At the heart of the coarse particle flotation circuit, FLS coarseAIR™ offers improved recovery at coarser grind sizes. This technology expands what is traditionally thought of as “liberation classes” and achieves recovery of particles considered poorly liberated in a conventional sense. This means what were once considered difficult to float particles – that might have been lost to tailings – can now be easily recovered.
coarseAIR™ is a low turbulence, aerated fluidised bed separator combined with lamella plates based on the REFLUX™ Classifier. The technology is able to float larger particle sizes (up to approx. 650 micron) enabling an increase in target grind size and offering significant sustainability and process benefits. It provides excellent efficiency through improved resource utilisation – not only in terms of air, water and energy but of the mineral resource itself.
The coarse particle flotation and regrind circuit has a profound impact on our MissionZero ambitions. It enables upstream and downstream unit operations to perform in more efficient ways to further the goals of MissionZero beyond the flotation circuit itself.
This means optimised grinding is possible. This ensures application of energy input only to where it is needed, allowing for the rejection of barren oversize material that does not require fine grinding. No direct equipment energy input is required, and along with an order of magnitude reduction in flotation air requirements, energy demand for the flotation circuit itself is also reduced. In this way, the flotation circuit enables energy savings plant wide.
Additionally, coarser grind size facilitates dewatering and allows for quicker water recovery. Water that traditionally would be lost due to evaporation and seepage no longer end up in tailing and a larger proportion of water can be recovered within minutes versus hours or days.
One area of potential is to introduce an advanced process control system, incorporating latest machine learning techniques, that uses signals from PlantVision™ cameras, process instrumentation and equipment sensors to optimise the flotation circuit. The result would be an advanced process control system that could increase mass recovery by 3-5% and increase grade recovery by 1-3%.
This simple, versatile and accurate, the state-of-the-art x-ray technology of the PERI™ Online Slurry Analysis System provides high quality and rapid slurry analysis for all process streams, from feed to tailings so the system can be easily configured to suit varying process needs.
