Investigation of column flotation hydrodynamics using electrical resistance tomography coupled with pressure transducers

Column flotation (CF) is widely using equipment in mineral processing since many years. ERT technique facilitates non-invasive and nonintrusive visualization of different parameters in a column flotation. The hydrodynamic investigation of two-phase and three-phase are studied using electrical resistance tomography (ERT) coupled with pressure transducers in laboratory column flotation. Bubble size distribution, bubble rise velocity and gas and solids hold-up hydrodynamic parameters are extensively used for column flotation design and performance evaluation. The effect of superficial gas velocity, feed flow rate and slurry height in the column on mean gas hold-up and its radial distribution has been analyzed for both two-phase and three phase flows. Influence of solid particles on gas hold-up and its complete elucidation of dispersion in the column are assessed. Experimental results show ERT coupled with PT is suitable as an online monitoring tool to provide useful information on the hydrodynamic parameters of the column flotation. The tomography images, which were generated using a modified sensitivity back projection algorithm, were employed to explore the parameter study in two phase flow in column flotation. Furthermore, the results also indicate that ERT is a very powerful tool for diagnosing the `inside' flow behaviour of gas-liquid two-phase and gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow in columns operating for a wide range of flow regimes.