Full-Scale trial of the REFLUX™ flotation cell

A 2 m diameter REFLUX (TM) Flotation Cell was fed at roughly 210 m3/h, equivalent to a flux of 1.9 cm/s, about twice the maximum rate used in conventional flotation cells. The coal feed slurry had 59-64 wt% head ash and nominal size range-0.100 mm (Sauter mean size 0.004 mm). The air, wash water and underflow rates were 180 m(3)/h, 65 m(3)/h and 235 m(3)/h respectively, giving a positive downwards wash water bias flux of 0.2 cm/s. Product ashes of 11-15 wt% were obtained at combustible recoveries of 58-75 %, with results on or better than the tree curve. These initial results demonstrate that the beneficial hydrodynamics seen at laboratory scale are realised at full-scale. Also demonstrated is the use of a novel oil-agglomeration technique to obtain detailed performance versus size data, showing that high hydrophobic recoveries were being obtained at sizes down to 0.001 mm.

Automated summary

This article discusses the research results on efficient flotation in the REFLUX flotation cell, including the composition of coal slurry, feed rate, product ash content, and combustible recovery rate. The experimental results indicate that the beneficial hydrodynamics observed at the laboratory scale can also be realized at full scale.