Fluid Flow and Kinetic Modelling in Flotation Related Processes: Columns and Mechanically Agitated Cells—A Review

Study of solid and liquid behavior in large copper flotation cells (130 m2) using radioactive tracers

“…Experimental evidence [3,9] has shown that the RTD of a single large flotation cell can be better described by a LSTS (large and small tank in series) model, consisting of one large perfect mixer, with residence time τ L , and one small perfect mixer, with residence time τ S , in series [10,11]. Figure 2 shows the model description.…”

“…Figure 2 shows the model description. The analytical solution for the LSTS model is given by [3,10],…”

“…Here, two zones can be distinguished; the collection zone (pulp), where the selective capture of floatable particles by bubbles occurs, and the froth zone, where the particle-bubble aggregates are separated from the pulp zone, reducing the mineral entrainment of gangue into the concentrate. In this process, mechanical cells (external agitation) and pneumatic (bubble column) cells are used, which have shown an important increase in size in the last years, reaching unitary volumes of 300 m 3 . However, the impact that big size (gigantism) has on cell performance, especially on the mixing regime (hydrodynamic) is still not known.…”

“…The mixing regime for each component in a flotation system can be described by the residence time distribution (RTD) [1][2][3]. RTD can be measured using the radioactive tracer technique [4][5][6], which has advantages in comparison to other measurement techniques, because it is non-invasive, the tracers have the same physical and chemical characteristics of those in the actual system and the activity signals can be captured by on-line sensors, which allow a high rate of data acquisition and reliable data.…”

“…RTD can be measured using the radioactive tracer technique [4][5][6], which has advantages in comparison to other measurement techniques, because it is non-invasive, the tracers have the same physical and chemical characteristics of those in the actual system and the activity signals can be captured by on-line sensors, which allow a high rate of data acquisition and reliable data. This information is relevant in process modeling, scale-up and circuit design [3]. In this work, the radioactive tracer technique was used for measuring the residence time distribution in a 130 m 3 cell of the rougher circuit at El Teniente Division, Codelco-Chile.…”