Achieving water release zone for dewatering thick fine tailings based on shearing parameter such as camp number

Abstract

Various techniques are provided in relation to flocculation and/or dewatering of thick fine tailings, with shear conditioning of flocculated tailings material in accordance with a pre-determined shearing parameter, such as the Camp Number. One example method of treating thick fine tailings including dispersing a flocculant into the thick fine tailings to form a flocculating mixture; shearing the flocculating mixture to increase yield stress and produce a flocculated mixture; shear conditioning the flocculated mixture to decrease the yield stress and break down flocs, the shear conditioning being performed in accordance with the pre-determined shearing parameter to produce conditioned flocculated material within a water release zone where release water separates from the conditioned flocculated material. The conditioned flocculated material can then be subjected to dewatering, for example by depositing, thickening or filtering. The design, construction and/or operation of a flocculation pipeline assembly can be facilitated.

1 . A treatment system for treating thick fine tailings, comprising:
 an in-line injector for injecting a flocculant into a turbulent flow of the thick fine tailings to form a flocculating mixture;   a floc build-up pipeline assembly in fluid communication with the in-line injector for receiving the flocculating mixture and subjecting the flocculating mixture to shear to increase a yield stress of the flocculating mixture and build up flocs, thereby producing a flocculated mixture;   a floc breakdown pipeline assembly in fluid communication with the floc build-up pipeline assembly for receiving the flocculated mixture, the floc breakdown pipeline assembly being sized and configured for subjecting the flocculated mixture to an amount of shear conditioning under laminar conditions in accordance with a pre-determined shearing parameter sufficient to decrease the yield stress of the flocculated mixture and produce a conditioned flocculated material that is within a water release zone wherein release water separates from the conditioned flocculated material, the pre-determined shear parameter comprising residence time and shear rate in laminar conditions; and   a dewatering unit for receiving the conditioned flocculated material while within the water release zone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined shearing parameter is a pre-determined Camp Number, and the floc breakdown pipeline assembly is sized to have a pipe length and diameter for providing the pre-determined Camp Number. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floc breakdown pipeline assembly consists essentially of piping and has a pipe length and diameter sufficient to provide the amount of shear conditioning in accordance with the pre-determined shearing parameter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floc breakdown pipeline assembly comprises an in-line shear unit having an equivalent pipe length, such that the pipeline conditioning assembly has a total equivalent pipe length sufficient to provide the amount of shear conditioning in accordance with the pre-determined shearing parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined shearing parameter is variable and the system further comprises an additional pipe section removably mountable to an outlet end of the floc breakdown pipeline assembly in order to vary the amount of shear conditioning under laminar conditions imparted to the flocculated tailings material in accordance with the pre-determined shearing parameter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floc breakdown pipeline assembly comprises:
 a first pipeline having a first diameter and a first length sufficient for providing the amount of shear conditioning, and configured to supply the conditioned flocculated material to a first dewatering unit; and   a second pipeline having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and a second length smaller than the first length providing the amount of shear conditioning, and configured to supply the conditioned flocculated material to a second dewatering unit located closer than the first.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thick fine tailings comprise mature fine tailings. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dewatering unit comprises a sub-aerial deposition area to deposit the conditioned flocculated material thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dewatering unit enables water draining away from solid flocculated material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dewatering unit enables thickening of the conditioned flocculated material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dewatering unit comprises a thickener unit to perform the thickening of the conditioned flocculated material, the thickener unit being configured to produce a thickened underflow and an overflow. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dewatering unit enables filtration of the conditioned flocculated material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dewatering unit comprises a separation unit.