Balance hídrico de procesos metalúrgicos molienda y flotación en planta concentradora, minera Los Pelambres Antofagasta Minerals.
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Date
2024
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
El estudio desarrollado en esta memoria se llevó a cabo en su totalidad en las instalaciones de la Planta Concentradora, Minera los Pelambres con apoyo de las Superintendencias de Molienda y Flotación. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar oportunidades operacionales en el consumo del recurso hídrico, realizando un balance másico de este en el macrosistema de la Planta Concentradora.
Se realizó un levantamiento de datos operacionales en el periodo de últimos 5 años, desde 30 marzo de 2019 hasta el 30 de marzo de 2024. Esta información recolectada fue sometida a un análisis de datos, filtrando datos anómalos y realizando estudios estadísticos que garantizaran una representatividad en el comportamiento del sistema.
El balance de masa hídrico se planteó considerando el periodo transcurrido entre el 1 de octubre de 2023 y 30 de marzo de 2024, debido a la implementación del Proyecto INCO, que incorporó al sistema una Linea de molienda de nuevas características operacionales y una Linea de flotación Rougher. Inicialmente el sistema desarrollado fue la Planta Concentradora, para luego pasar a los balances de los subprocesos de Molienda y Flotación, con objetivo de detallar y caracterizar la mayor cantidad de flujos en cada una de sus etapas.
Los resultados del balance general indican que la planta concentradora de Minera Los Pelambres reutiliza actualmente un 88% de sus aguas, con un make-up de 0,22 m³/ton.
En el circuito de molienda, se identificó una oportunidad de posible ahorro hídrico en la etapa de molienda secundaria, aunque sujeta a observaciones y estudios adicionales debido a la falta de equipos de control. Esta etapa representa el mayor consumo de agua en la planta, con un requerimiento actual de 8.919 m³/h.
En el circuito de flotación colectiva, se destacó la necesidad de realizar estudios comparativos entre las diferentes líneas de flotación Rougher con objetivo de evaluar el impacto en la recuperación de cobre al reducir el uso de agua en la alimentación, dado que esta etapa es el segundo mayor consumidor de agua en la planta, con un consumo de 6.021 m³/h de agua de procesos. Finalmente, en el circuito de flotación selectiva se detectó la ausencia de datos operacionales que permitiesen caracterizar de manera óptima el proceso que se lleva a cabo.
The study developed in this report was carried out entirely at the Concentrator Plant facilities of Minera Los Pelambres, with support from the Grinding and Flotation Superintendencies. The objective of the study was to identify operational opportunities in water resource consumption by conducting a mass balance of water in the plant’s macrosystem. Operational data was collected over the past 5 years, from March 30, 2019, to March 30, 2024. The collected information was subjected to data analysis, filtering out anomalous data and conducting statistical studies to ensure representativeness in system behavior. The water mass balance was planned for the period between October 1, 2023, and March 30, 2024, due to the implementation of the INCO Project, which introduced a Grinding Line with new operational characteristics and a Rougher Flotation Line to the system. Initially, the developed system encompassed the Concentrator Plant, followed by balances of the Grinding and Flotation subprocesses to detail and characterize the largest number of flows in each of their stages. The overall balance results indicate that Minera Los Pelambres’ Concentrator Plant currently reuses 88% of its water, with a makeup rate of 0.22 m³/ton. In the grinding circuit, a potential water-saving opportunity was identified in the secondary grinding stage, though further observations and studies are required due to a lack of control equipment in these processes. This stage represents the highest water consumption in the plant, with a current demand of 8,919 m³/h. In the collective flotation circuit, the need for comparative studies between the different Rougher flotation lines was highlighted. The goal is to assess the impact on copper recovery by reducing water usage in the feed, as this stage is the plant’s second largest water consumer, with a process water consumption of 6,021 m³/h. Finally, in the selective flotation circuit, a lack of operational data was identified, preventing optimal characterization of the process in this area.
The study developed in this report was carried out entirely at the Concentrator Plant facilities of Minera Los Pelambres, with support from the Grinding and Flotation Superintendencies. The objective of the study was to identify operational opportunities in water resource consumption by conducting a mass balance of water in the plant’s macrosystem. Operational data was collected over the past 5 years, from March 30, 2019, to March 30, 2024. The collected information was subjected to data analysis, filtering out anomalous data and conducting statistical studies to ensure representativeness in system behavior. The water mass balance was planned for the period between October 1, 2023, and March 30, 2024, due to the implementation of the INCO Project, which introduced a Grinding Line with new operational characteristics and a Rougher Flotation Line to the system. Initially, the developed system encompassed the Concentrator Plant, followed by balances of the Grinding and Flotation subprocesses to detail and characterize the largest number of flows in each of their stages. The overall balance results indicate that Minera Los Pelambres’ Concentrator Plant currently reuses 88% of its water, with a makeup rate of 0.22 m³/ton. In the grinding circuit, a potential water-saving opportunity was identified in the secondary grinding stage, though further observations and studies are required due to a lack of control equipment in these processes. This stage represents the highest water consumption in the plant, with a current demand of 8,919 m³/h. In the collective flotation circuit, the need for comparative studies between the different Rougher flotation lines was highlighted. The goal is to assess the impact on copper recovery by reducing water usage in the feed, as this stage is the plant’s second largest water consumer, with a process water consumption of 6,021 m³/h. Finally, in the selective flotation circuit, a lack of operational data was identified, preventing optimal characterization of the process in this area.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al Título profesional de Ingeniero Civil Metalúrgico
Keywords
Recursos hidrológicos, Industria minera, Metalurgia