Flotation column with adjustable supported baffles

Inventors

Surendra K. Kawatra
Timothy C. Eisele, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Files

Abstract

An apparatus for separating by froth flotation hydro- phobic and hydrophilic particles contained in an aqueous slurry, the apparatus comprising a generally vertical tubular column having an upper froth zone, an upper separation zone, a lower separation zone, an air inlet zone, and an intermediate feed inlet zone; a feed inlet, air inlet, froth outlet and a tailings outlet; an upper baffle unit comprising a plurality of horizontally extending upper baffle plates, a vertical upper support member including an upper end portion, and first upper apparatus for removably mounting the upper baffle plates on the upper support member at predetermined vertically spaced positions; each of the upper baffle plates comprising a mounting aperture and a plurality of flow apertures; and a second upper apparatus for removably supporting the upper support member in the column with the upper baffle plates in the upper separation zone. The apparatus can include a lower baffle unit. The open area of each baffle plate and the vertical space between adjacent baffle plates can vary between different baffle plates in dependence upon the position of a baffle plate in the column, or in dependence upon one or more of the following: a solids flow rate at the position, a liquid flow rate at the position, and a gas flow rate at the position. The invention also provides a method for improving the operating performance of an unbaffled column.

Patent Number

5,335,785

Assignee

Board of Control of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.

Application Number

64,825

Date Filed

5-19-1993

Certificate of Correction

No

Issue Date

8-9-1994

Disciplines

Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Kawatra, Surendra K. and Eisele, Timothy C., "Flotation column with adjustable supported baffles" (1994). Michigan Tech Patents. 72.
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/72