PREDICTION OF BUBBLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN MECHANICAL FLOTATION CELLS

Citation
F. Sawyerr et al., PREDICTION OF BUBBLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN MECHANICAL FLOTATION CELLS, Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 98(4), 1998, pp. 179-185
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Metallurgy & Metallurigical Engineering","Mining & Mineral Processing
ISSN journal
0038223X
Volume
98
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
179 - 185
Database
ISI
SICI code
0038-223X(1998)98:4<179:POBDIM>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
A bubble population balance model is proposed for the prediction of Sa uter mean bubble diameters in mechanical notation cells. In the model, the notation cell is treated as two separate, statistically homogeneo us zones-the impeller zone, and the bulk tank zone. Balance functions for the rates of bubble breakage, coalescence, recirculation and inlet -outlet events are proposed based on classical chemical engineering re search in two- and three-phase fluid mixing systems. An initial simula tion of the population balance model shows trends in bubble size distr ibutions comparable to measured distributions in industrial mechanical notation cells.