Numerical Study of Percolation and Seepage Behaviors in Ion-Adsorption-Type Rare Earth Ore Leaching Process

Ionic rare earth ore is a type of featured in China. Its mining process suffers from long leaching cycle and considerable consumption agents. Improving efficiency requires sound physical understanding the process. In this study, CFD-based numerical model used to analyze through porous media formed by particles. The simulation results indicate that lower packing porosity smaller particles packed granular medium result much larger energy dissipation during seepage, increases with seepage velocity. It found when velocity certain high value, exceeds value predicted Darcy’s law, which mainly caused liquid turbulence. Additionally, effect particle shape examined. show composed prolate causes than oblate particles, spherical play least role. This phenomenon may affecting area frontal contact surface between liquid. provide new insights into fundamental percolation behaviors ion-adsorption-type