FLSmidth introduced two exciting developments in their flotation portfolio — the WEMCO II and the REFLUX Flotation Cell (RFC) — at the MINEXCHANGE 2022 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah, this week.
The WEMCO II Flotation Cell builds upon the WEMCO, but with optimizations to the rotor and stator/hood that the company said greatly improves power consumption, air flow and pumping.
For decades, WEMCO flotation cells — 40,000 machines globally — have delivered at the highest level when it comes to recovery. Now, WEMCO II’s combination of efficient aeration and optimum solids suspension increases recovery and concentrate grade performance, as well as reducing reagent consumption, FLSmidth said.
The WEMCO II design features full air control without blower and froth maintenance, which elevate kinetic performance and lower operational costs. The result is better hydrodynamics and circulation, improved kinetics and performance, optimized energy efficiency and lower operating costs and the ability to control air without an external air supply, the company said.
Also getting an official launch at SME was the REFLUX Flotation Cell. On display is the smallest industrial-scale version of the RFC, a ground-breaking technology that reduces plant footprint as well as water, air and energy requirements.
The RFC reduces CAPEX by 35% and with no direct power input to the RFC, this results in 60% less energy use in a flotation circuit. Results from pilot-scale studies indicate that RFC technology can help mines use up to 60% less energy in their flotation circuits. Improved kinetic efficiency also reduces the amount of water used in the recovery process.
The RFC is a high efficiency flotation cell and can be applied as a rougher, scavenger and cleaner across all minerals providing our customers with an option that maximise recovery and improve grade.
