An online monitoring and early warning system for tailings ponds

Abstract

This utility model discloses an online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams, comprising several monitoring systems independently installed on the main and auxiliary tailings dams, and a remote monitoring platform. Each monitoring system includes a central controller, GNSS displacement monitoring stations, specially designed sensors, dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instruments, and early warning displays, all electrically connected to the central controller. The central controller is electrically connected to a wireless transmitter, which wirelessly transmits monitoring data to the remote monitoring platform at regular intervals or in real-time. By adopting the above setup, real-time monitoring of the tailings dam can be performed, replacing manual monitoring, and the monitoring data can be wirelessly transmitted remotely to a designated location for real-time monitoring and safety management.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of mine dam early warning and monitoring systems, specifically relating to an online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams. Background Technology

[0002] Tailings ponds are industrial waste storage sites formed by damming valley mouths or enclosing land. They are mainly used to store tailings and other waste discharged from the beneficiation outlets of metal or non-metal mines. They also have the function of water recycling, and 70%-90% of production water can be recovered through sedimentation and purification.

[0003] The adequacy of tailings dam safety management is a major factor determining tailings dam safety. Current tailings dam safety management primarily relies on manual inspections, measurements, and reporting, resulting in poor reliability and effectiveness. Especially under severe weather conditions, which are often peak periods for tailings dam emergencies, data from manual inspections and measurements cannot reflect the real-time situation of the tailings dam in a timely manner. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams, which can replace manual monitoring of the tailings dam's condition (such as the seepage line or dam surface water level, tailings dam displacement, tailings dam surface tilt, etc.) in real time, and transmit the monitoring data to a designated location wirelessly for real-time monitoring.

[0005] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] An online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams includes several monitoring systems independently installed on the main tailings dam and the secondary tailings dam, as well as a remote monitoring platform. Each monitoring system includes a central controller, GNSS displacement monitoring stations, specially designed sensors, dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instruments, and early warning displays, all electrically connected to the central controller. The central controller is electrically connected to a wireless transmitter, which transmits monitoring data wirelessly to the remote monitoring platform in a timed or real-time manner.

[0007] Furthermore, the monitoring system also includes internal displacement gauges and crack monitoring stations, all electrically connected to the central controller.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a drone for aerial photography in the mining area, which is equipped with an electronic camera that is wirelessly connected to the remote monitoring platform.

[0009] Furthermore, the monitoring system also includes a power supply station, which supplies power to the central controller, GNSS displacement monitoring station, specially designed sensors, dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument, internal displacement gauge and early warning display.

[0010] Furthermore, the power station includes a storage battery and a solar photovoltaic panel electrically connected to the charging port of the storage battery.

[0011] Furthermore, the warning display uses LED light beams.

[0012] Furthermore, the dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument is a hydrostatic level.

[0013] Furthermore, the internal displacement gauge employs a vibrating wire sensor.

[0014] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] This invention establishes independent monitoring systems at multiple locations along the main and auxiliary dams of a tailings dam. These systems utilize GNSS displacement monitoring stations, specially designed sensors, and dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instruments to monitor the displacement, erosion line, and tilt of the tailings dam at corresponding monitoring points in real time. The monitored data is compared with a standard range via a central controller. If the data exceeds the standard range, it indicates an anomaly in the tailings dam's safety, and the central controller activates a warning display to emit a red light. Simultaneously, the monitoring data is transmitted wirelessly to a remote monitoring platform, allowing staff to access the monitoring data at designated times or in real-time. This facilitates the safety management of the main and auxiliary dams, replacing manual monitoring of the tailings dam's condition (such as erosion line or dam surface water level, tailings dam displacement, and surface tilt). The monitoring data is also wirelessly transmitted to a designated location for real-time monitoring and safety management. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the tailings dam and related sensors of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection of the central controller and related sensors of this utility model.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Mine dam; 2. Central controller; 3. GNSS displacement monitoring station; 4. Buried special sensor; 5. Dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument; 6. Internal displacement gauge; 7. Crack monitoring station; 8. Early warning display; 9. Remote monitoring platform; 10. Aerial photography drone for mining area; 11. Electronic camera; 12. Storage battery; 13. Solar photovoltaic panel. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Terms such as “upper,” “inner,” “middle,” “left,” “right,” and “one” used in this specification are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0020] This invention addresses the shortcomings of existing tailings dam safety management methods, which typically rely on manual inspections, measurements, and reporting. These methods often suffer from poor reliability and effectiveness, and the data is frequently affected by adverse weather conditions. Therefore, an online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams, primarily distributed on the main and secondary dams, is designed. This system replaces manual methods for real-time monitoring of the main and secondary dams, transmitting the data to a remote receiver for real-time remote monitoring of the tailings dam's condition. It offers advantages such as convenient and efficient data collection, timely information reception, and convenient access to information about the tailings dam.

[0021] The following is a detailed description of the structure of the online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams of this utility model:

[0022] An online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the system includes several monitoring systems independently installed on the main dam and secondary dam (dam 1) of the tailings dam, as well as a remote monitoring platform 9. Multiple monitoring systems are used to monitor multiple areas of the main dam and secondary dam in the tailings dam in real time, and can transmit the monitored data to the remote monitoring platform 9 wirelessly on a timed or real-time basis. This allows staff in the control room to understand the overall situation of the entire tailings dam through the remote monitoring platform 9, thereby improving the safety management of the tailings dam.

[0023] The monitoring system includes a central controller 2, a GNSS displacement monitoring station 3, a specially designed sensor 4, a dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument 5, an internal displacement gauge 6, a crack monitoring station 7, and an early warning display 8, all of which are electrically connected to the central controller 2.

[0024] GNSS displacement monitoring station 3 is set on top of the corresponding location in the tailings dam to monitor the horizontal and vertical surface displacements at that checkpoint.

[0025] Specialized sensors 4 are typically installed at the maximum end face of the tailings dam or at sections with significant accident hazards to monitor the seepage line in real time. The monitoring points of the specialized sensors 4 are arranged according to the gradient of pore water pressure changes, employing a piezometer array and fixed protective plate structure. Pressure sensors are installed at the bottom of the piezometers, and a movable spherical sensor (including an ellipsoidal valve and rubber wheels) is internally configured. The central controller 2 of the overall system calculates the water level height by collecting piezometer data and graphically displays the seepage line morphology. The design must consider the seepage line location under both normal operation and flood operation conditions.

[0026] The dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument 5 adopts a static level. The static level includes multiple monitoring units, each installed at a corresponding monitoring point in the tailings dam. Adjacent monitoring units are interconnected to obtain the tilt changes at the corresponding monitoring points of the tailings dam through calculation.

[0027] The internal displacement gauge 6 is a vibrating wire sensor. The internal displacement gauge 6 is installed underground at the corresponding monitoring point of the tailings dam to monitor the internal displacement changes of the tailings dam in real time.

[0028] Crack monitoring station 7 is installed underground at the corresponding monitoring point in the tailings dam to monitor the interior of the tailings dam in real time for the presence of cracks or crack expansion.

[0029] The warning display 8 uses LED light beams, which can emit red or green light. In this embodiment, when the monitoring results are all outside the monitoring standard range, it means that there is an abnormality at the corresponding monitoring point of the tailings dam. The central controller 2 then controls the LED light beam of the monitoring point to emit red light, and vice versa, it emits green light.

[0030] The central controller 2 is electrically connected to a wireless transmitter (such as a wireless bridge, 4G, or 5G). The central controller 2 transmits monitoring data wirelessly to the remote monitoring platform 9 in a timed or real-time manner via the wireless transmitter. Therefore, staff can remotely observe the safety status of various areas of the main and auxiliary tailings dams in real time from the control room through the remote monitoring platform 9, thereby achieving the function of remote monitoring and management.

[0031] In this embodiment, the tailings dam online monitoring and early warning system also includes a mining area aerial photography drone 10, which is equipped with an electronic camera 11. The electronic camera 11 is wirelessly connected to the remote monitoring platform 9. The early warning display 8 emits different colored indicator lights based on the monitoring status of each monitoring point and whether there are any abnormalities in the monitoring data of the corresponding monitoring points in the tailings dam. It emits green light when normal and red light when abnormal. Therefore, staff can operate the mining area aerial photography drone 10 over the tailings dam and use the electronic camera 11 to take oblique or overhead shots. The images captured by the electronic camera 11 are transmitted wirelessly (via 4G or 5G wireless network) to the remote monitoring platform 9. After obtaining the corresponding images through the remote monitoring platform 9, staff can observe the lighting on the images to determine which monitoring points in the tailings dam are abnormal, thereby further verifying and assessing the safety management of the tailings dam.

[0032] In this embodiment, the monitoring system also includes a power station, which comprises a battery 12 and a solar photovoltaic panel 13 electrically connected to the charging port of the battery 12. The solar photovoltaic panel 13 absorbs solar energy and converts it into electrical energy, which is then stored in the battery 12. The power station provides power to the central controller 2, the GNSS displacement monitoring station 3, the specially designed buried sensor 4, the dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument 5, the internal displacement gauge 6, and the early warning display 8. The early warning display 8 is mounted on top of the support frame of the solar photovoltaic panel 13 to make it easier to see.

[0033] In summary, this utility model establishes independent monitoring systems at multiple locations along the main and auxiliary dams of the tailings dam. These systems utilize GNSS displacement monitoring stations 3, specially designed sensors 4, and dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instruments 5 to monitor the displacement of corresponding monitoring points, the infiltration line of the tailings dam 1, and its tilt in real time. The monitored data can be compared with a standard range via a central controller 2. If the data exceeds the standard range, it indicates an abnormality in the tailings dam's safety, and the central controller 2 will control the warning display 8 to emit a warning red light. Simultaneously, the monitoring data is transmitted wirelessly to a remote monitoring platform 9, allowing staff to obtain monitoring data from the corresponding monitoring points periodically or in real time. This facilitates the safety management of the main and auxiliary dams of the tailings dam, replacing manual monitoring of the tailings dam's condition (such as the infiltration line or dam surface water level, tailings dam displacement, and surface tilt). The monitoring data is also wirelessly transmitted to a designated location for real-time monitoring and safety management.

[0034] The embodiments of this utility model are not limited thereto. Based on the above content of this utility model, using ordinary technical knowledge and conventional means in the field, without departing from the basic technical idea of ​​this utility model, this utility model can also be modified, replaced or combined in various other forms, all of which fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system, characterized in that, It includes several monitoring systems independently installed on the main dam and auxiliary dam of the tailings, as well as a remote monitoring platform; the monitoring system includes a central controller, and GNSS displacement monitoring stations, specially designed sensors, dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instruments, and early warning displays, all electrically connected to the central controller; the central controller is electrically connected to a wireless transmitter, and the central controller transmits the monitoring data wirelessly to the remote monitoring platform in a timed or real-time manner through the wireless transmitter.

2. The tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system of claim 1, wherein, The monitoring system also includes internal displacement gauges and crack monitoring stations, all electrically connected to the central controller.

3. The tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system of claim 1, wherein, It also includes aerial photography drones for mining areas, which are equipped with electronic cameras that are wirelessly connected to the remote monitoring platform.

4. The tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system of claim 1, wherein, The monitoring system also includes a power supply station, which supplies power to the central controller, GNSS displacement monitoring station, buried special sensors, dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument, internal displacement gauge and early warning display.

5. The tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system of claim 4, wherein, The power station includes a storage battery and a solar photovoltaic panel electrically connected to the charging port of the storage battery.

6. The online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The warning display uses LED light beams.

7. The online monitoring and early warning system for tailings dams as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The dam-specific settlement and tilt monitoring instrument uses a hydrostatic level.

8. The tailings pond online monitoring and early warning system of claim 2, wherein, The internal displacement gauge uses a vibrating wire sensor.

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