FLOTATION TECHNOLOGY
Quellaveco is currently in construction with
estimated ore reserves of 1.3 billion tonnes,
containing approximately 7.5 Mt of copper. First
copper concentrate is expected to be produced in
2022.
The Feasibility Study portion of the CPR
project is expected to be completed by March
2020. Pierre Julien, Executive Vice President of
DRA Americas stated: “Securing this strategic
project strongly bolsters our ambitions and plans
for growth in Peru, and we are excited to partner
with Anglo American to ensure a positive
outcome for this strategic project.”
Metso’s diverse approach
Metso as stated has been able to grow its
product range in recent years to bring it on a par
in its RCS mechanical cells offering to what is
available from Outotec and FLSmidth but
combined with its long experience in column
flotation. Metso says its Microcel high recovery
flotation columns are establishing a new standard
in flotation technology. “Microcel flotation
columns in addition to producing high concentrate
grade, increase product recovery and improve
plant profitability. The patented Microcel sparger
technology enhances metallurgical performance by
allowing anunprecedented flexibility on the grade-
recovery curve.”
The company has also had success in offering
heavy duty impeller mechansims in flotation cells
which have a higher cost but allow recovery
improvement, for example, in coarse particle
flotation. Metso has had success with these
mechanisms in South African platinum and in
some cases has retrofitted them onto other OEM
cells.
Metso’s other main strength is its VisioFroth
froth camera system. It was the first, though
other systems are now available (eg Outotec
FrothSense and FLSmidth ECS/FrothVision) and
VisioFroth has always been managed as a
separate business to the main flotation cell
business, and as such has always been offered
both for Metso flotation equipment but also
across the industry for installation on other OEM
flotation cells, sold direct to the end user. PT
Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg copper-gold mine
complex alone operates 174 VisioFroth cameras
in its flotation plant, the largest froth camera
installation worldwide.
Working in tandem with VisioFroth, Metso’s
OCS-4D (an advanced process control solution
using fuzzy expert control methodologies)
automatically reads information from the PLC or
the DCS tags database and uses advanced
techniques to determine new operating set
points for air supply and froth level. With no
action needed from the operators, the set points
maintain a required product quality and help to
Metso Microcel flotation columns in addition
to producing high concentrate grade, increase
product recovery and improve plant
profitability, according to the company
achieve an increase in capacity and product
quality, as well as a decrease in production costs.
Looking ahead, Metso says it is also
developing new flotation advanced process
control solutions as well as new flotation
mechanisms, which are set to launch in the next
18 months with a focus on reduced costs and
increased recovery.