Analysis of Flow Field Characteristics in a Mechanical Defoaming Device

To improve the froth breakdown performance of flotation foam, a mechanical defoaming device based on vacuum and rotation was developed. The device is mainly composed of a rotating disk and a baffle and generates negative pressure when rotating at high speed. Through the synergistic effects of negative pressure, collision, extrusion, and shearing, the flotation foam effectively separates the liquid and gas phases. The flow field characteristics of the defoaming device are meticulously analyzed through numerical simulation, leading to a comprehensive evaluation of its defoaming performance. The effects of different rotational speeds on fluid velocity, pressure, turbulence, and traces are studied. It can be obtained that when the rotational speed is 900-1800 rpm, the device generates a pressure zone of -2.5 to -12.5 kPa, which can meet the requirements of the defoaming design.