Method and Device for In-Line Injection of Flocculent Agent into a Fluid Flow of Mature Fine Tailings

Abstract

A method and device for in-line injecting of flocculent agent into a fluid flow of mature fine tailings (MFT). The method includes the steps of: a) providing a fluid flow of mature fine tailings to be treated along a given channel fluidly connected to the pipeline; b) providing a source of flocculating agent; and c) introducing flocculating agent inside the fluid flow of mature fine tailings via a plurality of injection outlets for injecting the flocculating agent into the fluid flow in a dispersed manner so as to increase an exposed surface area of the injected flocculating agent and thus increase a corresponding reaction with the mature fine tailings, for an improved flocculation of said mature fine tailings, and/or other desired end results. Also disclosed is a kit with corresponding components for assembling the in-line injection device to be connected in-line with the pipeline carrying the mature fine tailings to be treated.

1 . An injection device for inline-injection of flocculating agent into a fluid flow of a pipeline of mature fine tailings in order to promote flocculation of said mature fine tailings, the injection device comprising:
 a main inlet for receiving the fluid flow;   a main channel along which the fluid flow entering the inlet is allowed to travel;   a main outlet for releasing the fluid flow; and   a complementary conduit, disposed co-annularly with respect to the main channel, and configured for receiving flocculating agent from a feed inlet different from the main inlet, the complementary conduit having a plurality of injection outlets disposed co-annularly about the main outlet for injecting flocculating agent into the fluid flow exiting the main outlet, the injection outlets being shaped and sized, and each having an orifice substantially smaller than that of the feed inlet so as to increase dispersion of the flocculating agent about the main outlet in order to improve mixing of the fluid flow with said flocculating agent via an increased exposed surface area of the flocculating agent.   
     
     
         2 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main inlet is tapered. 
     
     
         3 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection outlets are radially positioned about the main outlet of the fluid flow in an equally spaced manner. 
     
     
         4 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device comprises eight injection outlets. 
     
     
         5 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein each injection outlet is about ⅞ inches in diameter. 
     
     
         6 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein a center point for each injection outlet is positioned about ⅞ inches away from an inner surface of the main channel. 
     
     
         7 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the increased wetted perimeter of the flocculating agent being injected out through the injection outlets is about 2.8. 
     
     
         8 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main channel has an internal diameter which is about half the size of an internal diameter of the pipeline. 
     
     
         9 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of the main channel is about 6 inches. 
     
     
         10 . An injection device according to  claim 8 , wherein the internal diameter of the main channel is about 4 inches. 
     
     
         11 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the feed inlet is provided with a connecting flange for removably connecting said feed inlet to a source of flocculating agent. 
     
     
         12 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flocculating agent is a liquid polymer. 
     
     
         13 . An injection device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner component, the inner component comprising a cylinder defining the main channel along which the fluid flow is allowed to travel, the cylinder having a first end operatively connectable to the main inlet and a second end provided with a ring operatively connectable to the main outlet, the ring being provided with the injection outlets; and   an outer component, the outer component comprising a sleeve concentrically mounted about the inner component, the sleeve having a first end provided with a first flange being removably connectable onto a first section of the pipeline, and a second end provided with a second flange being removably connectable onto a second section of the pipeline, the outer component being also provided with the feed inlet projecting outwardly from a peripheral surface of the sleeve;   wherein the cylinder and sleeve are configured so that the complementary conduit is defined thereinbetween when the outer component is mounted about the inner component, said complementary conduit being in fluid communication between the feed inlet and the injection outlets provided on the ring of the inner component so that flocculating agent introduced into the complementary conduit via the feed inlet is injected out the injection outlets of the inner component so as to increase dispersion of the flocculating agent within the fluid flow.   
     
     
         14 . An injection device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the cylinder of the inner component is tapered. 
     
     
         15 . An injection device according to  claim 13 , wherein the outer component is a fitting. 
     
     
         16 . An injection device according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second ends of the cylinder are respectively welded onto the first and second ends of the sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . An injection device for inline-injection of flocculating agent into a fluid flow of mature fine tailings in order to promote flocculation of said mature fine tailings, the injection device comprising:
 a main inlet for receiving the fluid flow;   a main channel along which the fluid flow entering the inlet is allowed to travel;   a main outlet for releasing the fluid flow; and   a complementary conduit, disposed co-annularly with respect to the main channel, and configured for receiving flocculating agent from a feed inlet different from the main inlet, the complementary conduit having a plurality of injection outlets disposed co-annularly about the main outlet for injecting flocculating agent into the fluid flow exiting the main outlet, the injection outlets being shaped and sized, and each having an orifice substantially smaller than that of the feed inlet so as to increase dispersion of the flocculating agent about the main outlet in order to improve mixing of the fluid flow with said flocculating agent via an increased exposed surface area of the flocculating agent, due to the flocculating agent being injected through said plurality of smaller injection outlets.   
     
     
         18 . A pipeline of mature fine tailings provided with an injection device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of inline-injection of flocculating agent into a pipeline of mature fine tailings in order to promote flocculation of said mature fine tailings, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a fluid flow of mature fine tailings to be treated along a given channel fluidly connected to the pipeline;   b) providing a source of flocculating agent; and   c) introducing flocculating agent inside the fluid flow of mature fine tailings via a plurality of injection outlets for injecting the flocculating agent into the fluid flow in a dispersed manner so as to increase an exposed surface area of the injected flocculating agent and thus increase a corresponding reaction with the mature fine tailings, for an improved flocculation of said mature fine tailings.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step c) comprises the steps of:
 i) creating a zone of turbulence within the fluid flow of mature fine tailings; and   ii) injecting flocculating agent in a dispersed manner via the plurality of injection outlets within said zone of turbulence for mixing the flocculating agent with the mature fine tailings and further promoting flocculation of the mature fine tailings.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step a) comprises the step of:
 iii) reducing the cross-sectional area of the channel along a given transitional segment of the channel for increasing the flow velocity of the mature fine tailings travelling through said transitional segment, and in turn increasing a turbulence of the fluid flow exiting from said transitional segment.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step a) comprises the step of gradually reducing the cross-sectional area of the channel along a slope having a ratio of about 7 to 1. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step a) comprises the step of:
 iv) rapidly increasing the cross-sectional area of the channel along a given interface segment of the channel for abruptly altering the flow velocity of the mature fine tailings travelling through said interface segment of the channel, in order to create a turbulent zone of fluid flow adjacent to said interface segment.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step c) comprises the step of positioning the injection outlets about a main segment of the channel to that the flocculating agent is injected radially towards a longitudinal axis of the fluid flow. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein step c) comprises the step of positioning the injection outlets about an interface segment of the channel to that the flocculating agent is injected in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fluid flow. 
     
     
         26 . A kit for assembling an injection device for inline-injection of flocculating agent into a fluid flow of a pipeline of mature fine tailings in order to promote flocculation of said mature fine tailings, the kit comprising:
 a tee joint having first, second and third sections, each section being provided with a corresponding orifice being fluidly connected to each other;   a first flange mountable about the first section of the tee joint, said first flange being configured for mounting the assembled injection device onto a first section of the pipeline;   a second flange mountable about the second section of the tee joint, said second flange being configured for mounting the assembled injection device onto a second section of the pipeline;   a third flange mountable about the third section of the tee joint, said third flange being configured for connecting the assembled injection device to a source of flocculent agent;   a reducer mountable onto the first section of the tee joint so as to be positioned inside the tee joint, the reducer having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reducer being concentrically mountable about the orifice of the first section of the tee joint, the cross-sectional area of the reducer being reduced from its inlet to its outlet;   an inner pipe mountable onto the second section of the tee joint so as to be positioned inside the tee joint, the inner pipe having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the inner pipe being connectable to the outlet of the reducer, the outlet of the inner pipe being concentrically mountable about the orifice of the second section of the tee joint, the inner pipe being cooperable with the second section of the tee joint for defining a plurality of injection outlets about the outlet of the inner pipe so that flocculent agent coming from the third section of the tee joint be injected in a dispersed manner through said injection outlets and into a fluid flow of mature fine tailings traveling through the reducer and the inner pipe.   
     
     
         27 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein the second section of the tee joint includes an outer pipe positionable concentrically about the inner pipe for defining a conduit thereinbetween destined to receive the flocculent agent. 
     
     
         28 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein the second flange is mountable onto the outer pipe. 
     
     
         29 . A kit according to  claim 27 , wherein the kit further comprises a backing ring mountable between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. 
     
     
         30 . A kit according to  claim 29 , wherein the backing ring is provided with injection outlets for receiving flocculent agent from the second section of the tee joint. 
     
     
         31 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein the kit further comprises a lap ring mountable onto the second flange. 
     
     
         32 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein the kit further comprises a nut mountable onto the second flange. 
     
     
         33 . A kit according to  claim 26 , wherein components of the kit are securely mountable to one another by welding. 
     
     
         34 . An injection device for use with a lateral pipe fitting of a pipeline of mature fine tailings, the lateral pipe fitting having a substantially y-joint arrangement including a main line along which a fluid flow of mature fine tailings is intended to travel, and a corresponding branch line, the injection device comprising:
 an abutment flange for abutting against a distal end of the branch line;   a supporting body projecting from the abutment flange inwardly towards the main line, the supporting body having an internal conduit for conveying flocculent agent to be introduced into the fluid flow via a corresponding distal extremity intersecting said fluid flow of mature fine tailings; and   a plurality of injection outlets provided on the distal extremity of the supporting body, and through which flocculent agent is injected, the injection outlets being shaped and sized, and each having an orifice substantially smaller than that of the internal conduit so as to increase dispersion of the flocculating agent about the injection outlets in order to improve mixing of the fluid flow with said flocculating agent via an increased exposed surface area of the flocculating agent provided by the plurality of injection outlets.   
     
     
         35 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the supporting body of the injection device is configured so that its distal extremity is positioned about a main longitudinal axis of the fluid flow, and so that injection outlets are positioned below said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         36 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the supporting body of the injection device is configured so that its distal extremity is positioned above a main longitudinal axis of the fluid flow, and so that injection outlets are positioned about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         37 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the supporting body is a cylinder. 
     
     
         38 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the injection outlets are disposed about the supporting body along four rows of injection outlets. 
     
     
         39 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein there is about 30 degrees of radial separation between each row of injection outlets. 
     
     
         40 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the injection outlets are about ⅜ inches in diameter. 
     
     
         41 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the internal conduit of the supporting body is about ¾ inches in diameter. 
     
     
         42 . An injection device according to  claim 34 , wherein the supporting body is provided with a stabilizer for resting against an inner wall of the branch line.