Hydrodynamics control for the well field of in-situ leaching of uranium

Yongmei Li; Chong Zhang; Zhipeng Tang; Chunguang Li; Zhenzhong Liu; Kaixuan Tan; Longcheng Liu

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Oct 2024)

Hydrodynamics control for the well field of in-situ leaching of uranium

Yongmei Li,
Chong Zhang,
Zhipeng Tang,
Chunguang Li,
Zhenzhong Liu,
Kaixuan Tan,
Longcheng Liu

Affiliations

Yongmei Li: School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, China
Chong Zhang: Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing, 101149, China
Zhipeng Tang: School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, China
Chunguang Li: School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, China
Zhenzhong Liu: School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, China
Kaixuan Tan: School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, 421001 Hengyang, China; Corresponding author.
Longcheng Liu: Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing, 101149, China; School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, 421001, Hengyang, China; Chemical Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology KTH, Stockholm, Sweden

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 56, no. 10
pp. 4176 – 4183

Abstract

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In this study, the groundwater hydrodynamics of two adjacent well sites were simulated under different pumping-injection ratios. The aim is to select an optimal pumping-injection ratio that can ensure the groundwater of the two well sites don't affect each other. In addition, the sulfur isotope composition of groundwater in the two well sites were analyzed to verify the simulated results. The results show that the flow velocity at different points outside the edge drilling hole decreases exponentially with the distance between the point and the edge hole. The streamline gradually extends outside of the borehole with the increase of leaching time. It is found that the optimal pumping-injection ratio is 1.003. In this case, the maximum distance between the moving front and the injection borehole is 28.44 m after leaching for 5 years. This indicates that the groundwater flow fields of the two well sites are well controlled. The significant difference in sulfur isotopes between the two well-sites further proves that the SO42− in the acid mining zone does not affect the groundwater in the zone leached by CO2+O2.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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