Method and apparatus for treating tailings using an AC voltage with a DC offset

An apparatus for consolidating tailings at a tailings pond through the application of an electrical current, comprising:

• at least two powered electrodes;
• a support structure supporting the at least two electrodes at a fixed distance from one another when the electrodes are immersed in said tailings;
• a dielectric moveable sleeve surrounding at least one of the at least two electrodes to define an insulated section of the electrode within the sleeve and an uninsulated section of the electrode beyond the sleeve;
• a buoyant member which floats on said tailings;
• and
• a connector between the buoyant member and the moveable sleeve wherein as more tailings are added and the level of tailings rises, the buoyant member raises the dielectric moveable sleeve to permit the application of the electrical current to facilitate consolidation of the added tailings.

A method for consolidating tailings at a tailings pond through the application of an electrical current, the fine tailings including a combination of at least some water and some clay particles, the method comprising:

• placing at least two electrodes into contact with the fine tailings, the at least two electrodes having an uninsulated section and an insulated section;
• providing an AC voltage with a DC offset to the at least two electrodes to induce separation of the water from the clay particles;
• introducing added tailings to the tailings pond;
• increasing the area of the uninsulated sections of the at least two electrodes which are in contact with the tailings as the level of tailings rises to permit the application of the electrical current to facilitate consolidation of the added tailings.