Research status and future prospects of numerical simulation in mineral flotation

Abstract Mineral flotation is carried out in a multi‐scale complex multi‐phase turbulent environment. It is difficult to obtain and explain the distribution law and influence mechanism of the multiphase flow field and the mechanism of the micro‐process of bubble mineralization through experimental research. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), discrete element method (DEM), and discrete phase model (DPM) have become powerful tools for studying flotation theory and multiphase flow field and optimizing the flotation process and equipment. In particular, the application of CFD‐DEM coupling and CFD‐DPM coupling methods in bubble mineralization process simulation has promoted the development of flotation multi‐scale modelling and improved the flotation theoretical system. The research results of flotation numerical simulation in the past 25 years have been reviewed, and the research progress of particle‐bubble mineralization in recent years has been specifically summarized—the collision between multiple bubbles and particles and the influence of turbulence and particle concentration on it, the influence of turbulence on flotation process and flotation kinetics, and a new method for simulation of flotation froth layer. The quantitative characterization of turbulence parameters in different flotation machines is summarized, and the impact of turbulence on the bubble mineralization process and flotation recovery is more systematically explained. The flotation kinetic parameters are correlated with the model parameters, and the influencing factors of flotation kinetics are analyzed more comprehensively. Based on flotation theory, the defects and challenges of existing simulations are commented upon, and the future development directions for flotation numerical simulation research are proposed.