Paul T Garcia

US Patent:

20180229153, Aug 16, 2018

Filed:

Sep 25, 2015

Appl. No.:

15/514295

Inventors:

- Toronto, CA
Paul Garcia - Temecula CA, US
Doug Kimzey - Knoxville TN, US
Ben HARRIS - Fallbrook CA, US
Robert C. PARROTT - Knoxville TN, US
James MICAK - Aurora, Ontario, CA
Robert FALERO - Corona CA, US

International Classification:

B01D 17/06
B03C 5/02
C10G 1/04
C02F 1/461

Abstract:

A method of electro treating tailings in a containment structure to cause a separation of at least some water from said tailings and a consolidation and compaction of at least some solid particles is shown. The method includes placing a plurality of first electrodes in the tailings to be treated generally along one side of a predetermined volume and placing a plurality of second electrodes in the tailings to be treated generally along an opposite side of said volume to the plurality of first electrodes, said first and second electrodes being spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The next step is applying a treatment current across said distance between said spaced first and second electrodes to create an electrical field which causes solids to consolidate at one of said plurality of first and second electrodes; and creating a geotechnical structure within said volume comprised of dewatered solids consolidated from said tailings around one of said electrodes. The geotechnical structure may be a layer at the bottom of the containment structure, along a side of the containment structure or across the top of a containment structure.

US Patent:

20150096901, Apr 9, 2015

Filed:

Oct 7, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/047730

Inventors:

- Concord, CA
Paul Garcia - Temecula CA, US
Doug Kimzey - Knoxville TN, US
Ben Harris - Fallbrook CA, US
Robert C. Parrott - Knoxville TN, US
James Micak - Ontario, CA

Assignee:

DPRA CANADA INCORPORATED - Concord

International Classification:

C02F 1/463

US Classification:

205742, 204660

Abstract:

There is a method of facilitating the consolidation of fine tailings through the application of an electrical current. The fine tailings include a combination of at least some water and some clay particles. Electrodes are placed into contact with the fine tailings. An AC voltage with a DC offset is applied to the electrodes to separate water from the clay particles and to induce movement of the separated water to a collection area. The separated clay particles can consolidate more readily than unseparated clay particles. In an embodiment, the fine tailings are mixed fine oil sands extraction tailings which include residual hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the application of an AC voltage with a DC offset across the electrodes includes applying an AC voltage of about 1 V/cm and a DC offset of about V/cm.