A STUDY OF FLUID FLOW IN PACHUCA TANKS

Pachuca tanks are fundamental in the hydrometallurgical industry for leaching operations, necessitating an understanding of the fluidynamic characteristics generated by gas injection in the draft tube. This study aimed to investigate how various design and operational parameters influence the liquid velocity field within a laboratory-scaled Pachuca tank. Water was used as the liquid medium, and air was injected from the bottom without mineral particles present, facilitating the use of particle image velocimetry (PIV) to capture detailed liquid movement, even in the draft tube. The findings revealed that liquid velocities correlate positively with the ratio of draft tube diameter to tank diameter, the gap from the conical bottom to the draft tube entrance, and gas superficial velocity, while an elevated water level reduced velocities. Furthermore, a mathematical model implementing the no-slip condition was developed to predict variations in axial effective density within the two-phase zone. The model produced liquid velocity fields that closely aligned with experimental results across all scenarios tested. This study enhances the comprehension of fluid behavior in Pachuca tanks, impacting operational efficiencies in metal processing.