CFD-BASED ESTIMATION OF COLLISION PROBABILITIES BETWEEN FINE PARTICLES AND BUBBLES HAVING INTERMEDIATE REYNOLDS NUMBER
Abstract
Recent literature comprises numerous investigations on the determination of bubble-particle collision probabilities in
flotation systems based upon hydrodynamic models. This work aims to use CFD to simulate collision probabilities in
quiescent flotation conditions as encountered in Flotation Columns. Euler-Lagrange approach is used for the calculation
of collision probabilities of fine (10μm to 80μm) solid particles with bubbles having intermediate Reynolds number (i.e.
2<Re<500; 0.1mm<db<1.5mm). In this work only two bubble sizes, 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm, are simulated. The simulations
are performed using both unstructured and structured meshes. The values of collision probabilities are compared with
those produced using the hydrodynamic models of Yoon & Luttrell and Weber & Paddock. The results of collision
probabilities and their variations with bubble and particle sizes, obtained using structured mesh are in close agreement
with the published data.
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