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 invention relates to a device for generating gas bubbles in suspensions, which are contained in a tank, having a rotation-symmetric stator (16) and a rotation-symmetric rotor (15), which is connected to a hollow drive shaft (5), wherein the stator, the rotor and the hollow drive shaft are arranged concentrically about a vertical axis of rotation (17) of the rotor and the drive shaft, and the rotor executes a rotational movement about the axis of rotation inside the stator.

The invention relates to a device for generating gas bubbles in suspensions, which are contained in a tank, having a rotation-symmetric stator (16) and a rotation-symmetric rotor (15), which is connected to a hollow drive shaft (5), wherein the stator, the rotor and the hollow drive shaft are arranged concentrically about a vertical axis of rotation (17) of the rotor and the drive shaft, and the rotor executes a rotational movement about the axis of rotation inside the stator.

The disclosure relates to an adapter (200) for converting a naturally-aspirated flotation cell (10) to a forced-gas flotation cell without replacing the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) with a specialized conversion reducer (103). The adapter (200) is designed to be located below the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) and at a location along the drive shaft. The adapter (200) comprises an outer static casing (201) having a forced gas inlet (210); an inner rotating spanner (204) having at least one port (205) therein; sealing means (203, 224, 225, 226) provided between the static casing (201) and the spanner (204); and, a chamber (213) formed between the outer static casing (201) and the spanner (204). Related methods and apparatus incorporating the adapter (200) are further disclosed.

The disclosure relates to an adapter (200) for converting a naturally-aspirated flotation cell (10) to a forced-gas flotation cell without replacing the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) with a specialized conversion reducer (103). The adapter (200) is designed to be located below the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) and at a location along the drive shaft. The adapter (200) comprises an outer static casing (201) having a forced gas inlet (210); an inner rotating spanner (204) having at least one port (205) therein; sealing means (203, 224, 225, 226) provided between the static casing (201) and the spanner (204); and, a chamber (213) formed between the outer static casing (201) and the spanner (204). Related methods and apparatus incorporating the adapter (200) are further disclosed.

The disclosure relates to an adapter (200) for converting a naturally-aspirated flotation cell (10) to a forced-gas flotation cell without replacing the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) with a specialized conversion reducer (103). The adapter (200) is designed to be located below the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) and at a location along the drive shaft. The adapter (200) comprises an outer static casing (201) having a forced gas inlet (210); an inner rotating spanner (204) having at least one port (205) therein; sealing means (203, 224, 225, 226) provided between the static casing (201) and the spanner (204); and, a chamber (213) formed between the outer static casing (201) and the spanner (204). Related methods and apparatus incorporating the adapter (200) are further disclosed.

The disclosure relates to an adapter (200) for converting a naturally-aspirated flotation cell (10) to a forced-gas flotation cell without replacing the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) with a specialized conversion reducer (103). The adapter (200) is designed to be located below the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) and at a location along the drive shaft. The adapter (200) comprises an outer static casing (201) having a forced gas inlet (210); an inner rotating spanner (204) having at least one port (205) therein; sealing means (203, 224, 225, 226) provided between the static casing (201) and the spanner (204); and, a chamber (213) formed between the outer static casing (201) and the spanner (204). Related methods and apparatus incorporating the adapter (200) are further disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for generating gas bubbles in suspensions, which are contained in a tank, having a rotation-symmetric stator (16) and a rotation-symmetric rotor (15), which is connected to a hollow drive shaft (5), wherein the stator, the rotor and the hollow drive shaft are arranged concentrically about a vertical axis of rotation (17) of the rotor and the drive shaft, and the rotor executes a rotational movement about the axis of rotation inside the stator.

The invention relates to a device for generating gas bubbles in suspensions, which are contained in a tank, having a rotation-symmetric stator (16) and a rotation-symmetric rotor (15), which is connected to a hollow drive shaft (5), wherein the stator, the rotor and the hollow drive shaft are arranged concentrically about a vertical axis of rotation (17) of the rotor and the drive shaft, and the rotor executes a rotational movement about the axis of rotation inside the stator.