Simulation of the meandering flow path of a beaching slurry using a random walk technique

Abstract

Splitting a slurry stream through the operation of multiple discharges is an established method of improving the beaching profile both for conventionally thickened as well as high density thickened tailings. To maximise the beach slope, however, it is important to space the discharges sufficiently far apart to ensure that the split flow streams do not recombine down the beach. A random walk technique has been applied by the author to simulate the flow paths of multiple flow streams at a range of discharge spacings, and the results have been used to estimate the optimal number of discharges and spacings to maximise the slope of the deposited beach. This paper describes the theoretical basis for steepening the beach through simultaneous discharge of smaller flow streams, sets out a random walk analysis technique to assess the minimum spacing between the streams to maximise beach slope, and compares the results of the simulations with the full-scale operation at a number of tailings operations.