Analysis of heat conservation during copper sulphide heap leaching

Abstract An analysis of heat conservation during copper sulphide heap leaching has been carried out with the aid of a computer model. As a result, a new mode of heap behaviour called “evaporative autocatalysis” is postulated. In this mode, air is blown upward through the heap at a rate sufficient to drive the net advection of heat upward through the heap, resulting in much higher and more uniform internal heap temperatures than can be achieved in the absence of forced aeration. The effects of flow rate, heat generation rate, solution and air heating, and application of an evaporation shield to the heap surface are also investigated.