied at atmospheric pressure and temperature. Results of this investigation reveal that the presence of water vapor in the gas inhibits the adsorption of hydrocarbon vapor, although the presence of the latter does not have a pronounced effect upon the adsorption of water vapor. Adsorption of water-hydrocarbon mixtures from gas is divided into three phases. In the first, both water and hydrocarbon vapor are adsorbed; in the second, adsorption of water vapor proceeds while desorption of hydrocarbon takes place; in the third phase, the adsorbyt approaches complete saturation with respect to both water and hydrocarbon vapors. Both theory and experimental data can be applied to design and operation of commercial dehydration plants, and an illustration is presented. Introduction Dehydration of natural gas becomes increasingly important as the operating pressures employed in gas processing and transmission are increased above 500 ib. per sq. in. Gas produced from high-pressure wells is saturated with water vapor when it leaves the reservoir and it continues into the processing plant or transmission system in a saturated condition because of the substantial decrease in temperature due to expansion at the wellhead. Usually this gas is accompanied by liquid water and hydrocarbons that have condensed with the change in temperature and pressure. Without dehydration, gas temperatures must be held at relatively high levels to prevent solidification of gas hydrates. According to Hammerschmidt's data8 on the relationship of pressure to the freezing point of natural-gas hydrates, the minimum safe operating temperatures range from 55' to go°F. for pressures ranging from 500 to 3000 lb. per sq. in., respectively. Often it is difficult to maintain gas temperatures above the hydrate-freezing temperature because of climatic conditions, unless flow-line heaters are installed. Also, in processing gas for its gasoline content at high pressures, it is desirable to employ operating temperatures lower than the hydrate-freezing point. In distributing high-pressure gas, the large pressure drop from line pressure to town-gate pressure often prbduces sufficient cooling to freeze the regulators and disrupt consumer service. Therefore, it is highly essential to dehydrate high-pressure natural gas if smooth and economical operation is to be maintained at all times. Few published data are available on the simultaneous adsorption of water and hydrocarbon vapors. The literature contains many mathematical expressions for rate of adsorption in various systems but a rational correlation of the existing rate

Jan 1, 1944