Patent ID: 9708206
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: B01D,C02F,C10G

Claim:
1. A method of treating thick fine tailings, comprising: providing an in-line flow of the thick fine tailings; adding a flocculant into the in-line flow of the thick fine tailings to produce an in-line flow of flocculating tailings material, wherein the in-line flow of the thick fine tailings has a turbulent flow regime upon addition of the flocculant; shearing the in-line flow of the flocculating tailings material to induce floc build-up, increase a yield stress thereof and reduce turbulence thereof, to thereby produce a non-turbulent, in-line flow of flocculated material; subjecting the in-line flow of the flocculated material to shear conditioning to decrease the yield stress thereof and produce a conditioned flocculated tailings material that is within a water release zone wherein water separates from the conditioned flocculated tailings material; and dewatering the conditioned flocculated tailings material.