A defoaming system for eliminating froth in a beneficiation process

Abstract

The application discloses a defoaming system for eliminating foam in a beneficiation process, which comprises a defoaming tank and a protection tank, the top of the defoaming tank is communicated with the protection tank through a three-way valve and a connecting pipe, the suction of foam is controlled through a connecting pipe with an electric valve in the upper part of the side wall of the defoaming tank, a vacuum pump inlet manifold is connected with the top side of the protection tank, the inlet manifold is provided with two branches, the branches are connected with the vacuum pump inlet through electric valves, the outlet of the vacuum pump is communicated with a gas-water separation tank through the side of the upper part of the gas-water separation tank, one end of a circulating water inlet pipe away from the gas-water separation tank is connected with a plate heat exchanger, the circulating water outlet pipe and the vacuum pump water inlet pipe are connected with the vacuum pump to form a closed loop cooling circuit after the plate heat exchanger, the bottom of the defoaming tank is connected with the inlet of a screw pump through a connecting pipe with an electric valve, a blowdown pipe is arranged at the central position of the bottom of the defoaming tank, and the outlet of the screw pump is communicated with the end of a beneficiation production system to realize the recovery of the material after defoaming.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of foam treatment technology, and specifically relates to a defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing. Background Technology

[0002] Thickeners are one of the most commonly used large-scale equipment for material enrichment and concentration in the mineral processing industry. During the first thickening process of tailings, tailings from various production processes are discharged into the thickener for concentration and clarification. However, because the tailings contain a large amount of flotation foam that cannot be adsorbed by flocculants, this foam accumulates in the overflow layer and overflows to the ground with the overflow water after entering the clarification tank, making it difficult to handle.

[0003] In winter, the accumulated foam freezes, preventing the flocculant from effectively adsorbing onto the water surface. This not only severely affects the sedimentation and concentration effect of the thickener and the clarity of the overflow water, but also reduces the water reuse rate, resulting in water waste. Furthermore, the overflowing foam contains chemicals, solid powders, and metal powders, which can pollute the surrounding environment and increase the company's environmental treatment costs.

[0004] Currently, existing foam defoaming equipment has many shortcomings. Some equipment has low defoaming efficiency and cannot meet the processing needs of high foam generation. Some equipment is ineffective in treating foam containing high concentrations of solid powder and metal powder, and is prone to problems such as equipment blockage and wear. Other equipment has a low degree of automation, requiring frequent manual operation and adjustment, which is labor-intensive and makes it difficult to guarantee the stability of defoaming effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a defoaming system for eliminating foam in a mineral processing process, comprising a defoaming tank and a protective tank, wherein the top of the defoaming tank is connected to the protective tank via a three-way valve and a connecting pipe, and a foam intake port for foam intake via a connecting pipe equipped with an electric valve I is provided in the upper middle part of the side wall of the defoaming tank.

[0007] It also includes a vacuum pump, the inlet main pipe of which is connected to the top side of the protective tank, and the inlet main pipe has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump through electric valve II. The outlet of the vacuum pump enters the upper side of the gas-water separator and communicates with the gas-water separator. The lower part of the side wall of the gas-water separator is connected to the circulating water inlet pipe, and the circulating water outlet pipe is connected to the vacuum pump inlet pipe.

[0008] The end of the circulating water inlet pipe away from the gas-water separator is connected to the plate heat exchanger. After passing through the plate heat exchanger, the water enters the vacuum pump through the circulating water outlet pipe and the vacuum pump inlet pipe to form a closed-loop circulating cooling circuit.

[0009] The bottom of the defoaming tank is connected to the inlet of the screw pump via a connecting pipe with an electric valve III. A defoaming tank drain pipe is located at the center of the bottom of the defoaming tank. The outlet of the screw pump is connected to the end of the mineral processing production system to realize the recovery of materials after defoaming.

[0010] Furthermore, the bottom of the gas-water separator is provided with a drain outlet, a drain pipe is connected to the drain outlet, a drain valve is provided on the drain pipe, and an exhaust port is provided at the top of the bottom of the gas-water separator.

[0011] Furthermore, the defoaming tank drain pipe is equipped with a defoaming tank drain valve IV, the gas-water separator has an overflow pipe, the overflow pipe is located on the upper part of the side wall of the gas-water separator, the end of the overflow pipe is connected to the drain pipe, the gas-water separator is equipped with a water inlet, the water inlet is located on the upper side of the gas-water separator, and the height of the water inlet connected to the upper part of the side wall of the gas-water separator is lower than the height of the overflow pipe connected to the gas-water separator.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a PLC control system, a flow meter and a pressure sensor. The flow meter is installed at the outlet of the screw pump, and the pressure sensor is installed on the tank body of the protective tank or on the inlet manifold of the vacuum pump.

[0013] The PLC control system is electrically connected to electric valve II, vacuum pump, screw pump, flow meter and pressure sensor respectively. It can dynamically adjust the negative pressure value of vacuum pump according to the material flow rate after defoaming detected by flow meter, and adjust the number of electric valves II opened on the inlet pipe, the number of vacuum pumps started and the speed of screw pump according to the pressure value detected by pressure sensor.

[0014] Furthermore, the defoaming tank has a volume of 3.0 m³, and the defoaming tank has a cylindrical structure. Both the cylinder and the end cap are made of Q345R steel. The shell-side design pressure is ≥1.2 MPa. The cylinder wall thickness is 10 mm, the end cap wall thickness is 10 mm, and the inner wall of the defoaming tank is uniformly coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating.

[0015] Furthermore, the protective tank has a volume of 1.0 m³, is a cylindrical structure, and the cylindrical body and end cap are made of Q345R steel. The shell pressure is ≥1.2 MPa, and the inner wall is coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating.

[0016] Furthermore, the plate heat exchanger is a detachable plate heat exchanger made of stainless steel with a heat exchange area of ​​5-8㎡. The water cooler inlet of the plate heat exchanger is equipped with a regulating valve, which is electrically connected to the PLC control system to control the water temperature below 25℃.

[0017] Furthermore, the inner wall of the defoaming tank is provided with several protrusions, which are hemispherical in shape, with a height of 50mm and a spacing of 100mm.

[0018] Furthermore, the vacuum pump is equipped with two units, each with a power of 15KW, a maximum gas volume of 8.33m³ / min, a speed of 970r / min, a working fluid flow rate of 20L / min, a motor protection rating of IP55, and a motor explosion-proof rating of dIIBT4.

[0019] The inlet manifold of the vacuum pump is connected to the top of the protective tank. The inlet manifold has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump through electric valve II. The outlet end of the vacuum pump is connected to the upper part of the gas-water separator through the outlet pipe of the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump self-circulation system provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system.

[0020] A method for applying a defoaming system to eliminate foam in a mineral processing step includes the following steps:

[0021] After starting the equipment, relevant parameters such as negative pressure value, flow threshold, and pressure threshold can be set through the PLC control system. Automatic or manual mode can be selected.

[0022] The vacuum pump starts and provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system through the self-circulation system, creating a negative pressure environment inside the defoaming tank.

[0023] Open the connecting pipe with the electric valve in the upper middle part of the side wall of the defoaming tank, and the foam will be sucked into the defoaming tank under negative pressure;

[0024] When the foam enters the defoaming tank, the pressure difference increases due to the negative pressure inside the tank, and the foam collides with the protrusions on the inner wall of the tank, causing the foam to burst rapidly.

[0025] The ruptured material settles at the bottom of the defoaming tank and enters the screw pump inlet through a connecting pipe with an electric valve.

[0026] After the screw pump pressurizes the material, it is reinjected into the mineral processing system through the return pipe to achieve material recycling.

[0027] The gas and water discharged from the vacuum pump enter the gas-water separator. The separated water remains in the gas-water separator, while the gas is discharged through the exhaust port.

[0028] The circulating water forms a closed loop between the plate heat exchanger, the gas-water separator, and the vacuum pump. The plate heat exchanger regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium through a regulating valve to ensure that the circulating water temperature is stable below 25°C, providing good conditions for the operation of the vacuum pump.

[0029] During equipment operation, flow meters and pressure sensors detect relevant parameters in real time and transmit the data to the PLC control system. The PLC control system automatically adjusts the negative pressure value of the vacuum pump, the number of electric valves opened, the number of vacuum pumps started, and the speed of the screw pump according to preset parameters to ensure stable defoaming effect. Operators can monitor the equipment operation status in real time through the touch screen and make manual intervention adjustments when necessary.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0031] This invention provides a continuous and stable negative pressure environment through a vacuum pump self-circulation system. Combined with the raised design of the inner wall of the defoaming tank, it increases the probability of foam collision and promotes rapid foam rupture. It can efficiently process foam containing high concentrations of solid powder and metal powder, with a defoaming efficiency of over 95%, meeting the processing needs of high foam generation (100-120 m³ / h).

[0032] This invention can effectively eliminate foam containing pharmaceuticals, solid powders, and metal powders, improve the settling effect of thickeners and the clarity of overflow water, increase water resource utilization, reduce environmental pollution, and lower enterprise production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall connection of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the PLC control system of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the wear-resistant ceramic coating and protrusions on the inner wall of the defoaming tank of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the wear-resistant ceramic coating on the inner wall of the protective tank according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0040] like Figure 1-4 As shown, a defoaming system for eliminating foam in a mineral processing process includes a defoaming tank 1 and a protective tank 2. The top of the defoaming tank 1 is connected to the protective tank 2 via a three-way valve and a connecting pipe. The upper part of the side wall of the defoaming tank 1 is provided with a foam intake port through a connecting pipe equipped with an electric valve I.

[0041] It also includes a vacuum pump 3, the inlet manifold 4 of the vacuum pump 3 is connected to the top side of the protective tank 2, and the inlet manifold 4 has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump 3 through an electric valve II5. The outlet of the vacuum pump 3 enters the upper side of the gas-water separator 6 and communicates with the gas-water separator 6. The lower part of the side wall of the gas-water separator 6 is connected to the circulating water inlet pipe 7, and the circulating water outlet pipe 7 is connected to the vacuum pump inlet pipe 8.

[0042] The end of the circulating water inlet pipe 8 away from the gas-water separator 6 is connected to the plate heat exchanger 9. After passing through the plate heat exchanger 9, it enters the vacuum pump 3 through the circulating water outlet pipe 10 and the vacuum pump inlet pipe 8 to form a closed-loop circulating cooling circuit.

[0043] The bottom of the defoaming tank 1 is connected to the inlet of the screw pump 11 via a connecting pipe with an electric valve III. A defoaming tank drain pipe 12 is provided at the center of the bottom of the defoaming tank 1. The outlet of the screw pump 11 is connected to the end of the mineral processing production system to realize the recovery of materials after defoaming.

[0044] The vacuum pump provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system through self-circulation. The negative pressure in the defoaming tank draws in the foam and causes it to break due to the increased pressure difference. After breaking, the material passes through the outlet of the defoaming tank, enters the screw pump through the inlet valve of the screw pump, and is then discharged and reinjected into the production system.

[0045] The gas-water separator 6 has a drain outlet 13 at the bottom, a drain pipe 14 connected to the drain outlet 13, a drain valve 15 on the drain pipe 14, and an exhaust outlet 16 at the top of the bottom of the gas-water separator 6.

[0046] Among them, the gas-water separator has a volume of 0.6m³ and is used to separate moisture from the gas discharged by the vacuum pump. It has a drain outlet at the bottom, an exhaust outlet at the top, a water inlet and an overflow pipe on the upper side wall, and a circulating water inlet and outlet pipe connected to the lower side wall.

[0047] The defoaming tank drain pipe 12 is equipped with a defoaming tank drain valve IV. The gas-water separator 6 has an overflow pipe 17, which is located on the upper part of the side wall of the gas-water separator 6. The end of the overflow pipe 17 is connected to the drain pipe 14. The gas-water separator 6 is equipped with a water inlet 18, which is located on the upper side of the gas-water separator 6. The height of the water inlet 18 connected to the upper side wall of the gas-water separator 6 is lower than the height of the overflow pipe 17 connected to the gas-water separator 6.

[0048] The defoaming tank has a volume of 3.0 m³, and the cylinder and end caps are made of Q345R steel. The shell-side design pressure is ≥1.2 MPa, the cylinder wall thickness is 10 mm, the end cap wall thickness is 10 mm, and the shell-side temperature range is -20℃ / 100℃. The shell-side media include air, tailings, and water. The defoaming tank has two 65 mm inlets and an outlet size of 200 mm. The inner wall of the defoaming tank is uniformly coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating, and has several hemispherical protrusions to increase the probability of foam collision with the tank wall and promote foam breakage. A drain pipe with a drain valve is located at the center of the bottom of the defoaming tank for periodically removing impurities deposited inside the tank.

[0049] It also includes a PLC control system 21, a flow meter 22 and a pressure sensor 23. The flow meter 22 is installed at the outlet of the screw pump 11, and the pressure sensor 23 is installed on the tank body of the protective tank 2 or on the inlet manifold 4 of the vacuum pump 3.

[0050] The PLC control system 21 is connected to the electric valve II5, vacuum pump 3, screw pump 11, flow meter 22 and pressure sensor 23 respectively. It can dynamically adjust the negative pressure value of vacuum pump 3 according to the material flow rate after defoaming detected by flow meter 22, and adjust the number of electric valves II5 opened on the inlet pipe, the number of vacuum pumps 3 started and the speed of screw pump 11 according to the pressure value detected by pressure sensor 23.

[0051] The PLC control system uses a Siemens S7-200 SMART series controller, paired with a 10-inch touchscreen display. The flow meter is an electromagnetic flow meter, installed at the screw pump outlet, with a measurement range of 0-150 m³ / h and an accuracy of ±0.5%. The pressure sensor is a diffused silicon pressure transmitter, installed on the protective tank body, with a measurement range of -0.1-0.6 MPa and an accuracy of ±0.2%. The PLC control system is electrically connected to each electric valve, vacuum pump, screw pump, flow meter, pressure sensor, and regulating valve of the plate heat exchanger to complete data acquisition and equipment control.

[0052] The screw pump used is a single G-type screw pump with a power of 22KW, a speed of 400r / min, a flow rate of 80m³ / h, a pressure of 60MPa, a head of 60m, an inlet size of 200mm, and an outlet size of 150mm. Both the inlet and outlet of the screw pump are equipped with flexible joints to reduce vibration transmission during equipment operation. The screw pump inlet is connected to the bottom of the defoaming tank via a connecting pipe with an electric valve, and the outlet is connected to the mineral processing production system via a return pipe to achieve the recovery of defoamed materials.

[0053] The protective tank 2 has a volume of 1.0 m³, and is a cylindrical structure. The cylindrical body and end cap are made of Q345R steel, the shell pressure is ≥1.2 MPa, and the inner wall is coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating.

[0054] The protective tank has a volume of 1.0 m³, and the shell and end caps are made of Q345R steel. The shell-side pressure is ≥1.2 MPa, and the applicable shell-side temperature range is -20℃ to 100℃. Shell-side media include air, tailings, and water. The inner wall is coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating. The protective tank is positioned between the defoaming tank and the vacuum pump to prevent foam from overflowing into the vacuum pump, thus protecting the pump. A drain pipe and drain valve are located at the bottom of the protective tank for periodic cleaning of impurities.

[0055] The plate heat exchanger 9 is a detachable plate heat exchanger made of stainless steel with a heat exchange area of ​​5-8㎡. The water cooler inlet of the plate heat exchanger 9 is equipped with a regulating valve, which is electrically connected to the PLC control system to control the water temperature below 25℃.

[0056] The system employs a detachable plate heat exchanger made of stainless steel, with a heat exchange area of ​​5-8 square meters. The water cooler inlet of the plate heat exchanger is equipped with a regulating valve, which is electrically connected to the PLC control system to maintain the water temperature below 25°C. The end of the circulating water inlet pipe furthest from the gas-water separator is connected to the plate heat exchanger. After passing through the plate heat exchanger, the water flows through the circulating water outlet pipe and the vacuum pump inlet pipe into the vacuum pump, forming a closed-loop cooling circuit to ensure the normal operation of the vacuum pump.

[0057] In order to provide a continuous and stable negative pressure environment through the vacuum pump during use, combined with the raised design of the inner wall of the defoaming tank, the probability of foam collision is increased, and the foam is promoted to break down quickly. It can efficiently handle foam containing high concentrations of solid powder and metal powder. The inner wall of the defoaming tank 1 is provided with several protrusions 19. The protrusions 19 are hemispherical, with a height of 50mm and a spacing of 100mm.

[0058] The inlet manifold 4 of vacuum pump 3 is connected to the top of the protective tank 2. The inlet manifold 4 has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of vacuum pump 3 through electric valve II5. The outlet end of vacuum pump 3 is connected to the upper part of gas-water separator 6 through the outlet pipe of vacuum pump 3. The vacuum pump self-circulation system provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system.

[0059] Two vacuum pumps are selected, each with a power of 15KW, a maximum gas flow rate of 8.33m³ / min, a speed of 970r / min, a working fluid flow rate of 20L / min, a motor protection rating of IP55, and a motor explosion-proof rating of dIIBT4. The inlet main pipe of vacuum pump 3 is connected to the top of the protective tank. The inlet main pipe has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of vacuum pump 3 via electric valve II5. The outlet end of vacuum pump 3 is connected to the upper part of the gas-liquid separator via the vacuum pump outlet pipe. The vacuum pump self-circulation system provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system.

[0060] Among them, the three-way valve is selected with a DN80 specification, and the connecting pipe is made of seamless steel pipe with specifications of DN32, DN50, DN65, DN80, DN150, etc., according to the requirements of different parts; the flexible joint is made of rubber with a pressure resistance rating of ≥1.6MPa; the drain valve is a manual ball valve, and the specification is matched with the corresponding drain pipe; the vacuum pump inlet valve of the vacuum pump inlet pipe is a DN32 electric ball valve, which is used to control the water inlet of the vacuum pump; the inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger water cooler are respectively connected with DN50 pipe interfaces, which are connected to the corresponding ports of the plate heat exchanger.

[0061] The specific installation and connection procedures for the above equipment are as follows:

[0062] Seamless steel pipes are used to connect the pipelines between the various devices via flange connections. The top of the defoaming tank is connected to the protective tank via a DN80 three-way valve and connecting pipe. The two foam inlets in the upper middle part of the side wall of the defoaming tank are extended to the foam enrichment area of ​​the thickener via DN65 connecting pipes with electric valves.

[0063] The bottom of the defoaming tank is connected to the inlet of the screw pump via a DN200 connecting pipe with an electric valve. The drain pipe at the bottom of the defoaming tank is connected to a DN50 drain valve, and the drain outlet faces the designated waste liquid collection area.

[0064] The vacuum pump inlet main pipe (DN80) is connected to the top of the protective tank. The two branch pipes (DN50) of the main pipe are connected to the inlets of the two vacuum pumps respectively through electric valve II. The outlet end of the vacuum pump is connected to the upper part of the gas-water separator through the DN50 exhaust pipe.

[0065] The end of the circulating water outlet pipe (DN25) at the lower side wall of the gas-water separator, away from the gas-water separator, is connected to the plate heat exchanger. After passing through the plate heat exchanger, the water enters the vacuum pump through the circulating water outlet pipe and the vacuum pump inlet pipe to form a closed-loop circulating cooling circuit.

[0066] The screw pump outlet is connected to the mineral processing production system via a DN200 return pipe, enabling the recycling and reuse of defoamed materials.

[0067] The electrical connections between the PLC control system and the electric valves, vacuum pumps, screw pumps, flow meters, pressure sensors, and plate heat exchanger regulating valves must be secure, well-insulated, and the motor wiring must meet explosion-proof requirements.

[0068] The specific commissioning and operation procedures for the above equipment are as follows: Pre-power-on checks: Check the installation and fixation of each piece of equipment to ensure there is no looseness; check the switch status of pipeline valves, close the drain valve, and open the circulating water valve and vacuum pump inlet valve; check whether the electrical wiring connections are correct and the grounding is reliable; No-load commissioning: Start the PLC control system, switch to manual mode, and start the vacuum pump and screw pump sequentially via the touch screen display. Observe whether the equipment runs smoothly, whether there is any abnormal noise, and whether the motor current is within the rated range; test whether the switching action of each electric valve is flexible and accurate, and whether the detection data of the flow meter and pressure sensor are displayed normally; Load commissioning: Inject circulating water into the gas-water separator to the designated level, and replenish water through the water inlet to ensure normal circulation of the circulating water system; set the relevant parameters of the PLC control system, and set the negative pressure value to - The pressure threshold is set to 0.06 MPa, the flow rate threshold is set to 80 m³ / h, the pressure threshold is set to 0.8 MPa, and the circulating water temperature is set to 25℃. The vacuum pump is started to create a stable negative pressure environment inside the defoaming tank. The electric valve at the foam inlet is opened to allow the foam from the thickener to be drawn into the defoaming tank under negative pressure. The foam bursting is observed, and parameters such as flow rate, pressure, and temperature are monitored via the touchscreen display. The negative pressure value of the vacuum pump and the speed of the screw pump are adjusted to ensure that the material flow rate after defoaming remains stable within the set range.

[0069] The operator starts the equipment via the touch screen and selects the automatic mode (default). The PLC control system automatically loads the preset parameters. After the vacuum pump starts, the system automatically adjusts the negative pressure value to the set range, the foam inlet electric valve opens automatically, and the foam begins to be sucked into the defoaming tank.

[0070] Operators can monitor parameters such as flow rate, pressure inside the protection tank, circulating water temperature, on / off status of each electric valve, and screw pump speed in real time through a touch screen display. If any parameters fluctuate abnormally, the system will automatically issue an alarm.

[0071] The PLC control system dynamically adjusts the negative pressure of the vacuum pump based on the material flow rate detected by the flow meter. When the flow rate is lower than the set threshold, the negative pressure is increased; when the flow rate is higher than the set threshold, the negative pressure is appropriately decreased. Based on the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, the system adjusts the number of opening electric valves on the inlet pipe. If the pressure is too high, the number of opening electric valves is increased to start the standby vacuum pump; if the pressure is too low, the number of opening electric valves is decreased to shut down the standby vacuum pump. At the same time, the system automatically adjusts the speed of the screw pump according to the flow rate to ensure timely material discharge and prevent accumulation in the defoaming tank.

[0072] The regulating valve of the plate heat exchanger automatically adjusts the cooling medium flow rate based on the circulating water temperature detection data. When the circulating water temperature is higher than 25℃, the cooling medium flow rate is increased to accelerate cooling; when the temperature is lower than 25℃, the cooling medium flow rate is reduced to save energy.

[0073] For sewage discharge, after the equipment stops running, switch to manual mode, close the foam inlet electric valve, vacuum pump, and screw pump, open the sewage discharge valves of the defoaming tank, protection tank, and gas-liquid separator to discharge the impurities deposited in the tanks, close the sewage discharge valves after sewage discharge is completed, and resume automatic operation.

[0074] In the shutdown operation, when the ore processing system stops running or defoaming is not required, a shutdown command is issued through the touch screen. The PLC control system sequentially closes the foam inlet electric valve, vacuum pump, and screw pump. After the equipment has completely stopped, the circulating water valve and vacuum pump inlet valve are closed.

[0075] A method for applying a defoaming system to eliminate foam in a mineral processing step includes the following steps:

[0076] After starting the equipment, relevant parameters such as negative pressure value, flow threshold, and pressure threshold are set through the PLC control system. Automatic or manual mode can be selected.

[0077] The vacuum pump starts and provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system through the self-circulation system, creating a negative pressure environment inside the defoaming tank.

[0078] Open the connecting pipe with the electric valve in the upper middle part of the side wall of the defoaming tank, and the foam will be sucked into the defoaming tank under negative pressure;

[0079] When the foam enters the defoaming tank, the pressure difference increases due to the negative pressure inside the tank, and the foam collides with the protrusions on the inner wall of the tank, causing the foam to burst rapidly.

[0080] The ruptured material settles at the bottom of the defoaming tank and enters the screw pump inlet through a connecting pipe with an electric valve.

[0081] After the screw pump pressurizes the material, it is reinjected into the mineral processing system through the return pipe to achieve material recycling.

[0082] The gas and water discharged from the vacuum pump enter the gas-water separator. The separated water remains in the gas-water separator, while the gas is discharged through the exhaust port.

[0083] The circulating water forms a closed loop between the plate heat exchanger, the gas-water separator, and the vacuum pump. The plate heat exchanger regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium through a regulating valve to ensure that the circulating water temperature is stable below 25°C, providing good conditions for the operation of the vacuum pump.

[0084] During equipment operation, flow meters and pressure sensors detect relevant parameters in real time and transmit the data to the PLC control system. The PLC control system automatically adjusts the negative pressure value of the vacuum pump, the number of electric valves opened, the number of vacuum pumps started, and the speed of the screw pump according to preset parameters to ensure stable defoaming effect. Operators can monitor the equipment operation status in real time through the touch screen and make manual intervention adjustments when necessary.

[0085] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0086] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing, characterized in that, It includes a defoaming tank (1) and a protective tank (2). The top of the defoaming tank (1) is connected to the protective tank (2) through a three-way valve and a connecting pipe. The upper part of the side wall of the defoaming tank (1) is provided with a foam inlet through a connecting pipe with an electric valve I. It also includes a vacuum pump (3), the inlet manifold (4) of the vacuum pump (3) is connected to the top side of the protective tank (2), and the inlet manifold (4) has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump (3) through an electric valve II (5). The outlet of the vacuum pump (3) enters the upper side of the gas-water separator (6) and communicates with the gas-water separator (6). The lower part of the side wall of the gas-water separator (6) is connected to the circulating water inlet pipe (7), and the circulating water outlet pipe (7) is connected to the vacuum pump inlet pipe (8). The end of the circulating water inlet pipe (8) away from the gas-water separator (6) is connected to the plate heat exchanger (9). After passing through the plate heat exchanger (9), it enters the vacuum pump (3) through the circulating water outlet pipe (10) and the vacuum pump inlet pipe (8) to form a closed-loop circulating cooling circuit. The bottom of the defoaming tank (1) is connected to the inlet of the screw pump (11) through a connecting pipe with an electric valve III. The defoaming tank (1) is provided with a defoaming tank drain pipe (12) at the center of the bottom. The discharge port of the screw pump (11) is connected to the end of the mineral processing production system to realize the recovery of the defoamed material.

2. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas-water separator (6) has a drain outlet (13) at the bottom, a drain pipe (14) connected to the drain outlet (13), a drain valve (15) on the drain pipe (14), and an exhaust outlet (16) at the top of the bottom of the gas-water separator (6).

3. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The defoaming tank drain pipe (12) is equipped with a defoaming tank drain valve IV. The gas-water separator (6) has an overflow pipe (17) which is located on the upper part of the side wall of the gas-water separator (6). The end of the overflow pipe (17) is connected to the drain pipe (14). The gas-water separator (6) is equipped with a water inlet (18) which is located on the upper side of the gas-water separator (6). The height of the water inlet (18) connected to the upper part of the side wall of the gas-water separator (6) is lower than the height of the overflow pipe (17) connected to the gas-water separator (6).

4. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a PLC control system (21), a flow meter (22) and a pressure sensor (23). The flow meter (22) is installed at the outlet of the screw pump (11), and the pressure sensor (23) is installed on the tank body of the protective tank (2) or on the inlet manifold (4) of the vacuum pump (3). The PLC control system (21) is connected to the electric valve II (5), vacuum pump (3), screw pump (11), flow meter (22) and pressure sensor (23) respectively. It can dynamically adjust the negative pressure value of vacuum pump (3) according to the material flow rate after defoaming detected by flow meter (22), and adjust the number of openings of electric valve II (5) on the inlet pipe, the number of starts of vacuum pump (3) and the speed of screw pump (11) according to the pressure value detected by pressure sensor (23).

5. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The defoaming tank (1) has a volume of 3.0 m³. The defoaming tank (1) is a cylindrical structure. Both the cylinder and the end cap are made of Q345R steel. The shell side design pressure is ≥1.2 MPa. The cylinder wall thickness is 10 mm and the end cap wall thickness is 10 mm. The inner wall of the defoaming tank is uniformly coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating.

6. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The protective tank (2) has a volume of 1.0 m³. The protective tank (2) is a cylindrical structure. The cylindrical body and the end cap are made of Q345R steel. The shell pressure is ≥1.2 MPa. The inner wall is coated with a 0.2 mm thick wear-resistant ceramic coating.

7. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 6, characterized in that, The plate heat exchanger (9) is a detachable plate heat exchanger made of stainless steel with a heat exchange area of ​​5-8㎡. The water cooler inlet of the plate heat exchanger (9) is equipped with a regulating valve, which is electrically connected to the PLC control system to control the water temperature below 25℃.

8. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the defoaming tank (1) is provided with several protrusions (19), the protrusions (19) are hemispherical, the height of the protrusions (19) is 50mm, and the spacing between them is 100mm.

9. The defoaming system for eliminating foam in mineral processing according to claim 8, characterized in that, Two vacuum pumps (3) are provided, with a power of 15KW, a maximum gas volume of 8.33m³ / min, a speed of 970r / min, a working fluid flow rate of 20L / min, a motor protection level of IP55, and a motor explosion-proof level of dIIBT4. The inlet manifold (4) of the vacuum pump (3) is connected to the top of the protective tank (2). The inlet manifold (4) has two branches, which are connected to the inlet of the vacuum pump (3) through the electric valve II (5). The outlet end of the vacuum pump (3) is connected to the upper part of the gas-water separator (6) through the outlet pipe of the vacuum pump (3). The vacuum pump self-circulation system provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system.

10. A method for applying the defoaming system for eliminating foam in a mineral processing process according to claim 9, characterized in that, Specifically, the steps include the following: After starting the equipment, relevant parameters such as negative pressure value, flow threshold, and pressure threshold are set through the PLC control system. Automatic or manual mode can be selected. The vacuum pump starts and provides a continuous and stable negative pressure condition for the defoaming system through the self-circulation system, creating a negative pressure environment inside the defoaming tank. Open the connecting pipe with the electric valve in the upper middle part of the side wall of the defoaming tank, and the foam will be sucked into the defoaming tank under negative pressure; When the foam enters the defoaming tank, the pressure difference increases due to the negative pressure inside the tank, and the foam collides with the protrusions on the inner wall of the tank, causing the foam to burst rapidly. The ruptured material settles at the bottom of the defoaming tank and enters the screw pump inlet through a connecting pipe with an electric valve. After the screw pump pressurizes the material, it is reinjected into the mineral processing system through the return pipe to achieve material recycling. The gas and water discharged from the vacuum pump enter the gas-water separator. The separated water remains in the gas-water separator, while the gas is discharged through the exhaust port. The circulating water forms a closed loop between the plate heat exchanger, the gas-water separator, and the vacuum pump. The plate heat exchanger regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium through a regulating valve to ensure that the circulating water temperature is stable below 25°C, providing good conditions for the operation of the vacuum pump. During equipment operation, flow meters and pressure sensors detect relevant parameters in real time and transmit the data to the PLC control system. The PLC control system automatically adjusts the negative pressure value of the vacuum pump, the number of electric valves opened, the number of vacuum pumps started, and the speed of the screw pump according to preset parameters to ensure stable defoaming effect. Operators can monitor the equipment operation status in real time through the touch screen and make manual intervention adjustments when necessary.

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