Module 5 Froth Flotation
Froth flotation is the most difficult of the mineral processing unit operations to model and simulate. Although the basic processes that govern the flotation process have been identified and researched for many years, the complex interactions between the many chemical and physical microprocesses require careful analysis in order to build models that are reliable and can be used for effective and accurate simulation. In this module we will look at two of the most successful flotation models - the Klimpel model and the distributed rate constant model. The Klimpel model has been used widely to evaluate flotation systems but it is not really effective for plant simulation work. The distributed rate constant model was developed specifically for flotation plant simulation. A more modern approach to flotation modeling is described in Chapter 9 of the textbook or Technical Notes 9 - Flotation
Objectives
In this model you will learn to specify kinetic parameters for a flotation system and how to fix the water balance in a flotation cell. The water balance fixes the residence time in the cell which ultimately determines the recovery of each component. You will also observe the benefits of multistage and recycle configurations.
1. The Klimpel model for a single flotation cell.
2. The distributed rate constant model for a bank of flotation cells and a complete plant.