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 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . An in-line tailings flocculation system, comprising:
 a tailings feed pipeline configured to provide a flow of tailings and having an upstream end and a downstream end;   an in-line flocculant injector for injecting a flocculation liquid containing a flocculating agent into the tailings, the in-line flocculant injector comprising:
 a sleeve comprising:
 a first end configured to be coupled to the downstream end of the tailings feed pipeline; 
 a second end configured opposite the first end; and 
 a side inlet in between the first and second ends and configured to receive a flow of the flocculation liquid; 
 
 a tailings conduit defining a fluid passage therethrough and being mounted within the sleeve, the tailings conduit comprising:
 a frusto-conical segment that tapers inwardly in a downstream direction of the flow of tailings, the frusto-conical segment comprising:
 an upstream portion mounted to an inner surface of the first end of the sleeve and configured to receive the flow of tailings from the tailings feed pipeline; and 
 a downstream portion located within the sleeve; 
 
 a cylindrical segment having a wall thickness and comprising:
 an upstream section coupled to the downstream portion of the frusto-conical segment; 
 a downstream section defining a tailings outlet; and 
 a plurality of injection outlets through the wall thickness; 
 
 a backing ring mounted about the tailings outlet of the cylindrical segment in between the cylindrical segment and the sleeve, such that the backing ring, the tailings conduit and the sleeve define therebetween an annular flocculant conduit that receives the flow of the flocculation liquid from the side inlet of the sleeve, the annular flocculant conduit being in fluid communication with the fluid passage via the injection outlets, such that the flocculation liquid is capable of flowing from the side inlet, through the annular flocculant conduit and out of injection outlets into the flow of the tailings in the fluid passage to form a flocculation material which is expelled via the tailings outlet; 
 
 a downstream pipeline coupled to the second end of the sleeve being in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the tailings conduit so as to receive the flocculation material. 
   
     
     
         44 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of injection outlets comprises injection outlets that are arranged circumferentially about the cylindrical segment of the tailings conduit. 
     
     
         45 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 44 , wherein the plurality of injection outlets comprises at least one opposed pair of injection outlets that are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the cylindrical segment. 
     
     
         46 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 44 , wherein the plurality of injection outlets comprises at least one perpendicular pair of injection outlets that are arranged at ninety degrees with respect to each other. 
     
     
         47 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the injection outlets each have a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         48 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the frusto-conical segment and the cylindrical segment of the tailings conduit join at a connection point that is downstream of a centerline axis of the side inlet. 
     
     
         49 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the second end of the sleeve comprises a flange extending outward and configured to be coupled to a corresponding flange of the downstream pipeline to secure the sleeve thereto. 
     
     
         50 . The in-line tailings flocculation system of  claim 49 , further comprising opposed first and second mounting components on either side of the flange to prevent axial movement of the flange. 
     
     
         51 . The in-line flocculation system of  claim 50 , wherein the first mounting component comprises a lap ring on a downstream side of the flange and a nut on an upstream side of the flange. 
     
     
         52 . The in-line flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the upstream portion of the frusto-conical segment is connected to an inner surface of the first end of the sleeve by a circumferential weld. 
     
     
         53 . The in-line flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the downstream portion of the frusto-conical segment is connected to the cylindrical segment by a circumferential weld. 
     
     
         54 . The in-line flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the injection outlets each have a cross-sectional size that is substantially smaller than a cross-section of the cylindrical segment. 
     
     
         55 . The in-line flocculation system of  claim 43 , wherein the injection outlets each have a cross-sectional size that is substantially smaller than a cross-section of the side inlet. 
     
     
         56 . An in-line flocculant injector for injecting a flocculation liquid containing a flocculating agent into a flow of tailings, comprising:
 a sleeve comprising:
 a first end configured to receive the flow of tailings; 
 a second end downstream from the first end; and 
 a side inlet in between the first and second ends and configured to receive a flow of the flocculation liquid; 
 a tailings conduit defining a fluid passage therethrough and being mounted within the sleeve, the tailings conduit comprising:
 a reducer that tapers inwardly in a downstream direction of the flow of tailings and being mounted within the sleeve; 
 an injection segment having a wall thickness and comprising:
 an upstream section coupled to a downstream portion of the reducer; 
 a downstream section defining a tailings outlet; and 
 a plurality of injection outlets through the wall thickness; 
 
 
 wherein the tailings conduit and the sleeve define therebetween a flocculant conduit that receives the flow of flocculation liquid from the side inlet of the sleeve, the flocculant conduit being in fluid communication with the fluid passage via the injection outlets, such that the flocculation liquid is capable of flowing from the side inlet, through the flocculant conduit and out of injection outlets into the flow of the tailings in the fluid passage to form a flocculation material which is expelled via the tailings outlet. 
   
     
     
         57 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , wherein the reducer has a frusto-conical shape and the injection segment has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         58 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , further comprising a backing ring secured in between the second end of the sleeve and the downstream section of the injection segment, and the backing ring defines an end surface of the flocculant conduit. 
     
     
         59 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 58 , wherein the flocculant conduit has an annular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         60 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , wherein the injection outlets each have a cross-sectional size that is substantially smaller than a cross-section of the cylindrical segment. 
     
     
         61 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 60 , wherein the plurality of injection outlets comprises at least four injection outlets that are equally spaced apart about a circumference of the injection segment of the tailings conduit. 
     
     
         62 . The in-line flocculant injector stem of  claim 56 , wherein the tailings conduit is centered within the sleeve along a longitudinal axis thereof that extends between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         63 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , wherein the reducer comprises side walls that define an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along a centerline of the reducer. 
     
     
         64 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , wherein the tailings conduit is defined by side walls that define inner and outer continuous flat surfaces but for the injection outlets. 
     
     
         65 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 56 , wherein the reducer is longer than the injection segment. 
     
     
         66 . An in-line flocculant injector for injecting a flocculation liquid containing a flocculating agent into a flow of tailings, comprising:
 a sleeve comprising:
 a first end configured to receive the flow of tailings; 
 a second end downstream from the first end; and 
 a side inlet in between the first and second ends and configured to receive a flow of the flocculation liquid; 
   a tailings conduit defining a fluid passage therethrough and being mounted within the sleeve, the tailings conduit comprising:
 a reducer mounted within the sleeve and configured to receive and accelerate the flow of tailings to provide a flowrate increased tailing flow; 
 an injection segment having a wall thickness and comprising:
 an upstream section coupled to the reducer to receive the flowrate increased tailing flow therefrom; 
 a downstream section defining a tailings outlet; and 
 a plurality of injection outlets through the wall thickness; 
 
   wherein the tailings conduit and the sleeve define therebetween a flocculant conduit that receives the flow of flocculation liquid from the side inlet of the sleeve, the flocculant conduit being in fluid communication with the fluid passage via the injection outlets, such that the flocculation liquid is capable of flowing from the side inlet, through the flocculant conduit and out of injection outlets into the flowrate increased tailing flow to form a flocculation material which is expelled via the tailings outlet.   
     
     
         67 . The in-line flocculant injector of  claim 66 , wherein the reducer comprises side walls that taper inwardly in a downstream direction.