What is the main purpose of the tank in the flotation equipment

Flotation technology is one of the most widely used methods in the mineral processing industry. The performance of its core equipment, the flotation cell, depends largely on its primary structural component, the cell. The flotation cell is more than a simple container; it is a complex reactor integrating physics, chemistry, and fluid dynamics. Its design and function directly determine the efficiency of the flotation process, the grade of the concentrate, and the recovery rate.

Containment and Mixing: The Dynamic Reaction Space of the Slurry
The most fundamental function of the flotation cell is to contain the slurry. The slurry is a mixture of ground and classified ore particles, water, and flotation reagents. The cell provides a stable reaction environment for this complex solid-liquid-gas three-phase system. Within the cell, the slurry is continuously agitated to ensure adequate contact between the mineral particles, reagents, and air bubbles, preventing mineral sedimentation and stratification. This dynamic mixing is a prerequisite for the smooth progress of the flotation chemical reaction.

Agitation and Aeration: Achieving Uniform Dispersion of the Three-Phase System
The key to a successful flotation process lies in the effective attachment of air bubbles to hydrophobic mineral particles. The trough, in conjunction with the impeller and stator, completes this crucial step by integrating the mixing and aeration system. The high-speed rotation of the impeller creates negative pressure at the bottom of the trough, drawing air in and dispersing it into numerous tiny bubbles. Simultaneously, the powerful agitation of the impeller creates a circulating flow in the slurry, ensuring that the bubbles are evenly distributed throughout the trough and efficiently collide with each mineral particle. This mixing and aeration function is the physical foundation for the formation of mineralized bubbles.

Mineralization and Floatation: Creating an Orderly Separation Environment
When bubbles attach to hydrophobic target mineral particles, the resulting "mineralized bubbles" float upward due to buoyancy. The trough provides the necessary space and pathways for this buoyancy. The trough's depth and cross-sectional dimensions directly influence the duration and stability of the bubbles' buoyancy. Within the trough, the mineralized bubbles overcome the resistance of the slurry and gradually rise to the surface, forming a stable mineralized foam layer. The hydrophilic minerals (gangue) that remain unattached remain in the slurry and are ultimately discharged as tailings.

Separating Foam from Slurry: Enabling Efficient Concentrate Collection

In the upper portion of the flotation cell, flotation concentrate accumulates as mineralized froth. The cell selectively discharges this froth, rich in target minerals, via an overflow weir or a froth scraper system. The cell design (such as the height and shape of the froth weir) is crucial to the stability and fluidity of the froth layer. The scraper's rotational speed and direction must also be compatible with the cell structure to ensure that the froth layer is smoothly pushed into the concentrate tank without disrupting its structure, maximizing the recovery of useful minerals. This separation process is crucial for flotation to ultimately produce concentrate.

Tailings and Slurry Circulation: Ensuring Process Continuity

Inside the flotation cell, unfloated tailings particles accumulate in the lower portion of the cell. The cell bottom's structural design, such as the inclination angle and discharge port, ensures continuous and stable discharge of tailings for subsequent scavenging or tailings treatment. Some large flotation cell designs also feature internal circulation channels to optimize the slurry flow field, reduce short-circuiting, and improve flotation efficiency. This function of the cell ensures continuity and high efficiency throughout the flotation process.

Adaptability and Modularity: Meeting Diverse Process Requirements
Modern flotation cell designs tend to be modular and large-scale. Large-scale flotation machines utilize a single, massive cell, enabling mass production and reducing floor space and equipment requirements. Furthermore, by adjusting the cell's internal structure, impeller type, and aeration method, the same cell can be adapted to flotation processes with varying ore types, particle sizes, and throughputs. The cell's versatility and adjustability enable it to meet the process requirements of various flotation stages, from roughing to concentrating.