Latest Development in the Study of the XJM-S Flotation Machine

Abstract

Based on a study of the characteristic of the flow field in the XJM-S mechanically-agitated sub-aeration flotation machine by using computational fluid dynamics method, a description is made of the state of motion of fluid in the cell. Through CFD numeric simulation, the plots of fluid flow patterns, distributions of velocities at different cell profiles are obtained. In addition, the state of distribution and the laws governing the variation of the cell’s characteristic parameters such as turbulence kinetic energy, intensity and dissipation have also been brought to light. Based on analysis of the methods applied in China and overseas countries for the design of large-sized flotation machines, the principles for the design of the XJM-S flotation machine are proposed as follows: maintaining a high turbulence intensity in the agitation zone; adoption of self-suction aeration mode; and use of shallow trough. The scale-up of the machine is made by observing the similarity criteria of maintaining geometric similarity of impeller-stator by keeping constant impeller peripheral speed, constant power and constant air streams. The analog and scale-up design of the XJM-S machine has met with satisfactory result. Lastly, the author points out the future research direction of the flotation machine.