Application of radiotracers as tools to determine feed flowrate imbalances and particle size segregation in industrial flotation circuits

• Autorzy: Diaz Francisco , Barrientos Nelson

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.37190/ppmp/174817

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

This publication presents the application of radiotracers in the characterization of industrial flotation circuits. Two examples are showcased: the detection of feed flow rate imbalances and the characterization of particle size segregation in automatic mineral-cutting machines. The feed pulp distribution was determined from the mean residence times. Particle size segregation was measured by sampling the cutting machines (≅ 25 grams samples) using coarse, intermediate, and fine-sized radiotracer particles. Radiotracers were injected into the feed streams and measured at various points of the circuit using nuclear instruments, allowing for non-invasive and real time detection. Results show that in the rougher flotation stage, the feed flow is distributed almost evenly in lines 2 and 3 (approximately 38% of the flow goes to each line) and to a lesser extent towards line 4 (approximately 24%). In lines 1 and 2 of the scavenger stage, a higher percentage of the flow goes towards line 1 (approximately 59%) and a lower percentage towards line 2 (41%). Line 6 of the rougher flotation is the fastest of the circuit (shortest residence time). In addition, the inlet mineral-cutting machine of the rougher stage segregates particles with a bias for fine sizes (11.4 % more fine-sized particles than coarse ones). This work is an example of how radiotracer technology can be applied to improve metal production and processes. Radiotracers provide reliable information to be used in combination with other metallurgical data to properly assess flotation circuits.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

radiotracers; flotation; particle size segregation; feed flow distribution

• Wydawca: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej
• Czasopismo: Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: Vol. 59, iss. 5
• Strony: art. no. 174817
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 14 poz., rys., tab., wykr.

Twórcy

autor

Diaz Francisco

• Trazado Nuclear e Ingeniería, Santiago 7760016, Chile

autor

Barrientos Nelson

• Trazado Nuclear e Ingeniería, Santiago 7760016, Chile

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3416-9897

Bibliografia

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• BEAMER, P.I., ELISH, C.A., ROE, D.J., LOH, M.M., LAYTON, D.W. 2012. Differences in metal concentration by particle size in house dust and soil. J. Environ. Monitoring. 14, 3, 839-844.
• BOGDANOV, O., HAINMAN, V., YANIS, N., PODNEK, A. 1957. Investigation of the action of modifying agents in flotation by means of radioactive tracers. Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 2, 206-207.
• GAUDIN, A., DE BRUYN, P., BLOECHER, F., CHANG, C. 1948. Radioactive Tracers in Flotation. Min. Metall. 29, 432-435.
• HENRIQUEZ, F., MALDONADO, L., YIANATOS, J., VALLEJOS, P., DIAZ, F., VINNET, L. 2022. The Use of Radioactive Tracers to Detect and Correct Feed Flowrate Imbalances in Parallel Flotation Banks. J. 2, 287-297.
• INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY. 1983. Guidebook on Nuclear Techniques in Hydrology. 1983 edition. Report Series Nº 91, Vienna, Austria.
• INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY. 2004. Radiotracer Applications in Industry- A guidebook. Safety Report Series Nª423., Vienna, Austria.
• INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY. 2001. Radiotracer technology as applied to industry. IAEA-TECDOC-1262., Vienna, Austria.
• INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION (ISO). 1977. Measurement of water flow in closed conduits – Tracer methods – Part 7: Transit time method using radioactive tracers. ISO 2975-7: 1977. Geneva, Switzerland.
• LEVENSPIEL, O. 1998. Chemical Reaction Engineering. 3rd ed; John Wiley& Sons: New York, NY, USA.
• VINNETT, L., YIANATOS, J., HASSANZADEH, A., DIAZ, F., HENRIQUEZ, F. 2023. Residence Time Distribution Measurements and Modeling in an Industrial-Scale Siemens Flotation Cell. Minerals. 13, 678.
• YIANATOS, J., BERGH, L., VINNETT, L., PANIRE, I., DIAZ, F. 2015. Modelling of residence time distribution of liquid and solid in mechanical flotation cells. Miner. Eng. 78, 69-73.
• YIANATOS, J., BERGH, L., PINO, C., VINNETT, L., MUÑOZ, C., YAÑEZ, A. 2012. Industrial evaluation of a new flotation mechanism for large flotation cells. Miner. Eng. 36-38, 262-271.
• YIANATOS, J., DIAZ, F. 2011. Hydrodynamic characterization of industrial flotation machines using radioisotopes. Radioisotopes – Applications in Physical Sciences. InTecH. Shanghai, China.

Uwagi

Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2024).