Hydrodynamic studies and mathematical modeling of fine coal flotation

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6455186

Luttrell, G H

The probability of particle capture by an isolated bubble rising through a suspension of particles has been determined using fundamental principles of fluid mechanics. This analysis has allowed the rate constant for flotation to be evaluated as functions of bubble size, particle size, flotation column diameter, air flow rate and critical film rupture thickness. The last parameter is a measure of the hydrophobicity of the particles to be floated. Using the theoretically determined rate constant, a population balance model has been developed for the flotation of fine coal in a column. The model is capable of predicting the dynamic response of the flotation column to changes in a wide range of operational conditions. Model simulations have been found to be in reasonable agreement with experiments conducted using a bench-scale column.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6455186
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
AIR FLOW
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BUBBLES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL PREPARATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOTATION
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONS
GAS FLOW
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PARTICLE SIZE
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE