Abstract:
In order to improve the recovery efficiency of fine−grained cassiterite minerals, a new type of vortex−driven flotation device based on turbulent control technology was used for flotation experiments of fine−grained cassiterite(
d50=16.45 µm), and the influence of the structures and slurry circulation flow rate of vortex generators and slurry circulation flow rate on the flotation efficiency of fine−grained cassiterite was investigated. Meanwhile, the internal flow field of the vortex mineralization tube was calculated through CFD numerical simulation, and the reasons for improving the flotation efficiency of fine particles through vortex mineralization was analyzed. The flotation experiment results show that using a induction method, the concentrate recovery rate of cassiterite was 92.96% at a circulation rate of 0.6 m
3/h (
Re=21220), the tin grade of concentrate was 3.32%. With almost the same tin grade, the recovery rate increased by 25.73 percentage points compared to the empty tube; The CFD simulation analysis results show that the average turbulence dissipation rate and averageturbulence kinetic energy inside the mineralization tube with rectangular vortex generator are the highest, which are 13.01 times and 7.03 times higher than that of the empty tube, respectively, and the collision probability increases from 1.07% to 2.32%. The rectangular vortex generator can significantly improve the turbulent environment of the vortex mineralization tube, increase fine particles−bubbles collision probability, and thus enhance the flotation recovery of fine−grained cassiterite.