SOLAR DRYING OF LATERITE IN OPEN AIR IN HUMID TROPICAL CLIMATE

The Caron technology nickel plants use solar drying to decrease the humidity of the lateritic ore, reflected in the procedure and equipment for solar drying of materials in the open air, the methodology of Estenoz and Espinosa (2003). The objective of the present investigation consists of evaluating the behavior of the solar drying of laterites in the open air in conditions of tropical humid climate, to decrease the humidity of the lateritic ore that this industry processes. The solar drying process was tested, on a semi-industrial scale, in pyramid stacks exposed to the elements in conditions of abundant precipitation. After 7 weeks of removal, the initial humidity of 37.75% was reduced to 26.81%. The work carried out on the drying in the open air reduced to costs of less than $ 0.09 the costs per ton of ore transferred in the mining deposits of Punta Gorda, Moa, Holguin, Cuba. An average final humidity value equivalent to the evaporation of 40% of the initial water was obtained. It was determined that for heights of piles of 5.5 and 8.5 m, 19 and 17 hectares, respectively, are required to dry 4.2 million wet mass mining, equivalent to the production of 30,000 tons of nickel per year.