FLOTATION CELL

SIMULATION

Dafne Celis
2nd March
 1. Objective

Developing a simulator of a flotation cell which reproduces phenomenology of the

process.

2. Methodology

Industrial flotation is a complex process of separation of mineral particles, which

involves phenomena of both physical-chemical and hydrodynamic types.

Modelation of a flotation cell should be focus in the phenomenology of the process,

flotation kinetics is one of the most important inputs to predict recovery and grade.
Depending of type of cell is possible to adjust the main kinetic parameters in function of
residence time (kinetic constant and recovery). There are different equations which
represent the flotation cell, it is important to consider the type of operation, if is batch or
industrial one and also the type of cell. The kinetic equation will allow us to have the
behavior of the cell.

So, in the first place we need to find a kinetic equation and in the second place, we have to
know and include others parameters in the behavior of the cells. The main parameters can
be classified in the following way:

2.1. General parameters:

- Feed rate
- % solids
Mass balance data & general data
- Ore grade
- Pulp density
(Design criteria)
- Recovery
- Reagents dosage
- Granulometry (P80)
- pH
- Elevation plant
- Chemical composition of feed

For existing plant - Historical data of the mass

 balance & general data

2.2. Flotation cell parameters:

- Molybdenum, gold, copper, etc

Type of process - Rougher, cleaner, scavenger,
second cleaner
- Number of cells

- Conventional cells

Type of cell - Column cells

- Pneumatic cells
- Staged Flotation Reactor

- Forced air
Characteristics of the cells
- Self-aspirating
- Dimensions and geometry
(height, volume, diameter)

Reagents - Frother
- Collectors
- Depressor

2.3. Kinetics & hydrodynamic parameters:

- Recovery
Kinetics - Residence time
- Kinetic constant

- Air flow rate

- Impeller speed
Hydrodynamic
- Bubble size
- Superficial gas velocity
 - Gas Holdup
- Washing water rate
- BIAS
- Froth height
- Degree of entrainment
- Effective volume

The most of the hydrodynamic parameters have different equations and we can relate with
other general parameters, but to include the general parameters and others in the model is
important to consider how these affect the process. The main effects to considerer are the
following:

- Residence time effect

- Particle size effect
- pH effect
- Reagents dosage effect
- Solids percentage effect
- Mineralogy effect
- Air flow effect

A change of these parameters are going to produce a change in the kinetic and/or
recovery, when a variable positively affects the flotation the infinite recovery is going to
increase and the opposite can be done when a variable negatively affects the flotation
(keeping the flotation speed constant). A more complex situation will occur when the
flotation velocity constant is changed, for example, when increase the constant and
increase or decrease the infinite recovery.

Therefore, as a recommendation, to obtain all the scenarios which affect the model is
recommendable to generate different study cases, the main ones are:

- Case 1: Constant value for the kinetic constant and variable recovery
- Case 2: Constant value for recovery and variation of kinetic constant
- Case 3: Variable recovery and kinetic constant
- Case 4: Variables with negative effect on flotation
- Case 5: Variables with positive effect on flotation
As a result, we will have a model with a kinetic behavior and we can affect the behavior
affecting the kinetic constant and recovery, so the general parameters will be the inputs at
the feeding cells, the characteristics of the cells will be constant, manipulable variables will
be the air flow rate, impeller speed, slurry level and reagents dosage, and the outputs in
the model will be the general parameters (flow, ore grade, % solids, etc) in concentrate
flow and tailing flow.