Utilization of temperature heat adsorption skin temperature as scale control reagent driver
First Claim
1. A process solution distribution system comprising:
- a pump to distribute a scale control reagent to at least a portion of the process distribution system in response to a measured or calculated temperature;
emitter tubing in fluid communication with the pump and exposed to weather and direct sunlight and configured to allow dripping of a fluid onto a target area;
optional piping in fluid communication with the pump and the emitter tubing;
a section of tubing located within 1000 feet of the pump, the section of tubing comprising the same materials as the emitter tubing, the section of tubing characterized as not being in fluid communication with the pump or emitter tubing;
a first sensor affixed to the section of tubing, the first sensor adapted to measure or calculate the measured or calculated temperature; and
optionally at least one additional second sensor affixed to the section of tubing to measure or calculate the measured or calculated temperature; and
wherein the pump is adapted to automatically adjust the amount of scale control reagent distributed to at least a portion of the process distribution system based on the measured or calculated temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatuses for preventing the formation of scale in heap leach process solution distribution systems comprised of piping, spray nozzles, or emitter tubes. Solution distribution system components often become fouled by scale because of local hot spots more prone to form scale than other locations along the systems length. Positioning sensors that detect periods of high temperature stress and adjusting scale control reagent dosage to send the right amount to inhibit hot spot deposition allows for the control of scale without using wasteful excessive amounts of scale control reagents. This can vastly improve scale control performance under high temperature stress conditions while minimizing scale control reagent waste under less severe stress conditions to reduce the total operating cost of running heap leach mining operations which depend upon well-functioning solution distribution systems.
53 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process solution distribution system comprising:
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a pump to distribute a scale control reagent to at least a portion of the process distribution system in response to a measured or calculated temperature; emitter tubing in fluid communication with the pump and exposed to weather and direct sunlight and configured to allow dripping of a fluid onto a target area; optional piping in fluid communication with the pump and the emitter tubing; a section of tubing located within 1000 feet of the pump, the section of tubing comprising the same materials as the emitter tubing, the section of tubing characterized as not being in fluid communication with the pump or emitter tubing; a first sensor affixed to the section of tubing, the first sensor adapted to measure or calculate the measured or calculated temperature; and optionally at least one additional second sensor affixed to the section of tubing to measure or calculate the measured or calculated temperature; and wherein the pump is adapted to automatically adjust the amount of scale control reagent distributed to at least a portion of the process distribution system based on the measured or calculated temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification