Hydrometallurgy: Leaching in Heap, Vat, CIL, CIP, Merrill–Crowe, SX Solvent Extraction

Hydrometallurgy: Leaching in Heap, Vat, CIL, CIP, Merrill–Crowe, SX Solvent Extraction

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POX autoclave numbers (1 reply and 1 comment)

j
jtval
6 years ago
jtval 6 years ago

Hi

About POX for treatment of refractory gold ore, considering that using only one autoclave can decrease the availability of the process plant, how many autoclaves should be used in POX process?

Thanks for the help.

T
Todd H
6 years ago
Todd H 6 years ago
Like
1 like by David

The number of autoclaves is really dependent on a number of factors:

  1. Economies of scale - capital cost for 1 vs 2 for example
  2. What size is required and is it beyond the normal design limit

Most processes that can use 1 AC usually do not split the size and build 2 simply because of the economies of scale.  The AC sizes have gotten a lot bigger over the years and a typical size may be in the range of 14' dia by 90' long.  Much bigger and you are entering new design realms.  I think Barrick PV mine installed larger units than Goldstrike had (the size above is for Goldstrike) and had issues with the structure. 

Just a note on availability - POX is a maintenance intensive system and long shutdowns are required for internal maintenance.  Typically a single unit may be required to shut down fully once every 6 months for an inspection and minor brick work etc...  This type of shutdown could take a week.  There are other shutdowns required as well for flash and splash maintenance, pumps etc but they are typically much shorter (8 hour day type).  Most systems utilize dual feed pumps so that maintenance can be performed on one while the other runs etc...

 

Hope this helps.

Regards

Todd

 

Todd Harvey - Global Resource Engineering http://www.global-resource-eng.com

j
jtval
6 years ago

Thanks Todd.your experience was very useful.


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