The selection of the size, number and type of flotation cells for a particular duty depends on two important factors: The required flotation residence time and the physical constraints of how much concentrate can be recovered for a given froth surface area and concentrate lip length. The residence time is influenced by ore type and characteristics such as liberation, kinetics and reagent dosage. Looking at the amount of concentrate that can be recovered, it also depends on ore type and additional characteristics such as particle size, specific gravity and mineral grade. A combination of laboratory-scale test work and design scale-up factors will determine residence time. However the froth carry rate (dry tons of concentrate per square meter of froth surface area per hour, t/m~2/h) and froth lip loading (dry tons of concentrate per meter of froth lip per hour, t/m/h) cannot be determined in a laboratory. This is because the froth is scraped during a laboratory flotation test and does not exhibit natural behavior, and it is not possible to scale-up froth transport distance. These values are generally compared via calculation to given maximum values to establish if these maximum values will be exceeded by the cell selection.
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