Modelagem e Simulação Computacional de Mineroduto de Resíduo de Bauxita

Abstract

Pipelines are essential systems for transporting waste from mining activities. However, the safe and efficient operation of these pipelines requires a detailed understanding of their hydraulic behavior under different operating conditions. To simulate the transport of waste in a pipeline, it is necessary to develop complex models due to the characteristics of the liquid-solid flow and physicochemical properties of the material. This study investigates the feasibility of using EPANET hydraulic modeling software to simulate bauxite residue pipelines. We explore the capabilities of EPANET to deal with specific characteristics of bauxite residue transport, considering the modeling of the pumping system, of the pipelines and of the characteristics of the material. Considering a real-world scenario of a bauxite pipeline, the operational modeling and simulation of this system is discussed, as well as a potential use of the model for leakage detection.