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Baidya, Durjoy

University of British Columbia

Efficient carbon capture within mine tailings on an industrial scale holds the potential to make substantial strides in providing permanent solutions for carbon removal from the environment. This dissertation studies the feasibility of carbon sequestration in mine tailings by injecting flue gas. Its investigations revolve around exploring the large-scale implementation, assessing operational feasibility in cold climates, and addressing techno-economic aspects of the concept of diesel exhaust injection in mine tailings for carbon sequestration. Following the delineation of the research scope, the investigation embarks on conceptualizing a design for large-scale CO₂ sequestration within dry stack mine tailings through the utilization of embedded perforated pipes at remote mining operations. The core contribution of this dissertation involves the conception and validation of a novel (1+1)D Reduced Order Model (ROM) designed to predict the pressure phenomenon of the perforated pipes installed in the tailings. This ROM efficiently predicts injection pressures, outflow rates through the perforations, and pressure profiles with a level of precision comparable to commercial numerical solvers while demanding significantly less computational resources and time. The developed model showed the potential to be an asset in the decision-making process by furnishing a strategy for the design of energy-optimal injection scenarios. This research advances the development and validates a numerical model that assesses the feasibility of harnessing the thermal energy from flue gas to avert freezing in tailings beds, thus showcasing the possibility of year-round operation in cold climates. The study quantifies several crucial parameters, including injection rate, temperature, and other operating factors, emphasizing the flexibility of carbon sequestration approaches in frigid environments. A comprehensive array of sensitivity analyses scrutinizes the adaptability of the proposed concept across various operational and climatic conditions. Furthermore, the study develops a techno-economic cost model, accounting for factors such as piping infrastructure and energy operational expenditures. This model informs decision-making by identifying the critical balance between power costs and piping expenditures necessary for optimal operational expenses. Notably, the study emphasizes that carbon capture within mine tailings can be managed efficiently at a reasonable operating cost, reinforcing the practicality of greenhouse gas sequestration.

Text

2024-04-12

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87789

Mining Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/