Abstract—The aim of this study was to develop a gravity feed column set-up and to set the flow parameters based on experimentally measured flow rates and pressure drops. Prior to the present study the authors used a column set-up in which acid mine drainage was pumped through pervious concrete filled columns, using electrical peristaltic fish pond pumps. The gravity feed set-up in the present study was designed to overcome the need to rely on electrical power supply. The study describes the design set-up of four gravity columns. The design requirements comprised determination of appropriate column sizes, pressure heads and hydraulic gradients required to produce a low flow rate of about 1 mL/min at outlets of the columns filled with pervious concrete media. Of special interest is the hydraulic gradient being responsible for continuous flow in each column. Following completion of the design set-up, continuous flow rates of 0.60 to 0.80 mL/min were attained with a Reynolds number of about 4.0 in the columns filled with pervious concrete. Further research is in progress involving employment of the gravity-feed system for acid mine drainage treatment investigations.
Index Terms—Gravity column, acid mine drainage (AMD), pervious concrete, darcy’s flow regime.
F. H. Solomon is with the Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (e-mail Fitsummoa@gmail.com).
S. O. Ekolu is with Concrete Materials and Structures at the Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (e-mail sekolu@uj.ac.za).
I. Musonda is with Construction Management and Civil Engineering at the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, South Africa (e-mail imusonda@uj.ac.za).
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Cite: Fitsum H. Solomon, Stephen O. Ekolu, and Innocent Musonda, "Gravity-Fed Column Configuration for Acid Mine Drainage Experiment," International Journal of Engineering and Technology vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 348-354, 2019.
