Gas Recirculation Loop Flushing System for Mineral Flotation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas recirculation systems in mineral flotation processes require expensive and large gas buffer tanks to manage volume fluctuations, which is inefficient and costly, especially when using inert gases like nitrogen.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allows a small fraction of recirculating flotation gas to bypass the gas recirculation loop through an expulsion line to the atmosphere, with a flushing system using a suction line and water lock to control gas flow and prevent backflow, eliminating the need for a gas buffer tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas buffer tank is used to manage volume fluctuations in a recirculation system, then the system can maintain stable pressure and handle gas volume changes, but the system becomes more expensive and complex due to the large buffer tank requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas volume management function from a large buffer tank and implements it through a combination of a small buffer tank and a flushing system. The flushing system allows controlled release of excess gas to the atmosphere, eliminating the need for a large buffer tank while maintaining pressure stability and handling volume fluctuations effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flushing system as an intermediary mechanism between the recirculation loop and the atmosphere. This flushing system, controlled by a control valve, acts as a mediator to release excess gas volume and prevent overpressurization, thereby maintaining system reliability without requiring a large buffer tank
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a hermetically sealed gas collection and supplying system is used to contain harmful byproduct gases, then safety is improved, but the system requires more complex sealing and monitoring infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful flushed gas into a beneficial function by using it to verify the integrity of the recirculation system. The flushed gas serves as an indicator to detect leaks or failures in the hermetically sealed system, transforming a potential safety hazard into a diagnostic tool that enhances system reliability without requiring additional complex sealing infrastructure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient recirculation of gases while maintaining controlled pressure and preventing the release of harmful byproducts, reducing costs and operational complexity by managing volume fluctuations without the need for large buffer tanks.
Implementation Method 1
a suction line (84) comprising a water lock (83), or means, other than a water lock, for restricting gas flow through the suction line and preventing back flow of unpurified gas to the atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling gas circulation in a mineral flotation process in a system including one or more flotation cell unit(s) with an apparatus including a gas recirculation loop, a flushing system including an expulsion line for connecting pressure side of the gas recirculation loop to atmosphere and a suction line including a water lock, or means, other than a water lock, for restricting the gas flow and preventing back flow of unpurified gas to the atmosphere, for connecting suction side of the gas recirculation loop to the atmosphere.