Large Scale Solar Plants Integration in Electro-winning Copper Recuperation Process

Cuevas, F; Murray, Clare; Platzer, Werner; Heimsath, Anna

doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2015.02.167

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Application of advanced technologies and new concepts in copper bioleaching are essential for biotechnology development. For instance, to enhance temperature inside heaps, the solar thermal energy was applied in a Chilean copper mine by setting up flat plate collectors and other integration equipment, improving the copper extraction rates from 67% to 85% [249,250].…”

Section: Application Of Novel Technology and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Copper Bioleaching in China: Review and Prospect

et al. 2018

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The commercial application of copper bioleaching, an environmentally-friendly approach for low-grade and secondary mineral resources recycling, has increased worldwide since the 2000s. As the world's second-largest economic entity and the largest developing country, China has the largest demand for metal resources, significantly advancing the theory and industrial technology of copper bioleaching. This paper reviews the exploration and application of copper bioleaching in China. Two typical bioleaching applications and technological processes, bioheap leaching at the Zijinshan Copper Mine and bioheap leaching at the Dexing Copper Mine, are introduced. The considerable research completed by researchers is summarized, especially focusing on the isolation and identification of leaching bacteria, the bioleaching mechanism and interface reactions, multistage percolation behavior, bioleaching system reconstruction, the multiphysics coupled model, and enhanced copper bioleaching from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs). Based on this investigation in China, key trends and prospects in copper bioleaching-such as efficiency improvement, environmental protection, and improved technology applications-are proposed.

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Section: Application Of Novel Technology and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Copper Bioleaching in China: Review and Prospect

et al. 2018

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“…Through these processes, high‐purity copper cathodes can be obtained without the need for prior smelting stages, using process heat at medium‐low temperatures. Electrowinning is significantly important among copper processing technologies since it is used to produce high‐purity metal on large‐scales and at a reasonable cost 20 . Currently, almost all energy required by electrowinning processes is provided by boiler technologies based on low efficiency and highly polluting, significantly contributing to the negative carbon footprint of the country.…”

Section: Background Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, almost all energy required by electrowinning processes is provided by boiler technologies based on low efficiency and highly polluting, significantly contributing to the negative carbon footprint of the country. Lately, a couple of copper mine complexes in Chile have implemented solar assisted heating systems to pre‐heat the electrolyte solution before considering electrowinning cells 20 . Similarly, some studies focusing on solar metallurgy are being conducted in order to improve production capabilities and similar applications.…”

Section: Background Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Electrowinning is significantly important among copper processing technologies since it is used to produce high-purity metal on largescales and at a reasonable cost. 20 Currently, almost all energy required by electrowinning processes is provided by boiler technologies based on low efficiency and highly polluting, significantly contributing to the negative carbon footprint of the country. Lately, a couple of copper mine complexes in Chile have implemented solar assisted heating systems to pre-heat the electrolyte solution before considering electrowinning cells.…”

Section: Background Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lately, a couple of copper mine complexes in Chile have implemented solar assisted heating systems to pre-heat the electrolyte solution before considering electrowinning cells. 20 Similarly, some studies focusing on solar metallurgy are being conducted in order to improve production capabilities and similar applications.…”

Section: Background Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enhanced dynamic simulation approach towards the efficient mining thermal energy supply with improved operational flexibility

et al. 2020

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Summary This paper presents a thermal power plant retrofitting approach focused on improvements in the operational flexibility of existing combined cycle power plants dedicated to providing thermal energy for medium and low‐temperature processes in copper mining facilities. The main motivation for this research was aimed at evaluating the operational flexibility of the electrical industry through sector coupling and its effect on solving the energy sector decarbonization issues. The research evaluates the advantages of hybridization systems for supporting the electrical and mining industries to better predict operations. The proposed approach is based on a dynamic simulation scheme that finds the optimal operating parameters of the combined heat and power (CHP) system, such as location, type, and arrangement of each component of the CHP system. The power plant dynamic simulation model was validated against data available in the literature; it was also characterized by real operational data of the San Isidro II power plant installed in Chile. Several alternatives for the cogeneration plant location, as well as the splitter system design, were investigated and then compared. A cogeneration plant design with two heating modules was selected based on the comparative study performed in this work and its CHP system was evaluated for a load reduction case study. The results were compared against a reference model. The proposed CHP system exhibited improved performance: a minimum of 15% of the exhaust gases are required to supply the thermal energy demand of the electrowinning process when a full load is considered. It was also found that an average decrease of 5% of the mechanical power at each steam turbine stage noted. Finally, the proposed CHP system's average thermodynamic efficiency is found to be 19% greater than the power plant average efficiency. Consequently, an average decrease of 32 500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year is predicted.

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