Leaching fluid control systems for mining operations
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.
1. 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.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising power supply circuitry and a rechargeable battery system to provide power to at least the controller circuitry and the controllable valve circuitry.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a solar panel array to provide solar electricity to the power supply circuitry to recharge the rechargeable battery system.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising heating circuitry to provide a heating source to at least the controllable valve circuitry.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising communications circuitry to exchange commands and data with a remote interface.
6. 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.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising power supply circuitry and a rechargeable battery system to provide power to at least the controller circuitry and the controllable valve circuitry.
8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a solar panel array to provide solar electricity to the power supply circuitry to recharge the rechargeable battery system.
9. The system of claim 6 , further comprising heating circuitry to provide a heating source to at least the controllable valve circuitry.
10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising communications circuitry to exchange commands and data with a remote interface.
11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the leaching fluid lines are disposed vertically on a slope section of a leach pad.
12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the leaching fluid lines are disposed horizontally on a horizontal section of a leach pad.