Float sorting device for selective separation of non-metallic minerals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11958062-B2
Application number	US-202117215340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2021
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A multi-stage float sorting device includes a first flotator float-sorting ores mixed with water based on a difference in density, and a second flotator provided with a column extending in a top-down direction, one side of which communicates with the first flotator to receive primary concentrates, and float-sorts the primary concentrates based on a difference in density to obtain secondary concentrates. The second flotator includes a washing water jetting section provided at a top of the column to jet washing water, a gas sparger provided at a bottom of the column to jet an inert gas, and an opening and closing section located between the washing water jetting section and the gas sparger to partition an inside of the column into upper and lower regions, and form an opening for rising secondary concentrates in the column according to a pressure state of the lower region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-stage float sorting device, comprising:
a first flotator float-sorting ores mixed with water based on a difference in density; and
a second flotator, provided with a column extending in a top-down direction, one side of which directly connected with the first flotator to receive primary concentrates, float-sorting the primary concentrates based on a difference in density to obtain secondary concentrates,
wherein the second flotator comprises:
a washing water jetting section provided at a top of the column to jet washing water so as to separate impurity minerals from the primary concentrates;
a gas sparger provided at a bottom of the column to jet an inert gas so as to generate bubbles; and
an opening and closing section located between the washing water jetting section and the gas sparger to partition an inside of the column into upper and lower regions, and form an opening so as to allow the secondary concentrates accommodated in the column to rise when the pressure of the lower region exceeds a set value as the inert gas is supplied, and

wherein the opening and closing section comprises:
a first opening and closing section provided to divide the column into a first region formed at the top of the column and a second region formed at the bottom of the column; and
a second opening and closing section provided to divide the second region into a third region formed at a top of the second region and a fourth region formed at a bottom of the second region.

2. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the second opening and closing section closes the fourth region to increase the pressure as the inert gas is supplied to the fourth region.

3. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the second opening and closing section forms an opening to allow the secondary concentrates to rise to the top of the first region by the increased pressure.

4. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first control section provided at one side of the first opening and closing section to measure a pressure formed in the third region so as to form an opening of the first opening and closing section.

5. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second control section provided at one side of the second opening and closing section to measure a pressure of the fourth region so as to open the second opening and closing section.

6. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a circular moving body elevating and descending along an outer circumferential surface of the column,
wherein the circular moving body is provided with a sensing section to view an inside of the column so as to measure a size of bubbles formed inside the column, and moves to a portion where the secondary concentrates are floated to form a layer in the column so as to discharge the secondary concentrates from the column.

7. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the washing water jetting section is provided to communicate with an inside of the column so as to jet washing water toward the inside of the column.

8. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , wherein the bubbles formed in the gas sparger collide with the first opening and closing section to form a wake in the column.

9. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 8 , wherein the gas sparger is provided at a center portion of the bottom inside the column to inject gas so as to allow the primary concentrates mixed with water to circulate outward from the center of the second region.

10. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 9 , wherein the gas sparger supplies the inert gas and compressed air in an upper direction inside the column.

11. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 10 , wherein the inert gas and the compressed air are injected together at set time intervals to form nano-sized bubbles.

12. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 11 , wherein the inert gas contains nitrogen gas.

13. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an injection device disposed at one side of the first flotator to inject a compound into the first flotator,
wherein the injection device absorbs cations in the compound between a layered structure of non-metallic minerals to electrically neutralize negative charges generated by isomorphic substitution between the layered structure.

14. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 13 , further comprising:
an agitation device for mixing the non-metallic minerals and the compound in the first flotator.

15. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first heating section provided at an outside of the bottom of the first flotator to allow the non-metallic minerals to absorb the cations in the compound of the first flotator.

16. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 13 , wherein the compound added to the injection device is sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO 3 ).

17. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a filter press section for drying the activated secondary concentrates,
wherein the filter press section is provided with a second heating section at the bottom thereof.

18. The multi-stage float sorting device of claim 16 , wherein the mass of the sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO 3 ) injected into the first flotator is 5% of the mass of the ores.

Assignees

• Korea Atomic Energy Res

Inventors

• Kim Bongju
• Koh Yongkwon
• Kwon Jangsoon

Classifications

• B03D1/006 Primary

  Hydrocarbons · CPC title

• B03D1/01

  containing nitrogen · CPC title

• B03D1/242

  Nozzles for injecting gas into the flotation tank · CPC title

• B03D1/247

  Mixing gas and slurry in a device separate from the flotation tank, i.e. reactor-separator type · CPC title

• B03D2203/02

  Ores · CPC title