Abstract:Aiming at the two most important types of pipeline projects in tailings facilities, namely the tailings transport pipeline and the tailings dam return water pipeline, this article gives an introduction to the principles that should be followed in the selection of the route schemes. In conjunction with a TSF project, and from the aspects of technology, economy, safety, environmental protection, etc., a comprehensive comparison and analysis of the three pipeline route schemes initially selected are carried out, and the analysis results show that priority should be given to tailings transportation pipeline when selecting TSF pipeline routing scheme since there are more restraints on tailings transport pipelines, and the tailings dam return water pipeline can be laid in parallel with the tailings transport pipeline; the pipeline running in the tunnels is slightly more expensive in terms of initial CAPEX, but it has more advantages in terms of environmental protection, pipeline safety and OPEX. Since the national and local government’s requirements for environmental protection and safety are getting increasingly stricter, it is a good way to properly consider the tunnel scheme in the selection of the TSF pipeline routing scheme, by taking into account factors such as economic conditions.
