Opposed jet flotation machine and opposed jet flotation method

Abstract

The application discloses a counterflow jet flotation machine and a counterflow jet flotation method. The flotation machine comprises a bubble water generator, a mixed flow device, a mineralizer and a flotation tank. The bubble water generator is connected with a water source and a gas source, and the gas is cut into micro-bubbles by a micro-porous foaming device to form bubble water. The mixed flow device is connected with the output end of the generator and a mineral slurry source, so that the bubble water and the mineral slurry are mixed into a bubble mineral slurry flow. The mineralizer is provided with nozzles on the shell wall, and the mineral slurry flows discharged from the nozzles in the same group meet in the cavity. The flotation tank is connected with the output end of the mineralizer. The flotation method comprises the steps of preparing bubble water, mixing the bubble water and the mineral slurry into a mineral slurry flow, counterflowing multiple mineral slurry flows and separating bubbles and liquid. The application separates the bubble water generation function and the mineralization function in space, the micro-porous foaming device only contacts with clean water, and the mineral slurry particles are prevented from being blocked. The mineralizer does not need to inject compressed air, the air flow is not disturbed, the integrity and the turbulence intensity of the counterflow jet are ensured, the collision probability of the micro-fine mineral particles and the bubbles is improved, and the mineralization effect is optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates primarily to the field of flotation technology, and more particularly to counter-jet flotation machines and counter-jet flotation methods. Background Technology

[0002] Flotation is a method of separating different minerals by increasing the differences in hydrophobicity of mineral surfaces through reagent treatment. In the slurry, bubbles collide and adhere with hydrophobic minerals to complete mineralization, forming mineralized bubbles that float to the foam layer and are collected, while hydrophilic minerals remain in the slurry to form the underflow product.

[0003] Mineralization in the flotation process refers to the process by which hydrophobic mineral particles collide with and effectively adhere to air bubbles. The effect of mineralization is affected by the collision probability between the target mineral particles and air bubbles. When the collision probability is higher, the mineralization effect is often better.

[0004] The Jameson flotation machine is a widely used mixed-flow mineralization flotation machine in existing technology. Its lower jet is equipped with a Venturi bubbler. In the Venturi bubbler, a centrifugal pump forces the slurry through the nozzle at high speed, forming a jet. This high-speed slurry jet creates negative pressure, drawing in air and cutting it into microbubbles (typically 0.1-0.6 mm in diameter). Simultaneously, target mineral particles in the slurry collide and adhere to these microbubbles, completing the mineralization process. However, when using this flotation machine to beneficiate fine-grained minerals (usually mineral particles smaller than 20 μm), the large difference between the bubble size and the fine-grained mineral particle size, coupled with insufficient turbulence intensity generated by the unidirectional jet, results in a low probability of collision between mineral particles and bubbles.

[0005] Based on this, some researchers have proposed using nanoporous ceramics to generate smaller bubbles and setting up two opposing jets to improve the intensity of fluid turbulence (such as the multiphase mixing mineralization method disclosed in Chinese patent document CN108283996B). However, in this technical solution, since the nanoporous ceramics are located at the port of the spherical multiphase mixing mineralizer and come into direct contact with the slurry, they are prone to clogging. Furthermore, the compressed air ejected from the tubular microporous bubbler is perpendicular to the direction of the two slurry jets ejected from the first and second tubular slurry conditioners, which interferes with the opposing flow of the two slurry jets, thereby reducing the intensity of fluid turbulence and thus reducing the probability of collision between mineral particles and bubbles.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to further improve the above technical solutions to enhance the mineralization effect. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, such as the easy clogging of nanoporous ceramics and the interference of compressed air on the counter-current of the slurry jet, and to provide a counter-current jet flotation machine and a counter-current jet flotation method.

[0008] The present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0009] The counter-current jet flotation machine includes: a bubble water generator, a mixer, a mineralizer, and a flotation cell. The input end of the bubble water generator is connected to both a water source and a gas source. Gas is cut into the water body after passing through a microporous bubbler, forming bubble water. The input end of the mixer is connected to both the output end of the bubble water generator and the slurry source. The bubble water mixes with the slurry to form a bubble slurry flow. The mineralizer includes a shell and at least one set of nozzles disposed on the shell wall and connected to the output end of the mixer. The bubble slurry flows ejected from the same set of nozzles converge within the cavity. The input end of the flotation cell is connected to the output end of the mineralizer. This structure completely separates the two functions of "generating bubble water" and "mineralization" in space: the gas is first cut into microbubbles in the bubble water generator and uniformly dispersed in the water to form bubble water, which is then mixed with the slurry in the mixer to form a bubble slurry flow. In this way, the microporous bubbler is always in contact with clean water, and particles in the slurry will not enter the microporous structure, thus fundamentally avoiding clogging. At the same time, since the slurry has already formed a bubble slurry flow by mixing in the mixer, there is no need to inject additional compressed air into the mineralizer, so no turbulent airflow is formed, ensuring the integrity of the counter-jet and the intensity of turbulence, thereby significantly increasing the collision probability between fine mineral particles and bubbles and optimizing the mineralization effect.

[0010] The bubble water generator includes a water supply pipe connected to a water source and a gas supply pipe connected to a gas source. One end of the gas supply pipe is connected to a microporous bubbler built into the water supply pipe. By embedding the microporous bubbler inside the water supply pipe, the gas is broken into microbubbles and then carried away by the water flow. This structural design ensures that the microporous bubbler does not come into contact with the slurry, thereby avoiding clogging.

[0011] The mixer is configured as a Venturi mixer, with its nozzle end connected to the slurry source and its air inlet end connected to the output end of the bubble water generator. Utilizing the Venturi effect, the slurry forms a negative pressure as it passes through the nozzle at high speed, actively drawing in the bubble water and instantly completing vigorous mixing. Compared to mechanical stirring or static mixing methods, the Venturi mixer has less energy loss and more uniform mixing, and can quickly and evenly disperse the bubbles in the bubble water into the slurry, shortening the mineralization preparation time and improving the system's processing capacity.

[0012] The nozzles in the same group are located on the same plane, and the included angles between adjacent nozzles are equal. This alignment ensures that the bubble-slurry flows ejected from each nozzle converge symmetrically within the cavity, resulting in a more balanced interaction between the bubble-slurry flows during flushing. This avoids situations where insufficient turbulence intensity in certain areas is caused by improper nozzle position or angle, ensuring a high and uniform turbulence intensity throughout the mineralizer cavity. This increases the probability of collisions between mineral particles and bubbles at various points, thereby improving the overall mineralization effect.

[0013] The flow rate and volume of the bubble slurry streams ejected from each nozzle are equal. This configuration ensures that the impact force of each bubble slurry stream during offsetting is the same, guaranteeing a stable and intense turbulent state after offsetting. If the flow rate or volume is unequal, one bubble slurry stream may dominate during offsetting, failing to form effective strong turbulence, thus affecting the collision between mineral particles and bubbles. Therefore, ensuring that the flow rate and volume of the bubble slurry streams ejected from each nozzle are equal guarantees the effectiveness of offsetting, further enhancing the mineralization effect.

[0014] The inlet of the flotation cell is located no more than 1 / 10 of the total height of the column section from the bottom of the cell. Positioning the inlet in the lower part of the flotation cell allows the flushed bubble-slurry flow to enter from this location. This facilitates the upward movement of target mineral particles carried by the bubbles to the slurry surface, while hydrophilic non-target mineral particles settle downwards, reducing interference from improper inlet placement on the separation process. Compared to inlets located at the top, which may lead to insufficient separation, a lower-middle inlet promotes more efficient separation of bubbles and liquid, thus improving flotation efficiency.

[0015] The inlets are located on the same plane, and the included angles between adjacent inlets are equal. This alignment of the inlets with equal included angles ensures that the bubble-slurry flow entering the flotation cell diffuses symmetrically, preventing uneven distribution within the cell. This ensures a relatively consistent bubble-slurry flow throughout the cell, facilitating thorough separation of bubbles and liquid throughout the cell, guaranteeing overall separation efficiency, and improving the uniformity and stability of mineral processing.

[0016] The velocity and flow rate of the bubble-slurry ejected from each of the input ports are equal. This uniform velocity and flow rate ensures that the bubble-slurry flow diffuses evenly upon entering the flotation cell, preventing disturbance of the flow field due to excessive velocity or flow rate at any one input port and guaranteeing a stable environment within the flotation cell. A stable flow field allows sufficient time for the bubbles to carry target mineral particles to the surface and also facilitates the settling of non-target mineral particles, further improving the separation effect between the bubbles and the liquid and enhancing the reliability of flotation.

[0017] The counter-jet flotation method includes the following steps:

[0018] Step S1: Prepare sparkling water;

[0019] Step S2: The bubble water is mixed with the slurry to form a bubble slurry flow;

[0020] Step S3: Two or more streams of bubble slurry are offset;

[0021] Step S4: Separate the bubbles and liquid from the flushed bubble slurry flow.

[0022] This method completely separates the two functions of "generating bubble water" and "mineralization" spatially: the gas is first cut into microbubbles in the bubble water generator and evenly dispersed in the water to form bubble water, which is then mixed with the mineral slurry in the mixer to form a bubble slurry flow. In this way, the microporous bubbler is always in contact with clean water, and particles in the mineral slurry will not enter the microporous structure, fundamentally avoiding clogging; at the same time, because the mineral slurry has already formed a bubble slurry flow by mixing in the mixer, there is no need to inject additional compressed air in the mineralizer, so no turbulent airflow is formed, ensuring the integrity of the counter-jet and the intensity of turbulence, thereby significantly increasing the collision probability between mineral particles and bubbles and optimizing the mineralization effect. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a counter-jet flotation machine.

[0024] The labels in the diagram represent:

[0025] 01. Water source; 02. Gas source; 03. Slurry source;

[0026] 1. Aerated water generator; 11. Microporous foamer; 12. Water supply pipe; 13. Aerated water supply pipe;

[0027] 2. Mixer; 21. Nozzle end; 22. Inlet pipe end;

[0028] 3. Mineralizer; 31. Shell; 32. Nozzle;

[0029] 4. Flotation cell; 41. Input port. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] Example

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the jet flotation machine includes a bubble water generator 1, a mixer 2, a mineralizer 3, and a flotation cell 4.

[0033] The input end of the bubble water generator 1 is connected to the water source 01 and the gas source 02 respectively. The gas enters the water body after being cut by the microporous bubbler 11 to form bubble water. Specifically, the microporous bubbler 11 is made of nanoporous ceramic. The bubble water generator 1 includes a water supply pipe 12 connected to the water source 01 and a gas supply pipe 13 connected to the gas source 02. One end of the gas supply pipe 13 is connected to the microporous bubbler 11 built into the water supply pipe 12.

[0034] The input end of the mixer 2 is connected to the output end of the bubble water generator 1 and the slurry source 03 respectively. The bubble water and the slurry are mixed to form a bubble slurry flow. Specifically, the mixer 2 is configured as a Venturi mixer, with its nozzle end 21 connected to the slurry source 03 and its air inlet end 22 connected to the output end of the bubble water generator 1.

[0035] The mineralizer 3 includes a shell 31 and at least one set of nozzles 32 disposed on the shell wall and connected to the output end of the mixer 2. The bubble slurry flow ejected from the same set of nozzles 32 converges in the cavity. Specifically, the nozzles 32 in the same set are located on the same plane and the included angle between adjacent nozzles 32 is equal. At the same time, the flow velocity and flow rate of the bubble slurry flow ejected from each nozzle 32 are equal.

[0036] The input end of the flotation cell 4 is connected to the output end of the mineralizer 3; specifically, the distance between the input port 41 of the flotation cell 4 and the bottom of the column section of the cell body is no more than 1 / 10 of the total height of the column section of the cell body; the input ports 41 are located on the same plane, and the included angle between adjacent input ports 41 is equal; at the same time, the flow velocity and flow rate of the bubble slurry flow ejected from each input port 41 are equal.

[0037] In this embodiment, the counter-jet flotation method includes the following steps:

[0038] Step S1: Prepare sparkling water;

[0039] Step S2: The bubble water is mixed with the slurry to form a bubble slurry flow;

[0040] Step S3: Two or more streams of bubble slurry are offset;

[0041] Step S4: Separate the bubbles and liquid from the flushed bubble slurry flow.

[0042] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can make many possible variations and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention, or modify them into equivalent embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the scope of the present invention, should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A collision jet flotation machine, characterised in that The application relates to a bubble water generator (1), a mixing device (2), a mineralizer (3) and a flotation tank (4). The bubble water generator (1) is connected with a water source (01) and a gas source (02) respectively, and the gas is cut by a micro-hole foaming device (11) and then enters the water body to form bubble water. The mixing device (2) is connected with the output end of the bubble water generator (1) and a mineral slurry source (03) respectively, and the bubble water and the mineral slurry are mixed to form a bubble mineral slurry flow. The mineralizer (3) comprises a shell (31) and at least one group of nozzles (32) arranged on the shell wall and connected with the output end of the mixing device (2), and the bubble mineral slurry flows discharged from the nozzles (32) in the same group meet in the cavity. The input end of the flotation tank (4) is connected with the output end of the mineralizer (3).

2. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 1, wherein: The bubble water generator (1) comprises a water conveying pipe (12) connected with the water source (01) and a gas conveying pipe (13) connected with the gas source (02), and one end of the gas conveying pipe (13) is connected with the micro-hole foaming device (11) arranged in the water conveying pipe (12).

3. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 1, wherein: The mixing device (2) is arranged as a Venturi mixer, the nozzle end (21) of which is connected with the mineral slurry source (03), and the air inlet pipe end (22) is connected with the output end of the bubble water generator (1).

4. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 1, wherein: The nozzles (32) in the same group are located in the same plane, and the included angles between adjacent nozzles (32) are equal.

5. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 4, wherein: The flow rates and flow volumes of the bubble mineral slurry flows discharged from the nozzles (32) are equal.

6. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 1, wherein: The input ports (41) of the flotation tank (4) are located in the same plane, and the included angles between adjacent input ports (41) are equal.

7. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 6, wherein: The flow rates and flow volumes of the bubble mineral slurry flows discharged from the input ports (41) are equal.

8. The opposed jet flotation machine of claim 7, wherein: The application further discloses a bubble water preparation method.

9. A method of opposed jet flotation, characterised in that The bubble water is prepared in step S1. The bubble water is mixed with the mineral slurry to form a bubble mineral slurry flow in step S2. Two or more bubble mineral slurry flows are collided in step S3. The bubble mineral slurry flow after the collision is separated into bubbles and liquid in step S4. ​

Images