WO2020215167A1

WO2020215167A1 - Irrigation system for leaching

Info

Publication number: WO2020215167A1
Application number: PCT/CL2019/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan BUSTAMANTE MEDINA
Original assignee: AGUILERA FLORES, Rodrigo
Priority date: 2019-04-26
Filing date: 2019-04-26
Publication date: 2020-10-29

Abstract

The invention relates to an irrigation system for leaching, which provides improved environmental isolation, prevents the clogging of drippers owing to sulphation and the loss of heat from the heap, and improves the recovery of evaporated leaching solution. The system includes: a mat comprising irrigation pipes and ballast pipes welded to the lower surface of the mat; side mat closure segments that extend beyond the pipes; and resilient connecting elements having an open tubular cross-section with an opening smaller than half the circumference. After the pipes have been connected to manifolds, the side closure segments are extended above the manifolds and a portion of the surface of the heap beyond the manifolds is covered. Subsequently, the connecting elements are pressed onto the assembly formed by each supply manifold and the side closure segment covering same, securing the mat. The invention also relates to the installation method.

Description

IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR LEACHING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the mining industry, through the heap leaching process. In particular, the present invention relates to an irrigation system and method of installing it in heap leach pads with improved insulation from the environment.

STATE OF THE ART

In the state of the art there are different systems to optimize the irrigation of leaching piles, among which we can name sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, and the irrigating mantle. Each of them corresponds to different optimization stages in the use of the leaching fluid and in the possibilities of controlling the reaction environment for the extraction of copper and other minerals. In the case of sprinkler irrigation, it is estimated that only in the act of spreading the fluid, 15% of the working fluid evaporates, to which is added the loss of 25% of the fluid from the leaching pile by evaporation due to the increase temperature in the pile. Drip irrigation helps by eliminating direct evaporation to air, yet still allows evaporation from the pile. With the incorporation of the irrigating mantle or irrigation folder, a recovery of the evaporated water from the pile is observed, it is estimated that 75% of the evaporated fluid from the pile returns to it after condensing on the internal surface of the folder. We note that the evaporation of the leaching solution from the heap leads to excessive acid concentration in the upper zone of the heap, which alters the reaction conditions and thus the production of the heap. Another aspect that has a negative impact on productivity is the decrease in air temperature on the pile surface, generated by the entry of air from the environment. Furthermore, from an environmental point of view, any recovery of leaching fluid contributes to reducing the generation of acid cloud into the environment.

The typical structure of an irrigation folder consists of a thermoplastic folder that has conduits with holes or drippers to supply the working fluid, the conduits preferably extend in the width direction of the pile and are connected at their ends to collectors of feeding. The arrangement of Manifolds on each side of the folder keep the pressure of the fed flow stable. Furthermore, in the preferred configuration the feed collectors rest on the stack, on either side of the irrigation folder.

In US 5005806 a system for leaching is taught in which no spray is used to incorporate irrigation conduits with fluid emitters extending at different depth levels within the heap. The disadvantage in terms of loss of working fluid occurs when the heap operating temperature produces evaporation or at sunrise with sunrise.

In US 6053964 an apparatus and method for applying leaching solution to a heap leach is presented, in which underground guided irrigation conduits and sprinkler irrigation conduits are combined to irrigate the surface of the pile. This corresponds to an intermediate solution prior to the use of irrigation blankets or folders that, although it has its pipes buried, loses working fluid by direct evaporation and by evaporation from the pile.

Document US2008 / 282609 presents an irrigation mantle in contact with the surface of the pile, consisting of an irrigation sheet of plastic material and ducts formed integrally with the sheet material and extending along it, the working fluid flows through conduits having a plurality of orifices to supply it. However, such a configuration leaves large areas of the heap at surface level without fluid irrigation, this negatively affects production since the first centimeters from the surface of the heap play a fundamental role in achieving a reaction zone for leaching. effective. In addition, the holes or drippers when in contact with the battery are more likely to be contaminated or clogged.

Hereby, and based on field evidence, it is argued that the operation of a state-of-the-art irrigation mantle or irrigation folder is affected by sulphation of the drippers. Eventually, the drippers become clogged and irrigation is interrupted in different areas of the pile, which decreases the useful life of the irrigation folder and requires its replacement before completing the productive cycle, which typically lasts for three months. These irrigation folders also fail to prevent the entry of external air, which cools the surface of the heap, affecting the productivity of the leaching process.

Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the irrigation folders of the state of the art to avoid the clogging of the drippers as a result of sulphation and heat losses from the stack, increasing the useful life of the folders and improving the recovery of evaporated leaching solution from the heap, to recover it practically in its entirety.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed solution is aimed at generating an irrigated area of greater confinement on the leaching heap, that is, between the surface of the heap and the irrigation folder, with respect to the environment to minimize gas exchange, reducing the renewal of oxygen and the outlet of air streams at process temperature with acid content. A system of ballasts is incorporated whose weight prevents the folder from being separated from the pile by the action of the wind and which also provides a separation between the holes or drippers that supply the working fluid and the surface of the pile, avoiding contact with material particulate of the latter. In this way several problems are addressed, the sulphation of drippers, the cooling of the pile and the loss of leaching solution by evaporation.

In practice, an irrigation system for leaching and a method of installing it in leaching piles are presented, which provide improved insulation with respect to the environment, in terms of gas exchange and thermal energy. The system comprises a folder, spread over a leaching heap, with irrigation pipes and ballast pipes welded to the bottom surface of the folder, but leaving the ends of the pipes (irrigation and ballast) unwelded for connection in ground to the supply manifolds arranged on both sides of the pile. The folder extends beyond the areas or portions thereof that are welded to the ducts (irrigation and ballast), defining lateral closing portions of the folder. It also comprises fitting elements, with an open tubular cross-section, with an opening smaller than half a circumference, which are capable of expanding and then fitting to the outside of a pipe or pipe of a smaller diameter when they are pushed against it. The system requires that after the ends of the conduits (irrigation and ballast) have been connected to the supply manifolds, the lateral closing portions be extended over the manifolds to cover the space to the supply manifolds, surround them, and further cover a surface portion of the stack beyond the manifolds, and then push the engagement elements onto the assembly formed by each feed manifold and the portion of. lateral closure that covers it to secure the irrigation folder in its entire extension. In this way, with a relatively simple modification of a state-of-the-art irrigation folder and the fittings it is possible to close the irrigation space, obtaining an optimized reaction environment for leaching. Note also that with this invention it is possible to incorporate the two bands of the pile in the vicinity of the supply collectors into the production process. This has the additional advantage of generating multiple irrigation spaces or microclimates, thanks to the division imposed by the ballast ducts, which makes it possible to monitor and control the process in a sectorized way through the inclusion of humidity, PH, temperature, sensors. among others and pressure regulating valves associated with each connection between the collectors and the irrigation pipes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present system installed in a heap leach.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded isometric view of the system of the previous figure, keeping the supply manifolds for the working fluid on the stack.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the system of the previous figures in which the thermoplastic folder or sheet is transparent or hidden to illustrate the arrangement of the irrigation and ballast conduits to which it is attached.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded view in cross section with respect to a supply manifold. Shown from top to bottom are a snap-in element, an irrigation binder portion with attached irrigation and ballast lines, a feed manifold, and the surface level of the stack.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to a supply manifold according to the segmented line A-A of Fig. 3, by which the connection of an irrigation conduit to the manifold by means of a fitting is illustrated.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to a supply manifold according to the segmented line B-B of Fig. 3, by which the connection of a ballast conduit to the manifold is illustrated.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 6, the connection of a ballast duct to the manifold is illustrated, where Fig. 7 and 8 show two alternative embodiments in which the ballast duct includes a fin or spacer element. Fig. 9 presents a sectional view with respect to the ballast duct according to the segmented line CC of Fig. 8, to illustrate a ballast duct separator element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with respect to the figures that accompany this presentation, with mention of the numerical references associated with its constituent parts. However, said figures are only illustrative and are not intended to restrict the scope defined in the claims.

The schematic representation of Fig. 1 presents the leaching heap (10) with its surface covered by an irrigation folder (1), in accordance with the present invention, and identifies, by way of example, some fitting elements ( 4) that hold the irrigation folder (1).

In Fig. 2 a first example of the assembly of the system components is given, which are shown exploded in successive levels that are mounted on the stack (10). At the top level of the view, two rows of lace elements (4) are shown. The next level shows an irrigation folder, of which a central irrigation portion (1 A) and one of the two lateral closure portions (1 B) adjacent to the previous one are indicated. The central irrigation portion (1 A) comprises irrigation conduits (2) and ballast conduits (3) attached to the lower surface of the folder. In the lower level of the figure the stack (10) is presented with two supply collectors (5) of working fluid, between which the area for irrigation is defined.

In the plan view of Fig. 3, the thermoplastic sheet that makes up the irrigation folder is transparent to show the arrangement of the irrigation (2) and ballast (3) conduits to which it is attached, preferably by thermo-fusion. . It is further shown that the interlocking elements (4) are spaced apart, since they do not need to hold the entire edge of the folder and that in this way their manufacture and use is facilitated.

Fig. 4 is related to Fig. 2 because it shows an exploded view, in this case, partial and in cross-section in which, due to symmetry, only the area around one of the power collectors (5) is shown . From top to bottom, a fitting element (4) -transverse section-, part of the irrigation folder with the central irrigation portion (1 A), part of an irrigation conduit (2) and a ballast duct (3) and a lateral closing portion (1B), and at the surface of the stack (10) the supply manifold (5) rests in which a hole is shown in it aligned with a connection accessory (6) that is arranged to connect with the irrigation conduit above.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 show the way of fitting between each fitting element (4) and the assembly formed by a supply manifold (5) and the lateral closing portion (1 B) that corresponds to the same side of the stack (10). The fitting elements (4), thanks to their open tubular cross-section, can expand and then conform to the outside of a pipe or pipe of smaller diameter when pushed against it. Specifically, by pushing the fitting elements (4) on the assembly formed by the supply collector (5) and the lateral closing portion (1 B) that covers it, it allows the irrigation folder to be fastened by zones around each element of lace.

The cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 is made according to the segmented line A-A of Fig. 3. The connection of an irrigation conduit (2) to the manifold (5) by means of the accessory (6) is illustrated. This accessory allows the fluid connection between the collector (5) either direct or regulated, allowing the incorporation of a regulating valve to control the irrigation of the leaching pile.

Similarly Fig. 6, according to the segmented line B-B of Fig. 3, illustrates the connection of a ballast conduit (3) to the manifold (5). Note that the shape of the ballast conduit (3) is directed to present connection portions at the ends of smaller diameter in relation to the ballast portion (which is the main body of this conduit) that is designed to support on the surface of the stack (10). As illustrated in the figure, between said portions of the ballast conduit a transition portion may be provided between the fluid passage diameters. Therefore, and to solve differences or adjustments in the field, the flexibility of the ducts is a necessary characteristic.

Figures 7 to 9 show two optimization alternatives in the ballast duct. It is a separating element (7A, 7B) that ensures that there is contact between the ballast duct and the surface of the stack over its entire length, or beyond, as shown in Fig. 8 in which the element separator (7B) extends to the periphery of the feed manifold (5). The objective is to further prevent the passage of air under the ballasts in the area between the connecting portion and the transition portion connecting with the ballast portion. Each separating element (7A, 7B) can be formed as a rib or fin integral to the ballast duct (3) or either from a thermoplastic sheet that is thermo-fused to the ballast duct

(3). In still another embodiment, each separating element (7A, 7B) is an accessory that must be inserted at the time of installation of the irrigation folder (1).

Fig 9 presents a view in section with respect to the ballast duct according to the segmented line C-C of Fig. 8, to illustrate the fin or separator element of the ballast duct.

The characteristic described above allows the generation of multiple irrigation spaces or microclimates, since the ballast conduits divide the space on the surface to be irrigated from the pile. The level of insulation achieved for each irrigation space and the folder as a whole is such that it avoids sulphation of drippers, minimizes heat losses to the atmosphere by avoiding the entry of air from outside and avoiding the exit of leachate solution vapors . This also makes it easier to monitor and control the process in a sectorized way in a simple way by including humidity, PH, temperature sensors, among others in each defined irrigation microclimate, and incorporating pressure regulating valves in the locations of the connection accessories (6), arranged between the collectors (5) and the irrigation pipes (2).

The system assembly process requires the installation operators to connect the ends of the irrigation (2) and ballast (3) conduits to the supply manifolds (5), extend the side sealing portions (1 B) over the collectors (5) to cover the space from the central irrigation portion (1 A) to the collectors, covering them, and also cover part of the surface area of the pile beyond the collectors. Once this is done, you can install the lace elements one by one

(4), which for better use can include a handle or handle as shown in the figures, thus holding the irrigation folder along the feed collectors (5).

In the case of using the separating elements (7A, 7B) as accessories independent of each ballast duct (3), the method further includes manually inserting the separating elements (7A, 7B) below the ballasts, in the. zone comprised between the connecting portion and the transition portion connecting with the ballast portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, multilayer folders manufactured by extrusion are used, which seeks to improve the thermal insulation characteristics of the system, in order to reduce heat losses to the environment. The use of multiple layers also makes it possible to achieve better strength versus cost ratio. Preferably a layer of high resistance to solar radiation will be included on the outer surface and intermediate layers with a lower standard, such as layers made of recycled material, layers to incorporate signage, among others, and the lower layer that faces the surface of the pile should have characteristics of heat fusion weldability. All of the above to allow the different layers together to provide the folder with the characteristics of mechanical resistance, thermal insulation, resistance to acidic medium, solar radiation, among others.

Minor modifications or simplifications of the system installed in a heap leach are claimed for the present invention, for example, thermo-fusing a strip of thermoplastic material at the edge of a state-of-the-art irrigation mantle to constitute lateral closure portions ( 1 B) and incorporate the fitting elements (4). In addition, it is considered that an irrigation system with another productive purpose (another working fluid, material to be extracted) is within the scope of this invention whenever the same or similar components are used.

Based on the foregoing, the embodiments described in the following main statement are hereby protected. An irrigation system for heap leaching that provides improved insulation from the environment, avoiding clogging of the drippers by sulphation, heat losses from the heap and improving the recovery of evaporated leaching solution from the heap, comprising: a binder (1) comprising a central irrigation portion (1 A) extended over a leaching heap (10), with irrigation conduits (2) and ballast conduits (3) joined by thermofusion to the lower surface of the folder (1) but which has the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and ballast pipes (3) unjoined for their connection in the field to some feed collectors (5) arranged on both sides of the leaching pile, and where the folder (1) comprises lateral closing portions (1 B) that extend beyond the junction with the irrigation (2) and ballast (3) conduits; and lace elements (4) of open tubular cross section, with an opening smaller than half a circumference, which can expand and then fit the outside of a pipe or pipe of smaller diameter when they are pushed against it; where, the system requires that after connecting the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and ballast (3) to the supply manifolds (5), the lateral closing portions (1 B) of the folder be extended over the feed collectors to cover the leach heap in the space from the central irrigation portion (1 A) to the feed (5), covering them until reaching the surface of the heap leach and also covering a part of the surface of the leach pile beyond the feed collectors (5), and then pushing the engagement elements (4) on the assembly formed by each supply collector (5) and the lateral closing portion (1 B) of the folder that covers it to secure the folder (1) in all its extension.

The system according to the main statement, wherein the irrigation pipes (2) and the ballast pipes (3) are flexible and are made of thermoplastic material.

The system according to the main statement, wherein, each ballast conduit (3) has connecting portions at its ends that have a smaller diameter in relation to the ballast portion of said conduit, wherein the ballast portion is designed to support on the surface of the leach pad (10).

The system according to the main statement, wherein each ballast conduit (3) includes spacer elements (7A, 7B) in the shape of a rib or fin that project below the ballast conduit (3) and extend from each portion connection of the ballast duct (3) to the ballast portion, excluding the latter. Optionally, the spacer elements (7A) are designed to contact the surface of the leach pad (10) and terminate their longitudinal extension perpendicular to the surface of the pad (1) at the connecting portion. of the ballast pipe (3) but before the end. In another alternative, the spacer elements (7B) are designed to contact the surface of the heap leach (10) and terminate its longitudinal extension by abutting or contouring the feed manifold (5). In another alternative, the spacer elements (7A, 7B) are integral to the ballast conduit (3). In yet another alternative, the spacer elements (7A, 7B) are manufactured from a thermoplastic sheet that is thermo-fused to the ballast conduit (3). Another alternative embodiment is such that the separating elements (7A, 7B) are separate accessories of each ballast duct (3) that require to be inserted manually in the field.

The system according to the main statement comprises a folder made up of multiple layers of thermoplastic material, in which at least the upper layer has UV protection, the lower layer has weldability by heat fusion and in at least one of the intermediate layers it is made of recycled material. .

The system according to the main statement further comprises some lateral closure portions (1 B) constituted from strips of thermoplastic material that are thermo-fused at each edge of an alternative folder similar to the folder (1) that does not have closure portions side (1 B) integrally. The system, according to any of the previous embodiments, comprises that between two ballast conduits (3) arranged consecutively, an irrigation space is defined on the surface of the leaching heap that is kept isolated from the environment and other irrigation spaces in said heap, where in each irrigation space elements for monitoring and control of leaching are incorporated in a sectorized manner, said elements for monitoring and control include humidity, PH and temperature sensors inserted in the leaching heap and pressure regulating valves arranged in the connection between the collectors (5) and the irrigation pipes (2).

The method of installing an irrigation system for heap leaching is also protected, which provides improved insulation from the environment, avoiding clogging of the drippers by sulphation, heat losses from the heap, and improving the recovery of evaporated leaching solution from the heap, the method comprises the steps of: extending a folder (1) over a leaching heap (10) so that a central irrigation portion (1A) of the folder is between feeding collectors (5) arranged on both sides of the leaching heap, where the central irrigation portion (1 A) includes irrigation conduits (2) and ballast conduits (3) joined by thermo-fusion to the lower surface of the folder (1) but it has unjoined the ends of the irrigation (2) and ballast (3) conduits; connecting the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and the ballast pipes (3) to the supply manifolds (5); extend the side closing portions (1 B) of the binder over the feed collectors (5) to cover the leach pad (10) in the space from the central irrigation portion (1A) to the feed collectors (5), cover the feed collectors (5) until reaching the surface of the heap leach and further cover a part of the surface of the leach pile beyond the feed collectors; and pushing each of the fitting elements (4) onto the assembly formed by each feed collector (5) and the lateral closing portion (1 B) of the folder that covers it to secure the folder (1) in all its extension.

Optionally, when using spacer elements (7A, 7B) manufactured as accessories independent of each ballast duct (3), the method includes: manually inserting the spacer elements (7A, 7B) below the connection of each duct ballast (3) to the supply manifolds.

Optionally, when the system is installed using an alternative folder similar to folder (1) that does not have lateral closure portions (1 B) in an integral way, The method comprises: thermo-fusing in situ to the alternative folder some lateral closure portions (1 B) formed from strips of thermoplastic material on each edge adjacent to a feed collector of said alternative folder.

Claims

1. Irrigation system for heap leaching that provides improved insulation from the environment, avoiding clogging of the drippers by sulphation, heat losses from the heap and improving the recovery of evaporated leaching solution from the heap, CHARACTERIZED because it comprises:

a folder (1) comprising a central irrigation portion (1 A) extended over a leaching heap (10), with irrigation conduits (2) and ballast conduits (3) joined by thermofusion to the lower surface of the folder (1) but which has the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and ballast pipes (3) unjoined for their connection in the field to some supply collectors (5) arranged on both sides of the leaching pile, and wherein the folder (1) comprises lateral closing portions (1 B) that extend beyond the junction with the irrigation (2) and ballast (3) conduits; Y

lace elements (4) of open tubular cross-section, with an opening smaller than half a circumference, which can expand and then conform to the outside of a pipe or pipe of smaller diameter when they are pushed against it;

Wherein, the system requires that after connecting the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and ballast (3) to the supply manifolds (5), the lateral closing portions (1B) of the folder extend over the feed collectors to cover the leaching heap in the space from the central irrigation portion (1A) to the feed collectors (5), covering them until reaching the surface of the leaching heap and also covering a part of the surface of the leach heap beyond the feed manifolds (5), and then push the engagement elements (4) onto the assembly formed by each feed manifold (5) and the side closure portion (1 B) of the folder that covers it to secure the folder (1) in its entirety.

2. The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the irrigation pipes (2) and the ballast pipes (3) are flexible and made of thermoplastic material.

The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that each ballast conduit (3) has connection portions at its ends that have a smaller diameter in relation to the ballast portion of said conduit, wherein the ballast portion is designed to rest on the surface of the leach pad (10).

4. The system according to the preceding claim, CHARACTERIZED in that each ballast conduit (3) includes spacer elements (7A, 7B) in the shape of a rib or fin that project below the ballast conduit (3) and extend from each connecting portion of the ballast conduit (3) up to the ballast portion, excluding the latter.

The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the separating elements (7A) are designed to make contact with the surface of the heap leach (10) and terminate their longitudinal extension perpendicular to the surface of the heap ( 1) in the connection portion of the ballast conduit (3) but before the end.

The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the separating elements (7B) are designed to make contact with the surface of the leach pad (10) and terminate its longitudinal extension butt or contouring the feed collector (5).

7. - The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED because the separating elements (7A, 7B) are integral to the ballast conduit (3).

8. The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the separating elements (7A, 7B) are manufactured from a thermoplastic sheet that is thermo-fused to the ballast duct (3).

9. The system according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the separating elements (7A, 7B) are separate accessories of each ballast duct (3) that require to be inserted manually in the field.

10. The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a folder made up of multiple layers of thermoplastic material, wherein at least the upper layer has UV protection, the lower layer has weldability by thermofusion and in at least one of the intermediate layers It is made from recycled material.

11. The system according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises some lateral closure portions (1 B) constituted from strips of thermoplastic material that are thermo-fused on each edge of an alternative folder similar to the folder (1) that does not it has side closure portions (1 B) integrally.

12. The system according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that between two ballast ducts (3) arranged consecutively, an irrigation space is defined on the surface of the leaching pile that is kept isolated from the environment and other irrigation spaces. in said pile, Wherein each irrigation space incorporates elements for monitoring and control of leaching in a sectorized manner, said elements for monitoring and control include humidity, PH and temperature sensors inserted in the leaching pile and pressure regulating valves arranged in the connection. between the collectors (5) and the irrigation pipes (2).

13. Installation method of an irrigation system for heap leaching that provides improved insulation from the environment, avoiding clogging of drippers by sulphation, heat losses from the heap, and improving the recovery of evaporated leaching solution from the heap , CHARACTERIZED because it comprises the steps of:

extend a binder (1) over a leaching heap (10) so that a central irrigation portion (1 A) of the binder is between feed collectors (5) arranged on both sides of the leaching heap, in where the central irrigation portion (1 A) includes irrigation conduits (2) and ballast conduits (3) joined by thermo-fusion to the lower surface of the folder (1) but having the ends of the irrigation ducts (2) and ballast (3);

connecting the ends of the irrigation pipes (2) and the ballast pipes (3) to the supply manifolds (5);

extend the lateral closing portions (1 B) of the binder over the feed collectors (5) to cover the leach heap (10) in the space from the central irrigation portion (1 A) to the collectors of feed (5), cover the feed collectors (5) until reaching the surface of the heap leach and further cover a part of the surface of the leach heap beyond the feed collectors; Y

push each of the locking elements (4) onto the assembly formed by each supply collector (5) and the side closing portion (1 B) of the folder that covers it to secure the folder (1) in all its extension .

The method according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that by using separating elements (7A, 7B) manufactured in the form of accessories independent of each ballast conduit (3), the method includes:

manually insert the separating elements (7A, 7B) below the connection of each ballast duct (3) to the supply manifolds.

15. The method according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that when the system is installed using an alternative folder similar to folder (1) that does not have lateral closure portions (1 B) in an integral way, the method comprises: I fear-fusing in situ to the alternative binder some lateral closure portions (1 B) formed from strips of thermoplastic material on each edge adjacent to a feed collector of said alternative binder.