Influence of flotation cell hydrodynamics on the flotation kinetics and scale up, Part 2: Introducing turbulence parameters to improve predictions

• Published in: Minerals engineering Vol. 100; pp. 31 - 39
• Main Authors: Amini, E., Bradshaw, D.J., Xie, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2017
• Subjects: Cell hydrodynamic; Dimensionless parameters; Flotation kinetic; Ore property; Turbulence; Flotation kinetic; Dimensionless parameters; Turbulence; Cell hydrodynamic; Ore property
• ISSN: 0892-6875; 1872-9444
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.10.001

•The AMIRA P9 floatation model was modified by using two dimensionless numbers.•The dimensionless numbers represent the turbulence condition in a flotation.•P values of 5L tests were used to predict the flotation kinetics in the 60L cell.•The precision and accuracy of the predictions were enhanced using new parameters.•Size by size analysis showed turbulence effect on different particle size varies.
The AMIRA P9 model has floatability (P) as the ore property which is considered to remain constant in different flotation cell sizes under different hydrodynamic conditions. However, in this study increasing the power input increased the P value, especially in finer particle size classes (below 75μm). Acceptable explanations for the floatability variations, as a result of hydrodynamic condition variations in the flotation cells, have been sought by looking at the literature and the results obtained in this study were published in part one of this manuscript. To improve the accuracy of the AMIRA P9 flotation model in predicting flotation rate constant (k) and to improve the consistency of ore property, measurable and appropriate turbulence parameters were sought to be incorporated into the model. Therefore, two dimensionless turbulence parameters æ and EVF, derived from practical measurements, were formulated and introduced to the AMIRA P9 model. The modified ore floatability parameter, P″, was demonstrated to be a more consistent characterisation of the ore property than P and both the accuracy and precision of the k prediction improved for a variety of hydrodynamic conditions of flotation cells.