Characterization and scaling of froth pump performance

Minerals & Metallurgical Processing , 2014, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 48-56

Furlan, J.M.; Visintainer, R.J.

ABSTRACT:

Due to the time-consuming nature of froth testing in a laboratory environment, practical limitations require the development of a method of applying a single set of performance test data obtained for a single froth pump at a given speed to a range of froth pump speeds and sizes, % air content and liquid viscosities. Head, efficiency and flow all vary as functions of both liquid viscosity and air content. As such, it is necessary to develop a technique that can be used to interpolate from existing test data in order to predict froth performance for pumps of various sizes running at variable speeds. Details of the technique developed in order to achieve this goal, as well as the insights gained from analysis of the resulting regressions, are discussed. Additionally, comparisons are made between the performance predictions of this test-derived method and those of the Hydraulic Institute standard for the effects of liquid viscosity on centrifugal pump performance (ANSI, 2010).