XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 133
Froth cameras have also improved/stabilized their perfor-
mance, but their addition has not reduced the number of
installed cells. Retention times vary naturally and are based
on the kinetics of the ore body. Another factor that has
increased is the concentrate mass pulls, small cells typically
had mass pulls that were less than 10%, the Tank cells this
number is as high as 20%. These differences were initially
defined as coming from orebodies with more pyrite and
clay content, but an expressed concern now is being told
more in terms of an efficient factor for both recovery and
upgrading (ratio of concentration).
The industry has always debated what was better,
“forced-air” float machines or “self-aspirating.” Those oper-
ators that felt they wanted more control over their flotation
circuits, were proponents of the forced-air cells. Those that
wanted to remove operator variability like the self-aspirat-
ing cells better. This author had an opportunity to install
both types in the same plant and then measure their perfor-
mance on the same ore. In that operation the self-aspirating
cells received the best overall recovery. But years later in
another plant a design opportunity allowed for the instal-
lation of both types of cells in the same float bank. In this
case, the forced-air cells won but not on performance, but
for maintenance reasons.
Initially, plant designs used these large Tank cells,
Jameson (Figure 8), and OK’s Skim-Air (Figure 9) cells as
Pre-Roughers or Scalpers, to recover the fast-floating mate-
rial and then followed with the smaller cells to achieve their
targeted recovery.
The concept of Pre-Roughers led to the development of
a whole series of new cells e.g., Eriez’s Stackcell (Figure 10),
Woodgrove’s Stage Flotation Reactor (SFR), Direct
Stage Reactor (DFR) (Figure 11), etc.
In these new cells, the metal recoveries are achieved
in seconds as compared to traditional cells where it takes
minutes to obtain the similar recoveries. Operators are now
debating fundamental questions on what recovery stage is
most important, the mineral collection zone or the mixing
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 8. Jameson cell
Froth cameras have also improved/stabilized their perfor-
mance, but their addition has not reduced the number of
installed cells. Retention times vary naturally and are based
on the kinetics of the ore body. Another factor that has
increased is the concentrate mass pulls, small cells typically
had mass pulls that were less than 10%, the Tank cells this
number is as high as 20%. These differences were initially
defined as coming from orebodies with more pyrite and
clay content, but an expressed concern now is being told
more in terms of an efficient factor for both recovery and
upgrading (ratio of concentration).
The industry has always debated what was better,
“forced-air” float machines or “self-aspirating.” Those oper-
ators that felt they wanted more control over their flotation
circuits, were proponents of the forced-air cells. Those that
wanted to remove operator variability like the self-aspirat-
ing cells better. This author had an opportunity to install
both types in the same plant and then measure their perfor-
mance on the same ore. In that operation the self-aspirating
cells received the best overall recovery. But years later in
another plant a design opportunity allowed for the instal-
lation of both types of cells in the same float bank. In this
case, the forced-air cells won but not on performance, but
for maintenance reasons.
Initially, plant designs used these large Tank cells,
Jameson (Figure 8), and OK’s Skim-Air (Figure 9) cells as
Pre-Roughers or Scalpers, to recover the fast-floating mate-
rial and then followed with the smaller cells to achieve their
targeted recovery.
The concept of Pre-Roughers led to the development of
a whole series of new cells e.g., Eriez’s Stackcell (Figure 10),
Woodgrove’s Stage Flotation Reactor (SFR), Direct
Stage Reactor (DFR) (Figure 11), etc.
In these new cells, the metal recoveries are achieved
in seconds as compared to traditional cells where it takes
minutes to obtain the similar recoveries. Operators are now
debating fundamental questions on what recovery stage is
most important, the mineral collection zone or the mixing
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 8. Jameson cell