1. Metals
- Author
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Pengyu Zhang, Saizhen Jin, Wencai Zhang, Leming Ou, Yuteng Zhu, and Mining and Minerals Engineering
- Subjects
lcsh:TN1-997 ,Cfd simulation ,Materials science ,Population balance model ,Bubble ,Metallurgy ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Metals and Alloys ,Fraction (chemistry) ,02 engineering and technology ,engineering.material ,bubble characteristics ,plate-packed flotation column ,Bauxite ,fine bauxite particles ,020401 chemical engineering ,engineering ,General Materials Science ,Bubble coalescence ,Mineral particles ,0204 chemical engineering ,lcsh:Mining engineering. Metallurgy ,021102 mining & metallurgy - Abstract
In this investigation, the fine-grained bauxite ore flotation was conducted in a plate-packed flotation column. This paper evaluated the effects of packing-plates on recovering fine bauxite particles and revealed the fundamental mechanisms. Bubble coalescence and break-up behaviors in the packed and unpacked flotation columns were characterized by combining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Population Balance Model (PBM) techniques. Flotation experiments showed that packing-plates in the collection zone of a column can improve bauxite flotation performance and increase the smaller bauxite particles recovery. Using packing-plates, the recovery of Al2O3 increased by 2.11%, and the grade of Al2O3 increased by 1.85%. The fraction of &minus, 20 &mu, m mineral particles in concentrate increased from 47.31% to 54.79%. CFD simulation results indicated that the packing-plates optimized the bubble distribution characteristics and increased the proportion of microbubbles in the flotation column, which contributed to improving the capture probability of fine bauxite particles.
- Published
- 2020