Patents Assigned to Vale S.A.
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Patent number: 9096914Abstract: The present invention describes an advantageous and effective streamlined process for the production of iron ore pellets, the green pellets replacing the burnt pellets for covering the metallic surface in “travelling grate” furnace during the burning step, the process comprising at least some or all of the steps of grinding the iron ore; filtering the crushed iron ore; mixing the filtered iron ore with at least one binder; pelletizing the mixture; drying the green pellets; transferring the pellets to the side and bottom grids of a “travelling grate” furnace equipment and screening the burnt iron ore pellets. An optimized process for the production of iron ore pellets is provided that is innovative, efficient and economical when compared to currently known processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: VALE S.A.Inventors: Hamilton Porto Pimenta, Marcus Eduardo Emrich Botelho
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Patent number: 9085812Abstract: The present invention discloses a new process for leaching sulfide minerals consisting of leaching crushed ore in a vat reactor, wherein the leaching solution is fed with an ORP value close to the upper limit suitable for leaching and the exiting leaching solution leaves the reactor with an ORP above the lower limit suitable for leaching the ore. The output leaching solution that leaves the leaching reactor goes through an iron oxidation stage outside the leaching reactor, with the iron oxidation producing soluble ferric sulfate that is mixed with a recirculated portion of the output leaching solution to increase its ORP up to a value close to the upper limit of the redox potential range that is suitable for the ore leaching.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: VALE S.A.Inventors: Chris Andre Du Plessis, Nelson Eduardo Mora-Huertas, Felipe Hilario Guimaraes, Keith Graham Bowes
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Patent number: 9073701Abstract: The present invention refers to a control system for bulk material reclaimers that comprises an automated control of turning speed and translation step variables, the turning speed being controlled by estimating the reclaiming flow and the translation step being adjusted in function of distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: VALE S.A.Inventor: Bruno Eduardo Lopes
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Patent number: 9034283Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hybrid process using ion exchange resins in the selective recovery of nickel and cobalt of leaching effluents that is comprised of the steps of processing (1) the laterite ore (M), which is then treated through leaching (2) (either atmospheric or under pressure), considering solutions from the solid-liquid separation step of existing plants already in operation (2) as well, in a way that the downstream process comprises an ion exchange hybrid circuit, wherein the first ion exchange step (3) with resins (Re) exhibits specific selectivity conditions for the removal of iron, aluminum and copper and an increased pH, and the second ion exchange step (4) allows the removal of nickel and cobalt.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: VALE S.A.Inventors: Renato de Souza Costa, Flávia Dutra Mendes
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Patent number: 9004286Abstract: A process for concentrating manganese from the tailing of a manganese-carrying mineral including removing a coarse particle size fraction from the tailing, desliming and conducting an acidic or a basic reverse cationic flotation. The manganese-carrying minerals are typically minerals with low manganese content from the lithologies “Tabular Pelite” (or PETB), Pelite Siltite (or PEST), Detritic (or DETR), Rich Pelite (or PERC) and Metallurgical Bioxide (or BXME). In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a reverse cationic flotation used to concentrate manganese which is carried out using depressor agents and collector agents as flotation reagents.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Laurindo de Salles Leal Filho, Helder Silva Souza, André Soares Braga
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Patent number: 8999032Abstract: An application of carbon nanotubes on agglomerates of ore fines to increase the mechanical strength is provided. A process for the preparation of ore agglomerates having enhanced mechanical strength by the application of the carbon nanotubes is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Flavio de Castro Dutra, Hamilton Porto Pimenta, Valdirene Gonzaga De Resende, Aloísio Antônio de Melo Borges
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Publication number: 20150034795Abstract: The present invention provides a suspension and vibration isolation system having cable isolators. The cable isolators employ low-friction air-bearing pneumatic cylinders and cables to isolate a suspended payload from vibrations of a carrier or to isolate the carrier from vibrations of the payload. Using such air-lubricated cylinder to piston interfaces virtually eliminates static friction and so improves the effectiveness of the isolation for small forces and displacement. The use of pneumatic cylinders also permits the system to be tuned to the required resonance frequency to isolate the payload from vibrations in a desired frequency band.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Vale S.A.Inventor: Benjamin David POLZER
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Patent number: 8920655Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing organic chemicals and organometallic complexes (organic heavy metal complexes) using zeolites from process water or tailings streams of a mineral processing plant where diethylenetriamine (DETA) or triethylenetetramine (TETA) is used as a flotation reagent and DETA-metal complexes are found in process water or tailings streams. The process water or slurry tailings streams of a mineral processing plant containing DETA, DETA-metal complexes and residual heavy metals may be contacted with natural zeolites. This may be carried out by adding the natural zeolites to the process streams or slurries while mixing with a mechanical mixer to efficiently adsorb DETA, DETA-metal complexes and heavy metals from the process streams on the zeolite. The loaded zeolite may then be discarded with the flotation tailings.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Jie Dong, Manqiu Xu, Kenneth Erwin Scholey
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Publication number: 20140305848Abstract: A method of using the synergy of multiple depressants to improve the depression of iron sulphide without compromising the recovery of the valuable sulphide minerals in the flotation of non-ferrous metal sulphides, while reducing or eliminating the use of environmentally problematic chemicals such as polyamines. The method has significant economic and environmental benefits. The multiple depressants comprise at least one organic polymer, at least one sulphur-containing compound and/or at least one nitrogen-containing organic compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventors: Jie DONG, Manqiu Xu
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Publication number: 20140285206Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for bucking a magnetic field of known geometry and time variation by means of a plurality of bucking loops. It utilizes multiple loops, each of which is energized by an electric current that creates a magnetic field of the known time variation. The multi-loop field forms a bucking magnetic field that better opposes the spatial variation in the known magnetic field over a volume than can the magnetic field from a single loop. The present invention is useful in electromagnetic measurements, where the magnetic field of a controlled source transmitter must be annulled at a magnetic field sensor. It is particularly useful for cases where the magnetic sensor may move relative to the transmitter, such as in certain airborne electromagnetic measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventor: VALE S.A.
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Patent number: 8834598Abstract: Aspects of the present invention refer to a MHP process do produce rough ferro-nickel product and that may include the steps of mixing nickel hydroxide with an iron source and slagging agents, putting the mixture in contact with a reducing agent producing a ferronickel alloy, and producing a roasted product that has disseminated ferronickel alloy inside the structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Tiago V. Berni, Antonio C. Pereira
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Patent number: 8829899Abstract: A pneumatic vibration isolating suspension is disclosed for supporting a payload on a moving carrier while suppressing the transmission of vibrations in the 1 to 50 Hz band between the carrier and the payload. The disclosed invention can be deployed in the air in a towed carrier or sonde, and operated from aircraft power, making it a suitable platform for airborne geophysical instrumentation. It also has particular application to airborne electromagnetic surveying operating in the same frequency band because the sensor vibrations that result in noise created by the modulation of the sensor coupling with the earth's magnetic field are suppressed. Furthermore, the invention can be constructed from resistive composite materials and non-magnetic metals, so it can be operated without producing significant modification to the ambient electromagnetic field being measured.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Benjamin David Polzer, Gordon Fox West, Peter White Walker
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Patent number: 8802042Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operation, favoring contact for the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron (II or III) chloride subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metal as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Antonio Clareti Pereira, Tiago Valentim Berni
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Publication number: 20140216987Abstract: A process for concentrating manganese from the tailing of a manganese-carrying mineral including removing a coarse particle size fraction from the tailing, desliming and conducting an acidic or a basic reverse cationic flotation. The manganese-carrying minerals are typically minerals with low manganese content from the lithologies “Tabular Pelite” (or PETB), Pelite Siltite (or PEST), Detritic (or DETR), Rich Pelite (or PERC) and Metallurgical Bioxide (or BXME). In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a reverse cationic flotation used to concentrate manganese which is carried out using depressor agents and collector agents as flotation reagents.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventors: Laurindo de Salles LEAL FILHO, Helder Silva SOUZA, André Soares BRAGA
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Publication number: 20140205154Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for mapping of plants. Homogenous and heterogeneous flora areas called clusters are identified in remote sensing images and routes to the plant clusters are generated. The plants are classified using morphological data from foliar images of plants present in the clusters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventors: Cleidson Ronald Botelho DE SOUZA, Schubert Ribeiro De Carvalho, Pedro Walfir Martins e Souza Filho, Nelson Monte de Carvalho Filho, Jean Marcel dos Reis Costa
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Publication number: 20140206808Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material that comprises a polymeric constituent and iron ore powder. The polymeric constituent of the present invention is preferably UHMWPE. The iron ore powder used for the purposes of the present invention is the raw iron ore tailing resulting from iron ore pelletizing processes and it is used in an amount of 3-5% (w/w). The present invention is also related to the use of iron ore tailing in the preparation of composite materials comprising UHMWPE which presents improved properties such as creep resistance, stiffness and wear resistance, as well as cost reduction and reuses tailings of industrial plant. The present invention is also related to the use of the composite material of interest in the preparation of composite polymeric sheets for use in mining companies facilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventors: Fabio Arielo GUASTALA, Jael Moutinho DOS SANTOS
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Patent number: 8784755Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a process to obtain potassium chloride that includes submitting brine to concentration, separating brine after concentration, resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content, cooling the first liquid content, separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content, enriching the second solid content, and separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. Aspects of this process are environmentally safe, as the process includes stages using solvents and equipment which does not harm the environment. Moreover, aspects of this process present a significant energy consumption reduction.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Flavio Marcio de Lima Faria, Marcus de Castro Carvalho Simoes, Antonio F. Pessoa
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Publication number: 20140172920Abstract: A method of determining the complexity of a collaborative effort which method includes receiving data via a processor, the data including identities of social actors or sets of social actors in the collaborative effort, and storing the data in a repository accessible by the processor; defining nodes, via the processor, and associating the nodes with each of the social actors of or with each of the sets of social actors in the collaborative effort to define nodes that represent each of the social actors or each of the sets of social actors; identifying, via the processor, one or more dimensions for each social actor; defining a coordination complexity (G), via the processor, and determining, for each dimension, a sum of a difference between every two of the nodes, multiplying the sum by a weight specific for that dimension, and adding each of the multiplied sums for each dimension. In another aspect, the invention includes a system of determining complexity of a collaborative effort.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventor: Cleidson Ronald Botelho De Souza
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Patent number: 8747795Abstract: Aspects of the present invention refers to a process for production of nickel carbonate including preparing a magnesium salt solution, contacting the solution with a stream of gaseous CO2, keeping pH between 4 and 10 and temperature between 0 and 100° C., during up to 5 hours to produce a first mixture, contacting the first mixture with a nickel sulphate solution to produce a second mixture, performing a separation of liquid and solid portions of the second mixture, and feeding the magnesium salt solution with the liquid portion. This process recycles the reagent used for producing nickel carbonate and yields a final product that is easy to handle and transport.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Vale S.A.Inventors: Tiago Valentim Berni, Antonio Clareti Pereira, Felipe Hilario Guimar{hacek over (a)}es
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Publication number: 20140137703Abstract: The present invention describes a process for removing uranium from a copper concentrate by magnetic separation (low and high field) to reduce the uranium content to commercially acceptable levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: VALE S.A.Inventors: Antonio Euclides Jaques MARQUES, Wesley José Da Silva, Mauricio Guimarães Bergerman, Wendel Johnson Rodrigues, Keila Lane de Carvalho Gonçalves