Flotation pipeline system suitable for copper-cobalt ores with various properties

Abstract

The utility model relates to a flotation pipeline system suitable for copper-cobalt ores with various properties. The flotation pipeline system comprises a stirring barrel, a roughing unit, a concentration unit, a slurry pump and a valve, the stirring barrels comprise a stirring barrel I and a stirring barrel II, the roughing units comprise a roughing unit I and a roughing unit VII, the concentration units comprise a concentration unit I and a concentration unit III, and the slurry pumps comprise a slurry pump I and a slurry pump IV; according to the copper-cobalt ore flotation device, through switching of the ore pulp pipelines and the valves, selection of four different-property copper-cobalt ores including high-acid-consumption mixed ores, low-acid-consumption mixed ores, high-acid-consumption oxidized ores and single sulphide ores can be achieved, the flotation process is high in adaptability to the different-property copper-cobalt ores, and a pipeline system is easy to transform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of mineral processing technology, specifically relating to a flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores with various properties. Background Technology

[0002] In metal mine development, the properties of ore often differ across different steps and extraction sections within a mining pit. Based on three properties—sulfuric acid consumption in the hydrometallurgical leaching process, the degree of oxidation of copper and cobalt, and the copper and cobalt grade of the ore—copper-cobalt ores can be classified into four main types: high-acid-consumption mixed ores, low-acid-consumption mixed ores, high-acid-consumption oxidized ores, and single-sulfide ores. To improve the overall economic efficiency of copper-cobalt mining projects, most mine designs adopt a combined beneficiation and smelting approach. This involves first performing flotation on copper-cobalt ores that are less economically viable through direct hydrometallurgical leaching. This achieves one or more objectives, such as enriching copper and cobalt elements, reducing acid consumption in the leached ore, and recovering unusable copper sulfides from leaching, thereby maximizing the economic benefits of the copper-cobalt mining project. However, copper-cobalt ore flotation processes are often designed for ores with specific properties, which is insufficient for beneficiation processes adapting to complex and variable ore properties. Utility Model Content

[0003] This utility model provides a flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores of various properties. By switching the slurry pipeline and valves, it can meet the beneficiation needs of four different types of copper-cobalt ores: high acid consumption mixed ore, low acid consumption mixed ore, high acid consumption oxidized ore, and single sulfide ore. The flotation process is highly adaptable to copper-cobalt ores of different properties, and the pipeline system is easy to modify.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, this utility model provides a flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores with various properties, characterized in that it includes: a stirring tank, a roughing unit, a cleaning unit, and a slurry pump;

[0005] The mixing tank consists of mixing tank I and mixing tank II;

[0006] The coarse selection unit includes coarse selection unit I to coarse selection unit VII;

[0007] The Featured Units comprise Featured Units I through Featured Units III;

[0008] Slurry pumps include slurry pump I through slurry pump IV;

[0009] The raw ore slurry enters mixing tank I through valve I, and enters mixing tank II through valve II;

[0010] Mixing tank I is connected to the feed inlet of flotation unit I through a pipeline, and roughing unit I is connected to roughing unit II through an intermediate tank;

[0011] The foam tanks of coarse selection unit I and coarse selection unit II are connected to the feed inlet of fine selection unit I via a pipeline;

[0012] One of the intermediate boxes of coarse separation unit II is connected to mixing tank II via valve III, and the other is connected to slurry pump III via valves IV and V in sequence;

[0013] Mixing tank II is connected to the feed inlet of coarse separation unit III by a pipeline, and coarse separation unit III is connected to the feed inlet of coarse separation unit IV via an intermediate box by a pipeline;

[0014] Roughing units IV through VII are connected sequentially by intermediate boxes. The intermediate box of roughing unit VII is connected to slurry pump IV via a pipeline. The outlet of slurry pump IV is product III.

[0015] The foam tanks of coarse separation unit III to coarse separation unit VII are connected to slurry pump III via pipeline and valve VI.

[0016] One outlet of slurry pump III is connected to mixing tank I via valve VII, and the other outlet is connected to product II via valve VIII;

[0017] The foam tank of the fine selection unit I is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine of the fine selection unit II, and the foam tank of the fine selection unit II is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine of the fine selection unit III.

[0018] The selected unit III foam tank is connected to slurry pump II via pipeline to obtain product I;

[0019] The intermediate tank of Select Unit I is connected to Slurry Pump I and returns to Mixing Tank I.

[0020] Beneficial effects: Compared with the existing technology, this utility model can separate copper and cobalt ores of different properties by adding only some switching pipes, gravity flow pipes and valves while retaining the original main flotation equipment. The flotation system has a strong adaptability to the separation of copper and cobalt ores of multiple properties. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores with various properties. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the purpose, content and advantages of this utility model clearer, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below.

[0023] This utility model proposes a flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores with various properties, comprising: a mixing tank, a roughing unit, a cleaning unit, a slurry pump, and valves;

[0024] The mixing tank includes Mixing Tank I and Mixing Tank II.

[0025] The roughing unit comprises roughing units I through VII. Each roughing unit consists of three flotation machines (with froth tanks) and one intermediate tank, and the froth concentrate from each roughing unit is combined. The first flotation machine in roughing units I and III includes the feed inlet.

[0026] The refining unit comprises Refining Unit I through Refining Unit III. Each refining unit consists of one flotation machine (with a foam tank) and one intermediate tank, and each refining flotation machine includes a feed inlet.

[0027] The slurry pumps include slurry pump I through slurry pump IV.

[0028] The valves include valves I through VIII.

[0029] The raw ore slurry enters mixing tank I through valve I and mixing tank II through valve II. Mixing tank I is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in roughing unit I via a pipeline. Roughing unit I is connected to roughing unit II via an intermediate tank. The froth tanks of roughing units I and II are connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in cleaning unit I via a combined pipeline. The intermediate tank of roughing unit II is connected to mixing tank II via valve III and to slurry pump III via valves IV and V. Mixing tank II is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in roughing unit III via a pipeline. Roughing unit III is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in roughing unit IV via the intermediate tank. Roughing units IV through VII are connected sequentially via intermediate tanks. The intermediate tank of roughing unit VII is connected to slurry pump IV via a pipeline. The outlet of slurry pump IV is product III. The froth tanks of roughing units III through VII are connected to slurry pump III via a combined pipeline and valve VI. One outlet of slurry pump III is connected to mixing tank I via valve VII, and the other outlet is connected to product II via valve VIII.

[0030] The froth tank of Refining Unit I is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in Refining Unit II, and the froth tank of Refining Unit II is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine in Refining Unit III. The froth tank of Refining Unit III is connected by pipeline to slurry pump II to obtain product I. The intermediate tank of Refining Unit I is connected to slurry pump I to return the product to mixing tank I.

[0031] (1) High acid consumption mixed ore beneficiation

[0032] The beneficiation of high acid-consuming mixed ores employs a process of first carrying out sulfidation beneficiation to achieve rough separation and fine enrichment of sulfide copper-cobalt ores, followed by oxidation beneficiation to remove high acid-consuming substances. Under this process, the valve opening / closing status of the pipeline system is as follows: Valves I and III, and Valves VI and VIII are open; Valves II, IV, V, and VII are closed.

[0033] Sulfide beneficiation: The high acid consumption mixed ore slurry enters the mixing tank I, and then sequentially enters the roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide beneficiation. The froth products from roughing units I and II are combined and then enter the cleaning unit I. The cleaning froth product, processed in the order of cleaning unit I → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit III, yields product I, which is the copper-cobalt sulfide concentrate. The cleaning tailings are returned to the mixing tank I via the slurry pump I in the order of cleaning unit III → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit I, forming a closed loop.

[0034] Oxidative beneficiation: Tailings from roughing unit II enter agitation tank II via valve III from the intermediate tank, and then sequentially enter beneficiation units III through VII for oxidative beneficiation. The froth products from beneficiation units III through VII are combined and then transported via valve VI by slurry pump III through valve VIII. The resulting product II, a copper-cobalt oxide concentrate, is sent for wet leaching. The tailings slurry from roughing unit VII is transported via slurry pump IV from the intermediate tank, and product III, oxidative flotation tailings, is sent to the tailings dam.

[0035] (2) Low acid consumption mixed ore beneficiation

[0036] The beneficiation of low-acid-consumption mixed ores employs a sulfidation process to first separate and concentrate the sulfide copper-cobalt ore. The tailings after sulfidation are low-acid-consumption oxidized copper-cobalt ore, which, to minimize metal loss, are directly sent to the wet leaching process without further flotation. In this process, the valves in the pipeline system are in the following states: Valves I and IV, and Valves V and VIII are open; Valves II, III, VI, and VII are closed.

[0037] Sulfide beneficiation: Similar to the beneficiation process for high acid consumption mixed ore, the raw ore slurry from the high acid consumption mixed ore enters mixing tank I, and then sequentially enters roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide beneficiation. The froth products from roughing unit I and roughing unit II are combined and then enter cleaning unit I. The cleaning froth product, processed in the order of cleaning unit I → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit III, yields product I, which is the copper-cobalt sulfide concentrate. The cleaning tailings are returned to mixing tank I via slurry pump I in the order of cleaning unit III → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit I, forming a closed loop.

[0038] After the sulfidation separation is completed, the tailings from roughing unit II are sent to slurry pump III via pipeline through valves IV and V, and then to product II via valve VIII. At this time, product II is a low-acid-consumption copper-cobalt oxide ore, which is directly sent to wet leaching.

[0039] (3) High acid consumption oxidation ore beneficiation

[0040] The high acid-consuming oxidation ore beneficiation process employs a "direct oxidation flotation" process to remove high acid-consuming substances, eliminating the need for sulfide ore separation and enrichment. Under this process, the valves in the pipeline system are in the following open / closed states: Valve II, Valve VI, and Valve VIII are open; Valve I, Valve III, Valve IV, Valve V, and Valve VII are closed.

[0041] High-acid-consumption oxidized ore enters mixing tank II via valve II, and then sequentially enters beneficiation units III through VII for oxidative beneficiation. The froth products from beneficiation units III through VII are combined and then transported via valve VI by slurry pump III through valve VIII. The resulting product II, a rough concentrate of oxidized copper-cobalt, is sent for wet leaching. The tailings slurry from roughing unit VII is transported via intermediate tank by slurry pump IV, and product III, oxidative flotation tailings, is sent to the tailings pond.

[0042] (4) Single sulfide ore beneficiation

[0043] The single sulfide ore beneficiation adopts a flotation process of "sulfide beneficiation, scavenging and recovery". Under this process, the valve opening and closing status of the pipeline system is as follows: valve I, valve III, valve VI, and valve VII are open; valve II, valve IV, valve V, and valve VIII are closed.

[0044] Sulfide beneficiation: The raw sulfide ore slurry enters mixing tank I, and then sequentially enters roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide beneficiation. The froth products from roughing unit I and roughing unit II are combined and then enter cleaning unit I. The cleaned froth products are processed in the order of cleaning unit I → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit III to obtain product I, which is sulfide copper-cobalt concentrate. The cleaned tailings are returned to mixing tank I via slurry pump I in the order of cleaning unit III → cleaning unit II → cleaning unit I, forming a closed loop.

[0045] The scavenging process includes an additional recovery stage: the tailings slurry from roughing unit II enters mixing tank II from the intermediate tank via valve III, and then sequentially enters separation units III through VII for sulfide scavenging operations. The foam products separated from separation units III through VII are combined and returned to mixing tank I via valve VI by slurry pump III through valve VII, forming a closed loop.

[0046] To more accurately describe the flotation pipeline system introduced in this utility model, the following terms are explained:

[0047] High acid-consuming mixed ore: Copper and cobalt elements are present in mixed forms as oxides and sulfides. It has a high content of acid-consuming substances and a high sulfuric acid consumption in the wet leaching process.

[0048] Low acid consumption mixed ore: Copper and cobalt elements are present in mixed properties in the form of oxides and sulfides. It has low acid consumption and low sulfuric acid consumption in wet leaching process.

[0049] High acid-consuming oxide ores: Copper and cobalt elements exist in the form of oxides, with high content of acid-consuming substances, resulting in high sulfuric acid consumption in wet leaching processes.

[0050] Single sulfide ore: Copper and cobalt elements are present in the form of sulfides, and the wet leaching process at normal temperature and pressure cannot leach copper and cobalt elements in this type of ore.

[0051] Example 1

[0052] A copper-cobalt mine development project was designed to use a combined beneficiation and smelting process. This process first involves flotation to discard high-acid-consumption, low-grade mixed copper-cobalt ores, followed by leaching of the oxidized copper-cobalt concentrate, simultaneously yielding some sulfide copper-cobalt concentrate. However, actual production revealed significant differences in the properties of copper-cobalt ores from different stops and sections, primarily categorized into four types: high-acid-consumption mixed ores, low-acid-consumption mixed ores, high-acid-consumption oxidized ores, and single-sulfide ores. The existing mixed-ores flotation process was unsuitable for separating copper-cobalt ores with diverse properties. This invention addresses this issue by employing a flotation pipeline system. While retaining the original main equipment, only additional switching pipelines, gravity-flow pipelines, and valves are added to achieve the separation of copper-cobalt ores with different properties. All slurry pumps in the process are variable frequency pumps, effectively adapting to changes in slurry flow rate after process switching, demonstrating strong practicality.

[0053] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A flotation pipeline system applicable to copper-cobalt ores with various properties, characterized in that, include: Mixing tank, coarsening unit, cleaning unit, slurry pump; The mixing tank consists of mixing tank I and mixing tank II; The coarse selection unit includes coarse selection unit I to coarse selection unit VII; The Featured Units comprise Featured Units I through Featured Units III; Slurry pumps include slurry pump I through slurry pump IV; The raw ore slurry enters mixing tank I through valve I, and enters mixing tank II through valve II; Mixing tank I is connected to the feed inlet of flotation unit I through a pipeline, and roughing unit I is connected to roughing unit II through an intermediate tank; The foam tanks of coarse selection unit I and coarse selection unit II are connected to the feed inlet of fine selection unit I via a pipeline; One of the intermediate boxes of coarse separation unit II is connected to mixing tank II via valve III, and the other is connected to slurry pump III via valves IV and V in sequence; Mixing tank II is connected to the feed inlet of coarse separation unit III by a pipeline, and coarse separation unit III is connected to the feed inlet of coarse separation unit IV via an intermediate box by a pipeline; Roughing units IV through VII are connected sequentially by intermediate boxes. The intermediate box of roughing unit VII is connected to slurry pump IV via a pipeline. The outlet of slurry pump IV is product III. The foam tanks of coarse separation unit III to coarse separation unit VII are connected to slurry pump III via pipeline and valve VI. One outlet of slurry pump III is connected to mixing tank I via valve VII, and the other outlet is connected to product II via valve VIII; The foam tank of the fine selection unit I is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine of the fine selection unit II, and the foam tank of the fine selection unit II is connected to the feed inlet of the flotation machine of the fine selection unit III. The selected unit III foam tank is connected to slurry pump II via pipeline to obtain product I; The intermediate tank of Select Unit I is connected to Slurry Pump I and returns to Mixing Tank I.

2. The flotation pipeline system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each roughing unit consists of 3 flotation machines and 1 intermediate tank.

3. The flotation pipeline system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first flotation machine in roughing unit I and roughing unit III includes a feed inlet.

4. The flotation pipeline system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each refining unit consists of one flotation machine and one intermediate tank.

5. The flotation pipeline system according to claim 4, characterized in that: Each fine flotation machine includes a feed inlet.

6. The flotation pipeline system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: Applicable to the beneficiation of single sulfide ores; valves I, III, VI, and VII are open; valves II, IV, V, and VIII are closed. The raw slurry of a single sulfide ore enters the mixing tank I, and then enters the roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide separation. The foam products are combined and then enter the cleaning unit I. The cleaned foam products are then passed through cleaning units I, cleaning units II and cleaning units III to select product I, which is sulfide copper-cobalt concentrate. Tailings from roughing unit II enter mixing tank II via valve III, and then sequentially enter roughing units III through VII for sulfide scavenging. The foam products are combined and then returned to mixing tank I via valve VI by slurry pump III through valve VII, forming a closed loop.

7. The flotation pipeline system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: This system is suitable for the beneficiation of mixed ores with high acid consumption. Valves I, III, VI, and VIII are open; valves II, IV, V, and VII are closed. The raw ore slurry of the mixed ores with high acid consumption enters mixing tank I and then sequentially enters roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide beneficiation. The foam products are combined and then enter cleaning unit I. The cleaned foam products are sequentially passed through cleaning unit I, cleaning unit II, and cleaning unit III to select product I, which is copper-cobalt sulfide concentrate. Tailings from roughing unit II enter mixing tank II via valve III, and then sequentially enter roughing units III through roughing unit VII for oxidation separation. The foam products are combined and then transported by slurry pump III through valve VIII via valve VI to obtain product II, which is copper-cobalt oxide crude concentrate. The slurry from the tailings tank of roughing unit VII is transported by slurry pump IV, and product III is oxidative flotation tailings.

8. The flotation pipeline system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: Suitable for the beneficiation of mixed ores with low acid consumption; valves I, IV, V, and VIII are open; valves II, III, VI, and VII are closed. The low-acid-consumption mixed ore slurry enters the mixing tank I, and then enters the roughing unit I and roughing unit II for sulfide separation. The foam products are combined and then enter the cleaning unit I. The cleaned foam products pass through the cleaning unit I, cleaning unit II and cleaning unit III in sequence to select product I, which is copper-cobalt sulfide concentrate. The tailings from roughing unit II are sent to slurry pump III via valves IV and V, and then to product II, a low-acid-consumption copper-cobalt oxide ore, via valve VIII.

9. The flotation pipeline system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: Suitable for the beneficiation of high acid consumption oxidized ores; valves II, VI, and VIII are open; valves I, III, IV, V, and VII are closed. High acid consumption oxidized ore enters mixing tank II through valve II, and then sequentially enters roughing units III to VII for oxidation separation. The foam products are combined and then transported by slurry pump III through valve VIII via valve VI to obtain product II, which is copper-cobalt oxide crude concentrate. The slurry from the tailings tank of roughing unit VII is transported by slurry pump IV, and product III is oxidative flotation tailings.

10. The flotation pipeline system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: All of the slurry pumps I to IV are variable frequency pumps.

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