CFD Analysis in Desiging of Mixing Mechanism for a Mechanical Flotation Machine

Computational Fluid Dynamics is a powerful tool to simulate flow fields in industrial flotation machines. Flow patterns inside large scale flotation machines cannot be observed visually and CFD gives a 3D view to flows and phenomena like turbulent energy dissipation rate, pressures, air and solids contents in different locations of the machine.

In this paper we give a review how CFD has been used in design of large industrial mechanical flotation machines at the Outotec. As a validation of the CFD we present also some mixing profile measurements done inside large scale flotation machines.