Heap or Dump Leaching System Having an Air Distributor

Abstract

An air distributor for use in heap or dump leaching systems is disclosed. The air distributor includes an air pipe having a series of holes for releasing air from the pipe and one or more protective members spaced outwardly of the air holes to shield the air holes.

1 . A heap or dump leaching system for heap or dump leaching a material comprising:
 a. a heap or dump containing a metal to be recovered; and,   b. a gas distributor positioned in and supplying gas to the heap or dump.   
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the gas distributor includes a gas pipe having a series of gas holes for releasing gas from the gas pipe and one or more protective members spaced outwardly of the gas holes to shield the gas holes. 
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the gas pipe is cylindrical. 
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the gas pipe is corrugated with a series of circumferential crests and troughs along the length of the gas pipe. 
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 4  wherein the gas holes are in the troughs of the corrugations. 
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a single protective member that is in the form of an outer pipe that is spaced outwardly of the gas pipe, whereby there is a gap between the gas pipe and the outer pipe. 
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the outer pipe does not restrict gas flow from the gas holes in the gas pipe. 
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the outer pipe has a series of gas holes for gas that passes from the gas pipe into the gap between the gas pipe and the outer pipe via the gas holes in the gas pipe. 
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 8  wherein the gas holes in the outer pipe are larger than the gas holes in the gas pipe and therefore are less susceptible to being blocked. 
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a single protective member and the gas pipe is corrugated and the single protective member is in the form of a sheet member that is at least partially wrapped around the gas pipe and contacts the crests of the corrugations and extends over and covers the troughs that include gas holes. 
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a single protective member and the gas pipe is corrugated and the single protective member is in the form of a corrugated member that is at least partially wrapped around the gas pipe, with the crests and troughs of the corrugated member overlying and spaced outwardly of the crests and troughs respectively of the gas pipe. 
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 10  wherein the single protective member does not restrict gas flow from the gas holes in the gas pipe. 
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a plurality of protective members and each protective member is in the form of a section of an outer pipe that is spaced outwardly of the gas pipe, whereby there are gaps between the outer pipe sections and the outer pipe. 
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 13  wherein the outer pipe sections do not restrict gas flow from the gas holes in the gas pipe. 
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 13  wherein the outer pipe sections have a series of gas holes for gas that passes from the gas pipe into the gaps between the gas pipe and the outer pipe sections via the gas holes in the gas pipe. 
   
   
       16 . The invention of  claim 15  wherein the gas holes in the outer pipe sections are larger than the gas holes in the gas pipe and therefore are less susceptible to being blocked. 
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a plurality of protective members and each protective member is in the form of a section of a sheet member that is at least partially wrapped around the gas pipe and contacts the crests of the corrugations and extends over and covers the troughs that include gas holes. 
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 2  comprising a plurality of protective members and each protective member is in the form of a section of a corrugated member that is at least partially wrapped around the gas pipe, with the crests and troughs of the corrugated member overlying and spaced outwardly of the crests and troughs respectively of the gas pipe. 
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the outer pipe is a solid pipe with open ends, whereby gas flow from the gas pipe sections can be released from the gas distributor via the ends of the outer pipe sections. 
   
   
       20 . A heap or dump leaching system for heap or dump leaching a material comprising:
 a. a heap or dump containing a metal to be recovered; and,   b. a gas distributor positioned in and supplying gas to the heap or dump, which includes an gas pipe having a series of holes for releasing gas from the pipe; a plurality of protective members each in the form of a section of an outer pipe spaced outwardly of the gas holes to shield the gas holes, whereby there are gaps between the outer pipe sections and the outer pipe; a series of gas holes provided in the outer pipe sections, wherein the gas holes in the outer pipe sections are larger than the gas holes in the gas pipe.