Hydrodynamics in a three-phase flotation system – Fluid following with a new hydrogel tracer for Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT)

Understanding the hydrodynamics of three-phase stirred tanks, such as froth flotation cells, is paramount for characterisation turbulence, stability and performance. Although positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) known its effectiveness in measuring particles opaque, high solid content systems, it has not been widely used characterising liquid phase. This work presents a new, neutrally buoyant, alginate hydrogel tracer, designed to emulate density phase, which suitable high-speed with PEPT. PEPT experiments were conducted bench-scale cell, comparing new tracer ion-exchange resin tracers previously this system. Results showed statistically significant differences pathlines, residence time velocity distribution among tracers. Moreover, agree existing CFD predictions methodology enables comprehensive study relative flow behaviour complex multiphase systems.