Computational study on flow characteristics of acid mine drainage in oxidation pond with asymmetric and inclined shape

A computational flow analysis was carried out to identify the retention time and flow distribution characteristics depending on the shape and depth of an oxidation pond. To evaluate the flow characteristics and efficiency of the oxidation pond with various shapes, the shape of the oxidation pond was defined by its horizontal and vertical deformation. The flow characteristics of the oxidation pond were found to be independent of the direction of the horizontal deformation angle, but dependent on the magnitude of the vertical deformation angle. The larger the vertical deformation angle, the stronger the short circulation of the mine drainage and the lower the inflow exchange efficiency in the oxidation pond. Moreover, the efficiency of the oxidation pond was increased when the dip angle direction of the pond was the same as that of the flow and the dip angle of the pond was similar to the velocity contour.