A control volume finite element method for adaptive mesh simulation of flow in heap leaching

Mostaghimi, Peyman; Tollit, Brendan; Neethling, S.J.; Gorman, Gerard J.; Pain, Christopher C.

doi:10.1007/s10665-013-9672-3

Cited by 35 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For more details regarding the applied numerical method, refer to Mostaghimi et al (2014) and Jackson et al (2015).…”

Section: Cvfe Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The adaptive mesh required only 234 seconds, which is much lower than that required by the high resolution model whilst offering similar accuracy. Mostaghimi et al (2015) has provided further more test cases for validation of the developed CVFE method and Mostaghimi et al (2014) demonstrated that the static mesh CVFE discretization has a linear order of convergence.…”

Section: Stable Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adaptive Mesh Optimization for Simulation of Immiscible Viscous Fingering

et al. 2016

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Viscous fingering can be a major concern when waterflooding heavy oil reservoirs. Most commercial reservoir simulators employ low-order finite volume/difference methods on structured grids to resolve this phenomenon. However, this approach suffers from a significant numerical dispersion error due to insufficient mesh resolution which smears out some important features of the flow. We simulate immiscible incompressible two-phase displacements and propose the use of unstructured control volume finite element (CVFE) methods for capturing viscous fingering in porous media. Our approach uses anisotropic mesh adaptation where the mesh resolution is optimized based on the evolving features of flow. The adaptive algorithm uses a metric tensor field based on solution interpolation error estimates to locally control the size and shape of elements in the metric. The mesh optimization generates an unstructured finer mesh in areas of the domain where flow properties change more quickly and a coarser mesh in other regions where properties do not vary so rapidly. We analyze the computational cost of mesh adaptivity on unstructured mesh and compare its results with those obtained by a commercial reservoir simulator based on the finite volume methods.

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“…For more details regarding the applied numerical method, refer to Mostaghimi et al (2014) and Jackson et al (2015).…”

Section: Cvfe Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stable Displacementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive Mesh Optimization for Simulation of Immiscible Viscous Fingering

et al. 2016

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“…In a previous study by Mostaghimi et al (2014), the method was verified against the one-dimensional Buckley-Leverett problem and showed approximately a first order of convergence. The first test case, presented here, considers a two-dimensional Buckley-Leverett problem where the advantages of dynamic mesh adaptivity are highlighted.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In addition, the mesh adaptivity resolves the flow features accurately by improving the mesh resolution in the zones of dynamic interest. Mostaghimi et al (2014) showed that the overhead in the computational time of simulation using mesh adaptivity is approximately 5 % of the total CPU time while the accuracy of the solution is considerably improved. It was also demonstrated that to achieve the same accuracy, a static mesh method requires 46 times more computational time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anisotropic Mesh Adaptivity and Control Volume Finite Element Methods for Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

et al. 2015

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Numerical simulation of multiphase flow in porous media is of great importance in a wide range of applications in science and engineering. The governing equations are the continuity equation and Darcy's law. A novel control volume finite element (CVFE) approach is developed to discretize the governing equations in which a nodecentered control volume approach is applied for the saturation equation, while a CVFE method is used for discretization of the pressure equation. We embed the discrete continuity equation into the pressure equation and ensure that the continuity equation is exactly enforced. Furthermore, the scheme is equipped with dynamic anisotropic mesh adaptivity which uses a metric tensor field approach, based on the curvature of fields of interest, to control the size and shape of elements in the metric space. This improves the resolution of the mesh in the zones of dynamic interest. Moreover, the mesh adaptivity algorithm employs multi-constraints on element size in different regions of the porous medium to resolve multi-scale transport phenomena. The advantages of mesh adaptivity and the capability of the scheme are demonstrated for simulation of flow in several challenging computational domains. The scheme captures the key features of flow while preserving the initial geometry and can be applied for efficient simulation of flow in heterogeneous porous media and geological formations.

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“…Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technologies have enabled more complex multi-phase transport in the modelling of the heap leaching process [17][18][19][20][21][22] with much of this work focusing on capturing the kinetics in one-dimensional columns or two-dimensional slices. Mostaghimi et al [23,24] applied CFD technology to capturing flow in a three-dimensional heap. McBride et al [25][26][27] coupled flow-solid-gas and chemical interactions within a CFD model and applied the model to a three-dimensional heterogeneous heap with variable permeability, saturated conditions and solution traveling through preferential pathways.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heap Leaching: Modelling and Forecasting Using CFD Technology

McBride

Gebhardt²,

Croft

et al. 2018

Minerals

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Heap leach operations typically employ some form of modelling and forecasting tools to predict cash flow margins and project viability. However, these vary from simple spreadsheets to phenomenological models, with more complex models not commonly employed as they require the greatest amount of time and effort. Yet, accurate production modelling and forecasting are essential for managing production and potentially critical for successful operation of a complex heap, time and effort spent in setting up modelling tools initially may increase profitability in the long term. A brief overview of various modelling approaches is presented, but this paper focuses on the capabilities of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Advances in computational capability allow for complex CFD models, coupled with leach kinetic models, to be applied to complex ore bodies. In this paper a comprehensive hydrodynamic CFD model is described and applied to chalcopyrite dissolution under heap operating conditions. The model is parameterized against experimental data and validated against a range of experimental leach tests under different thermal conditions. A three-dimensional 'virtual' heap, under fluctuating meteorological conditions, is simulated. Continuous and intermittent irrigation is investigated, showing copper recovery per unit volume of applied leach solution to be slightly increased for pulse irrigation.

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A control volume finite element method for adaptive mesh simulation of flow in heap leaching

Cited by 35 publications

References 18 publications

Adaptive Mesh Optimization for Simulation of Immiscible Viscous Fingering

Adaptive Mesh Optimization for Simulation of Immiscible Viscous Fingering

Anisotropic Mesh Adaptivity and Control Volume Finite Element Methods for Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

Heap Leaching: Modelling and Forecasting Using CFD Technology

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