Gravity Separation & Concentration Methods

Gravity Separation & Concentration Methods

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Sanding in flotation cells (1 reply)

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Eduardo JImenez
5 years ago
Eduardo JImenez 5 years ago

Good day for all:

Do sanding in cilindrical flotation cells, Wemco type, in continiuos service, will produce an increase or decrease in motor power draw?

https://www.google.com/search?q=fls+flotation+cells&rlz=1C1GCEU_enCL842CL842&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5gsnou47iAhUDj1kKHWQ8Aa0Q_AUIDigB&biw=1536&bih=754#imgrc=bzKdd3vqknMa3M:

 

Mike
5 years ago
Mike 5 years ago
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First off let us discuss why and how sanding occurs, because that does have an impact.  Sanding can occur for many reasons, the two main and most common being; 1) poor classification ahead of flotation allowing oversized material to enter the cells, and 2) impeller wear leading to poor mixing in the cell.

In both cases the net impact is a decrease in actual volume and thus retention time.  In the first case (poor classification) the first sign can (but does not have to be) an increase in motor draw as the solids loading of the cell is higher than anticipated.   As the cell sands up it should balance out and now the motor will be moving less material than designed so the motor draw can (but does not have to) go down.

In the second case the increased solids will increase wear.  And again the impact on motor draw can either go up or down.

The best indication of sanding would be changes in grade and recovery due to decreased retention time (unless the cells or oversized to begin with).

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