Leaching fluid control systems for mining operations
AssigneeSouthwest Leaching Technologies, LLC
InventorKyle Lincoln
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a leaching fluid control system for mining operations that includes controllable valve circuitry in fluid communication with a leaching fluid source, the controllable valve circuitry to provide a controlled flow rate of the leaching fluid; flow rate sensor circuitry in fluid communication with the controllable valve circuitry and with one or more leaching fluid lines to generate a flow rate signal indicative of the leaching fluid flow rate through the controllable valve circuitry; and controller circuitry to control the controllable valve circuitry to deliver a flow rate of leaching fluid based on the flow rate signal and one or more flow rate thresholds.
Claims12
A leaching fluid control system for mining operations, comprising:
- controllable valve circuitry in fluid communication with a leaching fluid source, the controllable valve circuitry to provide a controlled flow rate of the leaching fluid;
- flow rate sensor circuitry in fluid communication with the controllable valve circuitry and with one or more leaching fluid lines to generate a flow rate signal indicative of the leaching fluid flow rate through the controllable valve circuitry;
- controller circuitry to control the controllable valve circuitry to deliver a flow rate of leaching fluid based on the flow rate signal and one or more flow rate thresholds;
- the controller circuitry also to determine, based on the flow rate signal, if the flow rate drops below a minimum flow rate threshold indicative of a clogged and/or kinked condition of the one or more leaching fluid lines;
- and to determine, based on the flow rate signal, if the fluid flow rate exceeds a maximum flow rate threshold indicative of a leak associated with one or more of the leaching fluid lines;
- wherein the leaching fluid lines are disposed vertically on a slope section of a leach pad;
- and
- a flush manifold coupled to the leaching fluid lines and a controllable flush valve to flush the leaching lines;
- wherein the controller circuitry is configured to control the controllable flush valve to begin a flush operation if the flow rate drops below the minimum flow rate threshold;
- and wherein the controller circuitry further to trigger a status alert message to a remote monitoring interface if the fluid flow rate exceeds the maximum flow rate threshold.
A leaching fluid control system for mining operations, comprising:
- controllable valve circuitry in fluid communication with a leaching fluid source, the controllable valve circuitry to provide a controlled flow rate of the leaching fluid;
- flow rate sensor circuitry in fluid communication with the controllable valve circuitry and with one or more leaching fluid lines to generate a flow rate signal indicative of the leaching fluid flow rate through the controllable valve circuitry;
- controller circuitry to control the controllable valve circuitry to deliver a flow rate of leaching fluid based on the flow rate signal and one or more flow rate thresholds;
- the controller circuitry also to determine, based on the flow rate signal, if the flow rate drops below a minimum flow rate threshold indicative of a clogged and/or kinked condition of the one or more leaching fluid lines;
- and to determine, based on the flow rate signal, if the fluid flow rate exceeds a maximum flow rate threshold indicative of a leak associated with one or more of the leaching fluid lines;
- and
- a flush manifold coupled to the leaching fluid lines and a controllable flush valve to flush the leaching lines;
- wherein the controller circuitry is configured to control the controllable flush valve to begin a flush operation if the flow rate drops below the minimum flow rate threshold;
- and wherein the controller circuitry further to trigger a status alert message to a remote monitoring interface if the fluid flow rate exceeds the maximum flow rate threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.