Hydrodynamics of fluidized bed flotation column with a homogeneous binary mixture of steel balls

Abstract

The hydrodynamics of flotation machines can significantly impact the flotation performance of fine minerals, however, those of fluidized bed flotation columns with binary particles remain poorly understood. This paper investigated the hydrodynamics of fluidized bed flotation columns such as bed pressure drop, minimum fluidization velocity, bed expansion ratio, and gas holdup. The effect of liquid velocity, gas velocity, and particle size on hydrodynamics was discussed. The hydrodynamics of fluidized beds with binary particles was compared with that of unitary particles. Results showed that the hydrodynamics of the fluidized bed with binary particles lay between the fluidized bed with large and small particles as influenced by the combination of large and small particles. A fluidized bed flotation column with binary particles demonstrates great potential in changing hydrodynamics.