Experience on large size flotation columns in a copper cleaning circuit at El teniente

摘要

The column circuit at El Teniente consists of fourrectangular flotation columns, 2x8 m in side and 14.7 m high,operating in parallel. The columns produce over 3000 tonnes perday of 32 percent copper concentrate. This paper discusses themain design characteristics of these large size columns, such asair sparging, wash water header, as well as the effect of the mainoperating variables such as gas rate, froth depth and wash waterrate on grade and recovery. The columns have improved overallcopper grade by about 2 percent, while the increase in thesecond cleaner capacity allowed for an additional 1 percentincrease in the overall plant recovery. A new hierarchical controlstrategy increased the column concentrate grade by an extra 1 percent.