The flotation apparatus includes a flotation vessel and a cover for closing an upwards open opening of the flotation vessel, wherein the cover and the flotation vessel limits a vessel space for receiving fluid, and an agitating means having a rotatable axis extending through a first aperture in the cover. The rotatable shaft is rotatable supported at a bearing housing outside the vessel space. A connection arrangement surrounds the rotatable shaft between the bearing housing and the cover.

A flotation machine includes a stator positioned in a tank adjacent a rotor. The stator has a plurality of vanes. Each of the vanes has a plurality of slots formed therein. Each of the slots has a shape that is elongated in a direction along the width of the vane in which the slot is formed. Each of the vanes is spaced apart from the other vanes to which that vane is adjacent. The vanes are positioned in series adjacent a periphery of the stator to define a central opening within the stator that is sized such that the rotor of a flotation machine may be positioned therein. The stator may be retrofitted onto a prior flotation machine installation. For instance, a stator may be offered for sale and then installed onto a flotation machine. A previous stator may be removed before the installation of the new stator.

A flotation machine includes a stator positioned in a tank adjacent a rotor. The stator has a plurality of vanes. Each of the vanes has a plurality of slots formed therein. Each of the slots has a shape that is elongated in a direction along the width of the vane in which the slot is formed. Each of the vanes is spaced apart from the other vanes to which that vane is adjacent. The vanes are positioned in series adjacent a periphery of the stator to define a central opening within the stator that is sized such that the rotor of a flotation machine may be positioned therein. The stator may be retrofitted onto a prior flotation machine installation. For instance, a stator may be offered for sale and then installed onto a flotation machine. A previous stator may be removed before the installation of the new stator.

THIS invention relates to froth flotation, and more specifically to a froth flotation cell and an internal sand removal arrangement for the froth flotation cell. The froth flotation cell included a tank having an operatively lower zone, an intermediate zone and an operatively upper zone, and a central dispersing chamber disposed in the intermediate zone of the tank. A slurry inlet is located in the operatively lower zone of the tank, and a slurry outlet conduit extends from the operatively upper zone of the tank towards a slurry outlet. The froth flotation cell is characterised in that the operatively lower zone is also selectively in flow communication with the slurry outlet of the tank, in order for slurry located in the operatively lower zone of the tank selectively to be displaceable into the slurry outlet.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.

Provided are a device for vortex flotation mineralization based on confined space and a method for mineralization. The device includes a mineralizer body. An interior of the mineralizer body includes a mineralization cylinder for mineralizing minerals. A mineral inlet is provided on a sidewall at a bottom of the mineralization cylinder and a mineral outlet is provided on the sidewall at a top of the mineralization cylinder. The mineral inlet includes at least two inlet pipes arranged opposite to each other such that a mineral slurry enters the mineralization cylinder in a form of a collision flow. The device includes an air pipeline and a stirring device. The air pipeline is connected to the mineral inlet and configured to inject air into the mineral slurry. The stirring device is arranged inside the mineralization cylinder and provided with a mineralization impeller for stirring.

Provided are a device for vortex flotation mineralization based on confined space and a method for mineralization. The device includes a mineralizer body. An interior of the mineralizer body includes a mineralization cylinder for mineralizing minerals. A mineral inlet is provided on a sidewall at a bottom of the mineralization cylinder and a mineral outlet is provided on the sidewall at a top of the mineralization cylinder. The mineral inlet includes at least two inlet pipes arranged opposite to each other such that a mineral slurry enters the mineralization cylinder in a form of a collision flow. The device includes an air pipeline and a stirring device. The air pipeline is connected to the mineral inlet and configured to inject air into the mineral slurry. The stirring device is arranged inside the mineralization cylinder and provided with a mineralization impeller for stirring.