Virginia Tech
An In-Plant Evaluation of Froth Washing on Conventional Flotation Cells for Coal
Abstract
dc:description.abstractColumn flotation cells have become increasingly popular in the coal industry due to their ability to improve flotation selectivity. The improvement can be largely attributed to the use of froth washing, which minimizes the nonselective entrainment of ultrafine minerals matter into the froth product. Unfortunately, the practice of adding wash water in conventional flotation machines has been largely unsuccessful in industrial trials. In order to better understand the causes of these failures, a detailed in-plant test program was undertaken to evaluate the use of froth washing at an operating coal preparation plant. The tests included detailed circuit audits (solid and liquid mass balances), salt tracer studies, and release analyses. The data collected from these tests have been used to develop criteria that describe when and how froth washing may be successfully applied in industrial flotation circuits. A second series of tests was developed to look at other alternatives to froth washing and their effectiveness. This involved two-staged flotation circuitry. A two-staged approach was developed because the existing flotation cells did not have enough residence time to support froth washing. The process owner wanted to evaluate possible alternatives to column cell flotation. The testing included release analysis testing as well as a detailed series of tests with percent solids control to the secondary flotation unit.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Mining and Minerals Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Mining and Minerals Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2001
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- McKeon, Timothy Josiah
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Luttrell, Gerald H.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Yoon, Roe-Hoan
- Adel, Gregory T.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-11152001-140658
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35708