A conservation law with multiply discontinuous flux modelling a flotation column

Raimund Bürger; Stefan Diehl; María Carmen Martí

doi:10.3934/nhm.2018015

Article Contents

2018, Volume 13, Issue 2: 339-371. Doi: 10.3934/nhm.2018015

This issue Previous Article Formation, stability and basin of phase-locking for Kuramoto oscillators bidirectionally coupled in a ring Next Article Corrigendum to "(Almost) everything you always wanted to know about deterministic control problems in stratified domains"

A conservation law with multiply discontinuous flux modelling a flotation column

1.
CI²MA and Departamento de Ingeniería Matemática, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
2.
Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
3.
Departamento de Matemática y Física Aplicadas, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Casilla 297, Concepción, Chile

* Corresponding author: M.C. Martí
* Corresponding author: M.C. Martí

Received: November 2017

Revised: January 2018

Published: June 2018

Abstract Full Text(HTML) Figure(22) / Table(4) Related Papers Cited by

Abstract

Flotation is a unit operation extensively used in the recovery of valuable minerals in mineral processing and related applications. Essential insight to the hydrodynamics of a flotation column can be obtained by studying just two phases: gas and fluid. To this end, the approach based on the drift-flux theory, proposed in similar form by several authors, is reformulated as a one-dimensional non-linear conservation law with a multiply discontinuous flux. The unknown is the gas volume fraction as a function of height and time, and the flux function depends discontinuously on spatial position due to several feed inlets. The resulting model is similar, but not equivalent, to previously studied clarifier-thickener models for solid-liquid separation and therefore adds a new real-world application to the field of conservation laws with discontinuous flux. Steady-state solutions are studied in detail, including their construction by applying an appropriate entropy condition across each flux discontinuity. This analysis leads to operating charts and tables collecting all possible steady states along with some necessary conditions for their feasibility in each case. Numerical experiments show that the transient model recovers the steady states, depending on the feed rates of the different inlets.

Keywords:

Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 35L65, 35R05; Secondary: 76T10.

Citation:

FullText(HTML)

Figure 1. Left: Schematic of a typical flotation column (after [21,38]), including heights of singular sources $z_{{\rm{G}}}$, $z_{{\rm{F}}}$ and $z_{{\rm{W}}}$, the underflow level $z_{\rm{U}}$, and the effluent level $z_{\rm{E}}$. Right: Corresponding conceptual model of the flotation column used in this work, indicating the volumetric feed flows $Q_{{\rm{G}}}$, $Q_{{\rm{F}}}$ and $Q_{{\rm{W}}}$, the underflow rate $Q_{\rm{U}}$, the effluent rate $Q_{\rm{E}}$, and the spatially piecewise constant bulk velocity $q = q(z, t)$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 2. Flux functions' properties and specific volume fraction. Left: Drift-flux function $j_{\rm{g}}$ and flux curves for zones $1$ and $4$. Right: The local minimum $\phi_{\rm{M}}$ and appurtenant $\phi_{\rm{m}}$ for a zone flux $j$ with positive $q$, and flux curves with zero derivatives at $\phi_{\rm{max}} = 1$ and $\phi_{\rm{infl}}$. In these and other plots, we have used the expression (2.4) with $n_{\rm{RZ}} = 3.2$ in the drift-flux function $j_{\rm{g}}$. The unit on the vertical axis is ${\rm{cm/s}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 3. The decreasing function $\check{\jmath}_{\rm{U}}(\cdot;\phi_{\rm{U}}) = j_{\rm{U}}$ and three possible cases of graphs of ${\hat{\jmath}}(\cdot;\phi_1)$ depending on $\phi_1$. The intersection of ${\hat{\jmath}}(\cdot;\phi_1)$ and $j_{\rm{U}}$ defines the possible values in a steady-state solution.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 4. Case G1: $q_1\leq 0\leq q_2$. Possible steady-state values for zones 1 and 2. The gas injection velocity is set to $q_{\rm{G}} = 0.2 \, {\rm{cm/s}}$ in all subplots except for (d) where it is $0.35 \, {\rm{cm/s}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 5. Case G2: $q_1\leq q_2 \leq 0$. Possible steady-state values for zones 1 and 2. The value of $q_{\rm{G}}$ is set to $q_{\rm{G}} = 0.2 \; {\rm{cm/s}}$ except for plot (b2), where it is $0 \; {\rm{cm/s}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 6. Case F1: $0\leq q_2\leq q_3$. Possible steady-state values for zones 2 and 3. In the special case $q_2 = q_3$, the diagonal plots (a), (e) and (i) are the only ones where $\phi_2 = \phi_3$ occurs.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 7. Case F2, $q_2\leq0\leq q_3$: Possible intersections and steady states for zones 2 and 3.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 8. Case F3, $q_2\leq q_3\leq0$. Possible intersections and steady-state values for zones 2 and 3. (d1) and (d2) correspond to positive and negative intersection flux values in subcase (d), respectively.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 9. Case W1: $0\leq q_3\leq q_4$. Possible steady-state values for zones 3 and 4. Subcases (b) and (c) are not plotted since they are empty cases.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 10. Operating charts in which condition (G) is satisfied in (a) $(q_2, q_{\rm{G}})$-plane and (b) $(q_{\rm{U}}, q_{\rm{G}})$-plane. As usual, the unit of $q$-fluxes is ${\rm{cm/s}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 11. Operating charts in which conditions (FⅠ)-(FⅢ) are satisfied in (a) $(q_2, q_3)$-plane (where $q_3\geq q_2$ holds) and (b) $(q_{\rm{G}}, q_{\rm{F}})$-plane. The value $q_{\rm{neg}} = -2.6941\, {\rm{cm/s}}$ is not shown in these and further plots. In the latter plot, the scale of the horizontal axis is adjusted with respect to the previously chosen fixed value $q_{\rm{U}}^{\rm{SS}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 12. Operating charts in which conditions (WⅠ)-(WⅡ) are satisfied in (a) $(q_3, q_4)$-plane and (b) $(q_{\rm{F}}, q_{\rm{W}})$-plane. In the latter plot, the scale of the horizontal axis is adjusted with respect to the previously chosen fixed values $q_{\rm{U}}^{\rm{SS}}$ and $q_{\rm{G}}^{\rm{SS}}$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 13. Examples 1 and 2: possible steady states with $\phi_1 = 0$ for initial data corresponding to Figures 15(a)-(d).

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 14. Examples 1 and 2: Possible steady states with $\phi_1\in[\phi_{1 {\rm{Z}}}, 1]$ for initial data corresponding to Figures 15(e)-(h).

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 15. Examples 1 and 2: possible steady states with gas (red) and fluid (blue) fluxes.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 16. Example 1: time evolution of gas concentration from different angles.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 17. Example 1: gas concentration profiles for (a) $t = 150$, (b) $t = 300$, (c) $t = 500$ and (d) $t = 2000$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 18. Example 2: time evolution of gas concentration from different angles.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 19. Example 2: gas concentration profiles for (a) $t = 150$, (b) $t = 400$, (c) $t = 500$ and (d) $t = 2000$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 20. Example 3: possible steady states for initial data in Example 3.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 21. Example 3: gas concentration profiles for (a) $t = 150$, (b) $t = 500$, (c) $t = 1000$ and (d) $t = 2000$.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Figure 22. Example 4: Steady state with gas (red) and fluid (blue) fluxes for a desliming test.

Download: Full-size image PowerPoint slide

Table 1. Collection of possible steady states for the flotation column when $q_2 = q_{\rm{G}}-q_{\rm{U}}\geq0$. $^{(\ast)}$When $\phi_1\in[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$ then $\phi_2 = \phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}$.

$\phi_{\rm{U}}$	$\phi_1$	$\phi_2$	$\phi_3$	$\phi_4$	$\phi_{\rm{E}}$
$\displaystyle -\frac{j_1(\phi_1)}{q_{\rm{U}}}$	0 (G)	$[0, \phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}]^*$	$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$	$[0, \phi_{4{\rm{m}}}]$	$\displaystyle \frac{j_4(\phi_4)}{q_{\rm{E}}}$
	0 (G)		$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$	$\phi_{4{\rm{M}}}\;{\rm{(WI)}}$
	$[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$		$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{M}}}]\;{\rm{FII}}$
	0 (G)	$(\phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{2{\rm{M}}}]$
	$[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$	$(\phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{2{\rm{M}}}]$
	0 $(q_1=0)$	1	$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$ (FⅠ)	$[0, \phi_{4{\rm{m}}}]$
			$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$ (FⅠ)	$\phi_{4{\rm{M}}}$ (WⅠ)
			$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{M}}}]$ (FⅢ)
	1		$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{M}}}]$ (FⅢ)
	1		$[\phi_{3{\rm{M}}}, 1]$ (FⅢ)	$\phi_{4{\rm{M}}}$ (WⅡ)

| Show Table

DownLoad: CSV

Table 3. Collection of possible steady-states for the flotation column when $q_2 = q_{\rm{G}}-q_{\rm{U}}<0$. $^{(\ast)}$When $\phi_1\in[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$ then $\phi_2 = \phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}$.

$\phi_{\rm{U}}$	$\phi_1$	$\phi_2$	$\phi_3$	$\phi_4$	$\phi_{\rm{E}}$
$\displaystyle -\frac{j_1(\phi_1)}{q_{\rm{U}}}$	0 (G)	$[0, \phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}]^*$	$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$	$[0, \phi_{4{\rm{m}}}]$	$\displaystyle \frac{j_4(\phi_4)}{q_{\rm{E}}}$
			$[0, \phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}]$	$\phi_{4{\rm{M}}}$ (WⅠ)
			$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{M}}}]$ (FⅡ) $q_3\geq 0$
	$[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$		$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{Z}}}]$ ${q_3} \le 0$
	0 (G)	$(\phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{2{\rm{Z}}}]$	$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{M}}}]$ (FⅡ) $q_3\geq 0$
	$[\phi_{1{\rm{Z}}}, 1]$	$(\phi_{2}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{2{\rm{Z}}}]$	$(\phi_{3}^{\rm{M}}, \phi_{3{\rm{Z}}}]$ ${q_3} \le 0$

| Show Table

DownLoad: CSV

Table 2. Admissible (green) and inadmissible (red) paths for steady-state construction in Table 1.

| Show Table

DownLoad: CSV

Table 4. Examples 1 and 2: admissible paths for steady states with $\phi_1 = 0$, corresponding to steady states (a)-(d) in Figure 13.

| Show Table

DownLoad: CSV

Related Papers

Cited by

References

[1]	B. Andreianov, K. H. Karlsen and N. H. Risebro, A theory of $L^1$-dissipative solvers for scalar conservation laws with discontinuous flux, Arch. Rational Mech. Anal., 201 (2011), 27-86. doi: 10.1007/s00205-010-0389-4.
[2]	O. A. Bascur, Example of a dynamic flotation framework, In: Centenary of Flotation Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, 6-9 June 2005, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Publication Series, 2005, 85-91.
[3]	R. Bürger, S. Diehl, S. Farås, I. Nopens and E. Torfs, A consistent modelling methodology for secondary settling tanks: A reliable numerical method, Water Sci. Technol., 68 (2013), 192-208.
[4]	R. Bürger, S. Diehl and C. Mejías, A difference scheme for a degenerating convection-diffusion-reaction system modelling continuous sedimentation, ESAIM: Math. Model. Numer. Anal., to appear.
[5]	R. Bürger and K. H. Karlsen, Conservation laws with discontinuous flux: A short introduction, J. Eng. Math., 60 (2008), 241-247. doi: 10.1007/s10665-008-9213-7.
[6]	R. Bürger, A. García, K. H. Karlsen and J. D. Towers, On an extended clarifier-thickener model with singular source and sink terms, Eur. J. Appl. Math., 17 (2006), 257-292. doi: 10.1017/S0956792506006619.
[7]	R. Bürger, A. García, K. H. Karlsen and J. D. Towers, A family of numerical schemes for kinematic flows with discontinuous flux, J. Eng. Math., 60 (2008), 387-425. doi: 10.1007/s10665-007-9148-4.
[8]	R. Bürger, K. H. Karlsen, N. H. Risebro and J. D. Towers, Well-posedness in $BV_t$ and convergence of a difference scheme for continuous sedimentation in ideal clarifier-thickener units, Numer. Math., 97 (2004), 25-65. doi: 10.1007/s00211-003-0503-8.
[9]	R. Bürger, K. H. Karlsen, H. Torres and J. D. Towers, Second-order schemes for conservation laws with discontinuous flux modelling clarifier-thickener units, Numer. Math., 116 (2010), 579-617. doi: 10.1007/s00211-010-0325-4.
[10]	R. Bürger, K. H. Karlsen and J. D. Towers, A model of continuous sedimentation of flocculated suspensions in clarifier-thickener units, SIAM J. Appl. Math., 65 (2005), 882-940. doi: 10.1137/04060620X.
[11]	R. Bürger, K. H. Karlsen and J. D. Towers, On some difference schemes and entropy conditions for a class of multi-species kinematic flow models with discontinuous flux, Netw. Heterog. Media, 5 (2010), 461-485. doi: 10.3934/nhm.2010.5.461.
[12]	J. M. Coulson, J. F. Richardson, J. R. Backhurst and J. H. Harker, Coulson and Richardson's Chemical Engineering. Volume 2: Particle Technology and Separation Processes, Fourth Ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2000.
[13]	J. E. Dickinson and K. P. Galvin, Fluidized bed desliming in fine particle flotation, Part Ⅰ, Chem. Eng. Sci., 108 (2014), 283-298. doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2013.11.006.
[14]	S. Diehl, On scalar conservation laws with point source and discontinuous flux function, SIAM J. Math. Anal., 26 (1995), 1425-1451. doi: 10.1137/S0036141093242533.
[15]	S. Diehl, A conservation law with point source and discontinuous flux function modelling continuous sedimentation, SIAM J. Appl. Math., 56 (1996), 388-419. doi: 10.1137/S0036139994242425.
[16]	S. Diehl, Operating charts for continuous sedimentation Ⅰ: Control of steady states, J. Eng. Math., 41 (2001), 117-144. doi: 10.1023/A:1011959425670.
[17]	S. Diehl, Operating charts for continuous sedimentation Ⅱ: Step responses, J. Eng. Math., 53 (2005), 139-185. doi: 10.1007/s10665-005-6430-1.
[18]	S. Diehl, A uniqueness condition for nonlinear convection-diffusion equations with discontinuous coefficients, J. Hyperbolic Differential Equations, 6 (2009), 127-159. doi: 10.1142/S0219891609001794.
[19]	S. Diehl, Numerical identification of constitutive functions in scalar nonlinear convection-diffusion equations with application to batch sedimentation, Appl. Numer. Math., 95 (2015), 154-172. doi: 10.1016/j.apnum.2014.04.002.
[20]	S. Diehl, S. Farås and G. Mauritsson, Fast reliable simulations of secondary settling tanks in wastewater treatment with semi-implicit time discretization, Comput. Math. Appl., 70 (2015), 459-477. doi: 10.1016/j.camwa.2015.05.005.
[21]	J. A. Finch and G. S. Dobby, Column Flotation, Pergamon Press, London, 1990.
[22]	K. P. Galvin and J. E. Dickinson, bed desliming in fine particle flotation Part Ⅱ: Flotation of a model feed, Chem. Eng. Sci., 108 (2014), 299-309. doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2013.11.027.
[23]	S. K. Godunov, Finite difference methods for numerical computation of discontinuous solutions of equations of fluid dynamics, Mat. Sb., 47 (1959), 271-306.
[24]	H. Holden and N. H. Risebro, Front Tracking for Hyperbolic Conservation Laws, Second Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2015. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-47507-2.
[25]	P. M. Ireland and G. J. Jameson, Liquid transport in multi-layer froths, J. Colloid Interf. Sci., 314 (2007), 207-213.
[26]	S. N. Kružkov, First order quasilinear equations in several independent variables, Math. USSR-Sb., 10 (1970), 217-243.
[27]	D. E. Langberg and G. J. Jameson, The coexistence of the froth and liquid phases in a flotation column, Chem. Eng. Sci., 47 (1992), 4345-4355. doi: 10.1016/0009-2509(92)85113-P.
[28]	S. Mishra, Numerical methods for conservation laws with discontinuous coefficients, Chapter 18 in R. Abgrall and C.-W. Shu (eds.), Handbook of Numerical Methods for Hyperbolic Problems: Applied and Modern Issues, North Holland, 18 (2017), 479-506.
[29]	G. Narsimhan, Analysis of creaming and formation of foam layer in aerated liquid, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 345 (2010), 566-572. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2010.02.003.
[30]	O. A. Oleinik, Uniqueness and stability of the generalized solution of the Cauchy problem for a quasi-linear equation Uspekhi Mat. Nauk., 14 (1959), 165-170. Amer. Math. Soc. Trans. Ser. 2, 33 (1964), 285-290.
[31]	R. Pal and J. H. Masliyah, Flow characterization of a flotation column, Canad. J. Chem. Eng., 67 (1989), 916-923. doi: 10.1002/cjce.5450670608.
[32]	R. Pal and J. H. Masliyah, Oil recovery from oil in water emulsions using a flotation column, Canad. J. Chem. Eng., 68 (1990), 959-967. doi: 10.1002/cjce.5450680611.
[33]	C.-H. Park, N. Subasinghe and O.-J. Han, Amenability testing of fine coal beneficiation using laboratory flotation column, Materials Transactions, 56 (2015), 766-773.
[34]	J. F. Richardson and W. N. Zaki, Sedimentation and fluidisation: Part Ⅰ, Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 75 (1997), 82-100. doi: 10.1016/S0263-8762(97)80006-8.
[35]	K. Rietema, Science and technology of dispersed two-phase systems—Ⅰ and Ⅱ, Chem. Eng. Sci., 37 (1982), 1125-1150. doi: 10.1016/0009-2509(82)85058-6.
[36]	A. Rushton, A. S. Ward and R. G. Holdich, Solid-Liquid Filtration and Separation Technology, Wiley Online Library, 2008. doi: 10.1002/9783527614974.
[37]	P. Stevenson, S. Ata and G. M. Evans, Convective-dispersive gangue transport in flotation froth, Chem. Eng. Sci., 62 (2007), 5736-5744.
[38]	P. Stevenson, P. S. Fennell and K. P. Galvin, On the drift-flux analysis of flotation and foam fractionation processes, Canad. J. Chem. Eng., 86 (2008), 635-642. doi: 10.1002/cjce.20076.
[39]	J. Vandenberghe, J. Chung, Z. Xu and J. Masliyah, Drift flux modelling for a two-phase system in a flotation column, Canad. J. Chem. Eng., 83 (2005), 169-176.
[40]	G. B. Wallis, One-Dimensional two-Phase Flow, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969.
[41]	G. B. Wallis, The terminal speed of single drops or bubbled in an infinite medium, Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 1 (1974), 491-511.
[42]	B. A. Wills and T. J. Napier-Munn, Wills' Mineral Processing Technology, Seventh Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2006.
[43]	J. B. Yianatos, J. A. Finch, G. S. Dobby and M. Xiu, Bubble size estimation in a bubble swarm, J. Colloid Interf. Sci., 126 (1988), 37-44. doi: 10.1016/0021-9797(88)90096-3.
[44]	Z. A. Zhou and N. O. Egiebor, A gas-liquid drift-flux model for flotation columns, Minerals Eng., 6 (1993), 199-205.