Experimental and numerical study on the classification of a cyclonic field in a flotation column

The cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation column (FCSMC) performs well in fine mineral flotation. Compared to traditional flotation columns, its design innovatively introduces a cyclonic structure. The separation of middling and tailing occurs in the cyclonic flow field induced by a cyclonic reversal cone. In this study, the particle size distribution analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to reveal the particle distribution law and the classification mechanism in cyclonic flow fields under different circulation pressures. The results showed that particle size showed the same distribution tendency as tangential velocity in the radial direction: both increase from the center and decrease around the wall. As circulation flux increased, the tangential velocity increased, and the particle size differences in the radial direction also increased. The position of the largest particles will move to outside as the largest value of tangential velocity migrates the outward in the radial direction. According to the particle size distribution of the feed, it can be adjusted to the flow field to change the particle distribution, thereby improving the efficiency of separation. This study has an important guiding significance for column design and adjustment of the operating parameters of the flotation process.