A flotation device and method for passing coarser sized particles through a flotation device

摘要

A flotation device (1) and a method for processing a slurry comprising coarser sized mineral particles is presented. The flotation device comprises a plurality of flotation cells (2) in fluid communication with each other, and an inlet (38) for receiving said slurry into one of said flotation cells (2). Each of the flotation cells (2) has a wall (3) with a lower opening (4) that permits said slurry to pass from a preceding flotation cell into an entry opening (4') of a successive flotation cell (2), a slurry transfer means (39) in fluid communication with said lower opening (4) and said entry opening (4') to facilitate unimpeded slurry flow. A floor (9) of each said successive flotation cell (2) is lower than a floor (9) of said preceding flotation cell (2) to create an angle of inclination of at least 10° to induce a hydraulic gradient to drive said slurry to a discharge outlet (7) of said flotation device (1).