Froth flotation apparatus

Abstract

A column flotation cell includes a fluid vessel, an exteriorly mounted microbubble generator, conduits for conducting a pressurized mixture of bubbles and liquid from the generator to the vessel, features for inhibiting the coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles prior to their introduction into the vessel, and an arrangement for introducing the bubble/liquid mixture into the vessel and for distributing the mixture uniformly throughout the vessel cross-section. Coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles are inhibited by limiting the length of the mixture-conducting conduits, and by designing the conduits so as to provide a substantially uniform and continuous flow diameter. The uniform and continuous nature of the flow diameter reduces local disturbances of fluid flow which would otherwise occur at discontinuities in the flow path, tending to cause coalescence and enlargement of the bubbles. The inside diameter of the conduit on the downstream end is not greater than the inside diameter on the upstream end so as to maintain the pressure and velocity of the mixture flow substantially constant. A plurality of conduits are preferably used for conducting the mixture from the bubble generator to the vessel. The ends of the conduits within the vessel are flexible and are positioned so as to provide uniform distribution of the bubble/liquid mixture through the vessel cross-section.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.