US 10,486,168 B2Granted

Flotation process and facility for the implementation thereof

AssigneeKadant Lamort

InventorStephan Pottier

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Abstract

The serial multistage flotation process for eliminating hydrophobic particles from a stream of materials to be treated includes a step of introducing into one stage a layer of materials to be treated, originating either from a higher state or directly from the inlet of the system. There is an aeration step in which air extracted from the lower stages is mixed, diffused and dispersed in the layer of materials to be treated then escapes to the higher stage or to a foam discharge zone. After the aeration step, there is a deaeration step in which air is no longer introduced into the layer of materials to be treated before the departure thereof from one stage and that enables the discharge of the dispersed air to the higher stages or in the case of the highest stage to foam discharge zone. There is also a step of recovering the deaerated material.

A multistage flotation facility, comprising:

an enclosure being comprised of a first stage and a second stage;
a first separator being comprised of a first aeration portion having first aeration and mixing openings, a first mixing and discharge portion having first mixing and discharge openings, and a first sealed floor portion, said first mixing and discharge portion being between said first sealed floor portion and said first aeration portion,
wherein said first aeration portion defines a first aeration zone of said first stage, wherein said first mixing and discharge portion defines a first mixing zone of said first stage, wherein said first aeration zone and said first mixing and discharge portion defines a first discharging zone of said first stage, and wherein said first sealed floor portion defines a first deaeration zone of said first stage;
a second separator being comprised of a second aeration portion having second aeration and mixing openings, a second mixing and discharge portion having second mixing and discharge openings, and a second sealed floor portion, said second mixing and discharge portion being between said second sealed floor portion and said second aeration portion,
wherein said second aeration portion defines a second aeration zone of said second stage, wherein said second mixing and discharge portion defines a second mixing zone of said second stage, wherein said second aeration zone and said second mixing and discharge portion defines a second discharging zone of said second stage, and wherein said second sealed floor portion defines a second deaeration zone of said second stage;
a foam collector being positioned above said first separator so as to define a foam discharge zone;
a first inlet orifice being in fluid connection with said first aeration zone;
a first outlet orifice being in fluid connection with said first deaeration zone so as to flow material through said first stage from said first inlet orifice to said first outlet orifice;
a second inlet orifice being in fluid connection with said second aeration zone and said first outlet orifice;
a second outlet orifice being in fluid connection with said second deaeration zone so as to flow material through said second stage from said second inlet orifice to said second outlet orifice;
a last outlet orifice being in fluid connection with said second outlet orifice so as to flow material through said enclosure.

8 more elements

Abstract

Claims17