2802 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
The ERT device used by our team has a maximum data
frame rate of 1 kHz, limiting the frequency response to
that frame rate. The current-derived velocity fluctuation is
an average value of the measurement plane defined by the
electrode array. Therefore, the spatial resolution is on a scale
of several cm, which cannot distinguish smaller turbulence
eddies in most scenarios.
CONCLUSIONS
Turbulence is important to flotation performance however,
measuring turbulence in multiphase flows is very challeng-
ing. The measured turbulence profile can help us better
understand the flotation process and lead to control of mul-
tiphase flows in mechanical flotation cells. Currently, many
methods are heavily restricted due to their fluid properties.
Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Particle Image
Velocimetry (PIV) have high spatial and temporal resolu-
tion however, their applications are mainly limited to one
or two-phase transparent flows. Positron Emission Particle
Tracking (PEPT) can be used in opaque turbulent flows
however, it can only be used on a very small laboratory scale
due to its γ-ray sources. The PEPT has the potential to be
applied to measure turbulence in flotation cells and needs
further development to determine the location of tracer
particles without bias. Hot wire probes have high spatial
and temporal resolution in turbulence quantification, but
they are susceptible to environmental factors. Piezoelectric
Vibration Sensor (PVS) is a promising turbulence measure-
ment technique, which has been tested in a large Metso
300 m3 RCS industrial flotation cell. The current spatial
scale of the piezoelectric vibration sensor is 1cm, which needs
to be improved. Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is
a relatively new turbulence measurement technique, which
has been tested in a Metso 3 m3 RCS industrial flotation
cell. Both its spatial and temporal resolution need to be
improved. The ERT also needs to be tested in larger flota-
tion cells.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The first author wishes to acknowledge Dr. Jun Meng (my
former PhD student) for the data collection and model-
ing work Dr. Kym Runge at University of Queensland,
Australia for co-supervising Dr. Jun Meng and valuable
discussions Dr. Erico Tabosa for the PVS measurement
Dr. Matthew Brennan for the LDA measurement Dr. Anh
Nguyen for valuable discussions. The AMIRA P9P proj-
ect is also acknowledged for sponsoring and funding this
research. The second author would also like to thank to
Dr. Matthew Brennan, and Dr. Elaine Wightman, for their
guidance, support and encouragement as advisors through
this study.
REFERENCES
Amini, E., Bradshaw, D.J., Finch, J.A. and Brennan, M.
2013. Influence of turbulence kinetic energy on
bubble size in different scale flotation cells. Minerals
Engineering, 45:146–160.
Amini, E., Xie, W., and Bradshaw D.J. 2016a. Enhancement
of scale up capability of AMIRA P9 model by incorpo-
rating turbulence parameters. International Journal of
Mineral Processing, 156:52–61.
Amini, E., Bradshaw D.J., and Xie, W. 2016b. Influence
of flotation cell hydrodynamics on the flotation kinet-
ics and scale up, Part 1: hydrodynamic parameter mea-
surements and ore property determination. Minerals
Engineering, 99:40–51.
Figure 12. (a) A Metso 3 m3 industrial flotation cell. (b) ERT sensor. (c) A turbulence profile measured by ERT
The ERT device used by our team has a maximum data
frame rate of 1 kHz, limiting the frequency response to
that frame rate. The current-derived velocity fluctuation is
an average value of the measurement plane defined by the
electrode array. Therefore, the spatial resolution is on a scale
of several cm, which cannot distinguish smaller turbulence
eddies in most scenarios.
CONCLUSIONS
Turbulence is important to flotation performance however,
measuring turbulence in multiphase flows is very challeng-
ing. The measured turbulence profile can help us better
understand the flotation process and lead to control of mul-
tiphase flows in mechanical flotation cells. Currently, many
methods are heavily restricted due to their fluid properties.
Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Particle Image
Velocimetry (PIV) have high spatial and temporal resolu-
tion however, their applications are mainly limited to one
or two-phase transparent flows. Positron Emission Particle
Tracking (PEPT) can be used in opaque turbulent flows
however, it can only be used on a very small laboratory scale
due to its γ-ray sources. The PEPT has the potential to be
applied to measure turbulence in flotation cells and needs
further development to determine the location of tracer
particles without bias. Hot wire probes have high spatial
and temporal resolution in turbulence quantification, but
they are susceptible to environmental factors. Piezoelectric
Vibration Sensor (PVS) is a promising turbulence measure-
ment technique, which has been tested in a large Metso
300 m3 RCS industrial flotation cell. The current spatial
scale of the piezoelectric vibration sensor is 1cm, which needs
to be improved. Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is
a relatively new turbulence measurement technique, which
has been tested in a Metso 3 m3 RCS industrial flotation
cell. Both its spatial and temporal resolution need to be
improved. The ERT also needs to be tested in larger flota-
tion cells.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The first author wishes to acknowledge Dr. Jun Meng (my
former PhD student) for the data collection and model-
ing work Dr. Kym Runge at University of Queensland,
Australia for co-supervising Dr. Jun Meng and valuable
discussions Dr. Erico Tabosa for the PVS measurement
Dr. Matthew Brennan for the LDA measurement Dr. Anh
Nguyen for valuable discussions. The AMIRA P9P proj-
ect is also acknowledged for sponsoring and funding this
research. The second author would also like to thank to
Dr. Matthew Brennan, and Dr. Elaine Wightman, for their
guidance, support and encouragement as advisors through
this study.
REFERENCES
Amini, E., Bradshaw, D.J., Finch, J.A. and Brennan, M.
2013. Influence of turbulence kinetic energy on
bubble size in different scale flotation cells. Minerals
Engineering, 45:146–160.
Amini, E., Xie, W., and Bradshaw D.J. 2016a. Enhancement
of scale up capability of AMIRA P9 model by incorpo-
rating turbulence parameters. International Journal of
Mineral Processing, 156:52–61.
Amini, E., Bradshaw D.J., and Xie, W. 2016b. Influence
of flotation cell hydrodynamics on the flotation kinet-
ics and scale up, Part 1: hydrodynamic parameter mea-
surements and ore property determination. Minerals
Engineering, 99:40–51.
Figure 12. (a) A Metso 3 m3 industrial flotation cell. (b) ERT sensor. (c) A turbulence profile measured by ERT