Model-based Computer Simulation of Froth Flotation

TR Number
Date
2011-01-19
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Virginia Tech
Abstract

Froth flotation is a separation process by which particles are selectively attached to air bubbles. It is one of the most dynamically complex industrial processes in use today. This complexity has steered research towards understanding the fundamental principles of the process. Relatively few researchers have successfully attempted to create a flotation simulator based on first principles. This thesis presents the development and testing of a simulator called SimuFloat, which is based on the flotation model developed at Virginia Tech. Flotation of chalcopyrite, coal, and phosphate are simulated. These simulations show the effects of changing the input parameters of the flotation circuit. The accuracy of SimuFloat is validated by comparing the predictions with the experimentally obtained flotation results.

Description
Keywords
Modeling, froth flotation, Simulation
Citation
Collections