Abstract:
Insitu leaching of uranium is a very complicated non-linear dynamic system, involving the couplings among various factors and processes and the positive and negative feedback actions. In order to study the influences of rock structural mechanics and its evolution law, rock deformation, the dynamic evolution of porosity and permeability on leaching effect, a coupling model and simulation method were founded among multivariate and multi-process leaching kinetics, and a 3-D simulation program was compiled based on Fortran and C++. Through the numerical simulation of the leaching process in acidification, production and terminal stages, the distribution of uranium concentration in various production stages was obtained, uranium concentration in groundwater of the leaching area increases to 15 mg/L after 40 d acidification; the uranium in this area is completely leached after 5 years production; and the concentrations of uranium and acid obviously decrease in the end stage, with the concentration of uranium decreasing to 10 mg/L and the pH approaching around 2.0. The numerical analysis results coincide with practical production. And the model and program can be applied in theoretical study, engineering design, production management, and the study of groundwater contaminant transport and restoration for in-situ leaching of uranium.