Flotation machine rotor and method of operation

A method for operating a flotation machine rotor, comprising:

• providing a rotor forming part of a flotation machine, said rotor including a body portion defining an interior area adapted to communicate with a gas source, a plurality of rotor blades projecting radially outwardly from said body portion, at least one aperture defined by said body portion and in gaseous communication with said interior area, said aperture being positioned between successive rotor blades, said at least one aperture being defined in-part by a lower peripheral edge, and at least one lip projecting radially outwardly from said lower peripheral edge;
• introducing a liquid/solid slurry into said flotation machine;
• causing said rotor to spin about a central axis so that solid particles forming part of said slurry move upwardly along said body portion and contact said lip projecting at least a portion of said solid particles radially away from said rotor and in approximate alignment with said aperture;
• causing gas to flow from said aperture, thereby forming bubbles defining a surface upon which a portion of said solid particles, that have passed over said lip, contact and are entrained thereon;
• inducing a venturi-like effect to pull greater quantities of gas through said aperture by virtue of a relative configuration of said aperture and said lip;
• forming a froth comprising said bubbles having said solid particles entrained thereon;
• and
• removing said froth from said flotation machine.

A flotation machine rotor comprising:

• a body portion defining an interior area adapted to communicate with a gas source;
• at least one rotor blade projecting radially outwardly from said body portion;
• at least one aperture defined by said body portion and in gaseous communication with said interior area, said aperture being positioned adjacent to said at least one rotor blade and being defined in-part by a lower peripheral edge;
• at least one lip projecting radially outwardly from said lower peripheral edge so that, during operation of said rotor, solid particles forming part of a solid/liquid slurry travel away from said body portion and in approximate alignment with said aperture so that gas flowing from said aperture creates bubbles in said slurry that entrain at least a portion of said solid particles, said lip and said aperture being so dimensioned as to create a venturi-like effect pulling greater quantities of gas through said aperture.