Numerical prediction of froth layer height in slurry column

Flotation is a widely used separation method within the minerals processing industry, as well as being used for water treatment and de-inking of recycled paper. The froth layer and its role in the separation achieved in flotation cell have been studied. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed and validated against published experimental data. The model was built by writing FORTRAN subroutine and incorporating then into the commercial CFD code AVL FIRE, v.2014. The effect of coalescence process due to film rupture was considered in the froth phase. Then the model was used to predict the height of froth layer.