To evaluate the operational impact of these results, both samples were compared at a target moisture content of 14%–15%, which is the industry standard for filtered tailings applications. The results show a significant disparity in efficiency: Sample_02_NC (NovaCell tailings) achieved a filtration rate of 1.03 t[dry]/m2.h using only two Viper units. In contrast, Sample_01_BL (Baseline) reached a rate of just 0.47 t[dry]/m2.h, even with the assistance of three Viper units. This comparison indicates that a plant designed to process CPF circuit generated tailings would require a filtration area approximately 45% the size of the current baseline configuration to achieve the same throughput. This reduction in required equipment scale represents a major opportunity for lowering both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and the overall plant footprint. 4. CONCLUSIONES AND OUTLOOK 4.1 Conclusions The integration of NovaCell technology into the flotation circuit has proven to be a transformative factor for downstream dewatering efficiency. By shifting the particle size distribution (PSD) from a P80 of 147 µm to a significantly coarser 450 µm, the characteristic filtering properties of the tailings were fundamentally altered. The experimental results demonstrate that: ● Synergistic Performance: The combination of a coarser PSD and the Viper vacuum system allow for superior moisture control. ● Throughput and Rate: Comparing operations at the industry-accepted 14 - 15% moisture range, the filtration rate for CPF-integrated tailings 1.03 t[dry]/m2.h with 2 Vipers more than doubles the baseline performance 0.47 t[dry]/m2.h with. ● Footprint Optimization: The most critical finding is the 55% reduction in required filtration area. A facility processing integrated CPF tailings requires only 45% of the physical footprint compared to a traditional baseline plant to achieve identical throughput targets. ● The ability to consistently hit moisture targets in shortened cycle times significantly increases water recovery for reuse in the process. 4.2 Outlook The significant reduction in plant size and equipment requirements opens the door for a substantial decrease in CAPEX and OPEX for future filtered tailings projects. Future work should focus on: ● Pilot-Scale Validation: Moving from bench-scale testing to a continuous pilot plant to verify these filtration rates under variable ore-grade conditions. ● Modular and Scalable Plant Design: Since the required filtration area is reduced by 55%, future plants can utilize modular filter skids. This reduces initial CAPEX and allows operations to scale their dewatering capacity in "blocks" as production throughput increases, rather than over-investing in a massive, fixed filtration plant from day one.
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