Abstract

In this study, a novel flotation recovery model based on a first-order kinetics is proposed. The collision efficiency in the recovery model was directly obtained from 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations involving a single-bubble-multi-particle aggregate system with typical flotation operating conditions (bubble diameter of 1 mm and particles diameter of 30 μm). The effect of the fluctuating flow field on collision was accounted using a large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model for two turbulence intensity cases namely 4% and 20%, respectively. It was noted that the collision efficiency decreased in the radial direction away from the symmetry axis of the bubble. The normalized equivalent critical radius K1 for the overall collision efficiency, was found to be optimum at the lower turbulence intensity of 4%. A maximum bubble surface loading, 0.142 was determined by fitting the model-predicted bubble velocity with available experimental data. With this maximum bubble surface loading constraint, the recovery model predicted two regimes namely a loading regime in the early flotation period and a saturated regime wherein the bubble loading capability was entirely exhausted. Simulation of a batch flotation system suggested that loss in bubble surface loading capacity occurred faster in a dense pulp compared to a dilute pulp system and the predicted recovery decreased with increasing solids concentration for the same gas volume fraction. Similar to the collision efficiency, the optimum recovery was obtained at Ti = 4%. Further, the model predicted recovery was compared to a lab scale coal flotation test and reasonable agreement was obtained.

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