Method and device for monitoring the operation of a flotation cell
AssigneeGeologian Tutkimuskeskus GTK
InventorsPekka Parvinen, Jouko Kallioinen, Veikko Eronen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of and a device for monitoring the operation of a flotation cell. In the method according to the invention, the electrical conductivity of the material (3, 7) in the flotation cell (1) is measured to observe any variations in the movement, the properties and/or the inner structure of the material. The device (10) according to the invention comprises a number of measuring sensors (11, 12, 13, 14) of electrical conductivity, which are to be fitted in the flotation cell (1) and embedded in the material (3, 7) contained in it for measuring its electrical conductivity and, on the basis of the conductivity values, defining the state and/or the properties of the material.
Claims10
A method of monitoring the operation of a flotation cell containing slurry and a froth bed characterized in that the electrical conductivity of the froth bed (7) in the flotation cell is measured in the vertical direction on a first measuring plane (B), the conductivity measurements being used for monitoring the froth speed towards an overflow edge of the flotation cell.
A device for monitoring the operation of a flotation cell, comprising:
- a number of measuring sensors (11, 12, 13, 14) of the electrical conductivity, which are to be fitted in the flotation cell (1) and immersed in the material (3, 7) contained in it, to measure its electrical conductivity wherein the measuring sensors are arranged on an elongated support (102) at a small distance from one another, and the support with its measuring sensors can be fitted, in an essentially vertical direction, in the flotation cell (1) and the material (3, 7) contained in it to measure the electrical conductivity of the material in the flotation cell in the vertical direction on several measuring planes (B, C, D) and wherein the measuring sensors (11, 12, 13, 14) of the device (10) are divided into a first and second group, of which the measuring sensors (11, 12) which belong to the first group measure the froth bed (7), and the measuring sensors (13, 14) which belong to the second group measure the slurry (7), and a control unit (20) which uses the measurements of the measuring sensors of the first group to determine the speed of movement of the froth bed (7) and for predicting a collapse of the froth bed (7) or overfrothing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.