Froth flotation cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330170-B2
Application number	US-202017007878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A froth flotation cell for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a tank, a gas supply, a first froth collection channel, a second froth collection channel arranged between the centre of the tank and the first froth collection channel, and a radial froth collection launder including a radial froth overflow lip, and extending from the first froth collection channel towards the second froth collection channel. The froth flotation cell further includes a radial froth crowder including a crowding sidewall, and extending from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel. Further, a froth flotation line, its use and a froth flotation method are presented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A froth flotation cell for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry and for separating the slurry into an underflow and an overflow, the froth flotation cell comprising:
a tank with a center and a perimeter,
a gas supply for introducing flotation gas into the slurry to form froth,
a first froth collection channel surrounding the perimeter of the tank so that an open froth surface (A f ) is formed inside the first froth collection channel,
a second froth collection channel arranged between the center of the tank and the first froth collection channel and substantially concentric with the first froth collection channel, the second froth collection channel comprising a first froth overflow lip defining an inner boundary of the second froth collection channel such that the first froth overflow lip is the closest portion of the second froth collection channel to the center of the tank, and
a radial froth collection launder comprising a radial froth overflow lip, and extending from the first froth collection channel towards the second froth collection channel and in fluid communication with the first froth collection channel, the radial froth overflow lip arranged to allow overflow of the slurry and/or of the froth into the radial froth collection launder,
wherein the froth flotation cell has a pulp area (A p ) of at least 15 m 2 , measured at a height of a mixing area, defined as a part or a zone of a flotation tank in vertical direction where the slurry is agitated, and wherein the froth collected into the second froth collection channel is arranged to be directed to the first froth collection channel, wherein the froth flotation cell further comprises a radial froth crowder comprising a crowding sidewall, and extending from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel, the crowding sidewall arranged to extend above the froth such that overflow of the froth into the radial froth crowder is prevented, wherein an upper edge of the radial froth crowder extends higher in the vertical direction than an upper edge of the second froth collection channel such that overflow of the froth into the first froth collection channel is permitted.

2. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth overflow lip comprises a first radial froth overflow lip and a second radial froth overflow lip opposite the first radial froth overflow lip.

3. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein at least one radial froth overflow lip is arranged to face the crowding sidewall of the radial froth crowder.

4. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth collection launder comprises a crowding sidewall.

5. The froth flotation cell according to claim 4 , wherein the radial froth crowder comprises a froth collection lip opposite the crowding sidewall, and that the froth collection lip is arranged to face the crowding sidewall of the radial froth collection launder.

6. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the crowding sidewall comprises a first crowding sidewall and a second crowding sidewall.

7. The flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth collection launder comprises radial froth collection launders and/or the radial froth crowder comprises radial froth crowders arranged so that open froth surfaces (A f ) formed between each radial froth collection launder and/or radial froth crowder are identical in surface area.

8. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the first froth collection channel comprises a first froth overflow lip facing towards the center of the tank.

9. The froth flotation cell according to claim 8 , wherein the first froth overflow lip is arranged at the top of a vertical sidewall of the first froth collection channel.

10. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the first froth collection channel comprises a side structure facing towards the center of the tank, the side structure arranged to crowd the froth away from the first froth collection channel.

11. The froth flotation cell according to claim 10 , wherein the side structure has an angle of inclination of 20-80° in relation to a vertical (n) of the tank.

12. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second froth collection channel further comprises a second overflow lip facing towards the perimeter of the tank.

13. The froth flotation cell according to claim 12 , wherein the second overflow lip is arranged at the top of a vertical sidewall of the second froth collection channel.

14. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second froth collection channel further comprises a side structure facing towards the perimeter of the tank, the side structure arranged to crowd the froth away from the second froth collection channel.

15. The froth flotation cell according to claim 14 , wherein the side structure has an angle of inclination of 20-80° in relation to a vertical (n) of the tank.

16. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth collection launder is arranged to collect the froth and direct a collected froth to the first froth collection channel.

17. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth crowder is arranged in fluid communication with the first froth collection channel and the second froth collection channel, and further arranged to direct the froth from the second froth collection channel to the first froth collection channel.

18. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth collection launder is arranged to have a shape that prevents flotation gas bubbles from colliding under the radial froth collection launder and the froth from moving away from the radial froth collection launder.

19. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the second froth collection channel is shaped to direct the froth to flow in a direction from the center of the tank, radially outward, over the first froth overflow lip, and into the second froth collection channel.

20. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the radial froth collection launder in a radial direction of the tank is a substantially V shaped form comprising
an apex pointing towards a bottom of the tank,
a first inclined sidewall (c) and a second inclined sidewall (d) extending from the apex so that an apex angle α is formed between the first and the second inclined sidewalls (c, d), and
the radial froth overflow lip comprising a first radial froth overflow lip at the top of the first inclined sidewall (c) and a second radial froth overflow lip at the top of the second inclined sidewall (d).

21. The froth flotation cell according to claim 1 , wherein the radial froth collection launder comprises
a vertically extending first sidewall and a vertical extending second sidewall opposite the first sidewall,
the radial froth overflow lip comprising a first radial froth overflow lip at the top of the first sidewall and a second radial froth overflow lip at the top of the second sidewall, and
a substantially V shaped inclined bottom with an apex pointing towards a bottom of the tank and having an apex angle α, the first and second sidewalls and a bottom defining a channel for directing the froth to the first froth collection channel.

22. The froth flotation cell according to claim 21 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall

Assignees

• Outotec Finland Oy

Inventors

• Rinne Antti

Classifications

• B03D1/16 Primary

  with impellers; Subaeration machines {(mixing gases or vapours with liquids B01F23/20)} · CPC title

• B03D1/1412

  with baffles, e.g. at the wall for redirecting settling solids · CPC title

• B03D1/082

  of the froth product, e.g. washing · CPC title

• B03D1/1462 Primary

  Discharge mechanisms for the froth · CPC title