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No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Batch sedimentation is a method that enables us to understand the mechanism of compaction and compression of sedimenting slurry. However, batch settling behaviour is a very complex phenomenon that is not easily described fully by a mathematical model. This causes unrealistically large empirical calculations when the thickener size estimations are required. Channelling, reverse concentration gradients and the initial concentration of the slurry have large effects on batch settling. Existing procedures do not provide clear relationships involving these three significant variables. In this study, batch sedimentation phenomena are examined in detail and possible explanations are given to clarify the complex behaviour using recent theories. Modern research has shown that channelling is an unwanted formation because channels can change the concentration at the bottom and top of the bed by carrying a great amount of flocs upwards. Batch sedimentation tests were performed using flocculated slurry of Calcium Carbonate at various initial concentrations such as 250 g/l, 500 g/l, 750 g/l and 1000 g/l to observe channelling and reverse concentration gradients. Flux plots for the batch system reveal behaviour which can be attributed to the upward flow of solids. In addition, photographic methods were used to observe settling processes, channelling mechanisms and flocs in the channels. One of the purposes of this work was to examine the phenomenological solid-liquid separation theory of Buscall and White (1987), which employs the material properties of the local volume fraction, compressive yield stress Py ()ö and hindered settling function R()ö to identify the material behaviour in batch sedimentation. Stepped-pressure filtration and batch settling tests were used to measure the material characteristics for the flocculated CaCO3 suspension. Experimental data were demonstrated using Height versus Time and Height versus Concentration graphs and displayed the possible region of reverse concentration gradients and channelling in the settling bed. Mathematical predictions adopted from Usher (2002) were performed employing material characteristics of the material and graphical documentations were presented. The results of mathematical predictions were compared to the experimental results and the modes of sedimentation explained by Lester et al. (2005). Fundamental theoretical models and experimental observations highlight that the main driving force for channelling is the high-pressure gradient at the bottom of the bed and the most important factors that cause channelling are high initial concentration of slurry and settling time. The predictions also show that the material and flocculant used for the batch settling tests demonstrate important effect on the settling process. The knowledge and information gained from this study is valuable to maximize the thickening process.

Cette étude tente de modéliser les taux de transport de sédiments et l'évolution du lit dans un milieu estuarien complexe : l'estuaire de la Gironde, caractérisé par une grande hétérogénéité dans la composition des sédiments de lit, avec la présence de sédiments cohésifs et non-cohésifs ainsi que des mélanges sablo-vaseux. Notre objectif principal est d'étendre un modèle morphodynamique 2D développé par Huybrechts et al. (2012b) pour les sédiments non-cohésifs, afin de tenir compte de la présence de la vase et d'établir une étape préliminaire pour un modèle morphodynamique de sédiment mixte. Notre cadre est le système Telemac (version 6.1) où l'approche bi-dimensionnelle a été sélectionnée pour des simulations à grandes échelles spatiales (150 km) et moyen terme (5 ans).La première partie de ce travail est consacrée à la compréhension des processus de sédimentation-consolidation de la vase pure, en combinant expériences et modèles 1D verticaux. Les processus du sédiment cohésif sont ensuite intégrés dans le modèle morphodynamique de l'estuaire de la Gironde. Des expériences d'érosion et de dépôt ont été réalisées au laboratoire RWTH (Université d'Aachen, Allemagne) pour calibrer les paramètres des lois d'érosion et de dépôt. En outre, l'effet de la consolidation est pris en compte à travers la mise en œuvre d'un modèle 1DV de sédimentation et consolidation basé sur la théorie de Gibson (Thiébot et al., 2011) en utilisant des équations de fermeture analytique pour la perméabilité et la contrainte effective. Une attention particulière est accordée à l'initialisation de la structure verticale du lit sédimentaire. Les mesures et les résultats du modèle sont comparés pour les concentrations des sédiments en suspension et pour l'évolution de fond en moyen terme (5 ans).Dans la deuxième partie, un nouveau modèle 1DV pour la sédimentation entravée des mélanges sablo-vaseux a été développé sur la base des modèles de bi-disperse non-cohésifs. La solution numérique a été réalisée en prenant en considération un schéma de haute précision dans l'espace par la technique de reconstruction WENO et en temps par un Discontinue de Galerkin local (DG). Le modèle est ensuite validé par rapport à une large gamme de données expérimentales (mono-disperse sable, vase, non-cohésif bi-disperse et le mélange non-cohésif/cohesif) / This study attempts to model sediment transport rates and the resulting bed evolution in a complex estuarine environment: the Gironde estuary, characterized by a high hetereogeneity in the sediment bed composition, with the presence of both cohesive and non-cohesive sediments and sand/mud mixtures. Our main objective is to extend an existing 2D morphodynamic model developped by Huybrechts et al (2012b) for non-cohesive sediments, to account for the presence of mud and to draw some preliminary step for a fully mixte sediment morphodynamic model. Our framework is the finite element Telemac system (release 6.1), where the two-dimensional (depth averaged) approach has been selected for large scale and medium term simulations.The first part of this work is devoted to the understanding of sedimentation-consolidation processes for pure mud, combining laboratory experiments and 1D vertical models. Cohesive processes are then integrated in the 2D (depth-averaged) large scale morphodynamic model of the Gironde estuary developed by Huybrechts et al. (2012b). Erosion/deposition experiments were performed at the RWTH laboratory (University of Aachen, Germany) to calibrate the erosion and deposition law parameters. Moreover, the effect of consolidation is taken into account through the implementation of a 1DV Gibson-based sedimentation-consolidation model (Thiebot et al., 2011) using analytical closure equations for permeability and effective stress. Special attention is paid to the initialisation of the bed structure. Comparisons between measurements and model results are achieved on both suspended sediment concentration records and on medium term (5-year) bed evolutions.In the second part, a new 1DV model for the hindered settling of sand-mud mixtures has been developed based on the background of non-cohesive bi-disperse models. The numerical solution has been constructed by considering a high-order of accuracy in space via a Weighted Essentially Non Oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction technique and in time via a local space-time Discontinuous Galerkin (DG).The model is then validated against a large range of experimental data (mono-disperse sand, mud, non-cohesive bi-disperse and non-cohesive/cohesive mixture)

The alumina industry produces a significant quantity of bauxite residue suspension (red mud) that must be washed and dewatered in trains of thickeners and residue disposal areas to recover valuable alumina and sodium hydroxide. The Australian Alumina Industry have come together to sponsor a project to address waste minimisation and environmental impact issues collectively through the optimisation of dewatering in their washer trains and residue disposal areas. The project aims to maximise thickener underflow and tailings dam solids concentrations. (For complete abstract open document)