Abstract
In this thesis, the Ugelstad flotation column was modeled and simulated in laminar flow regime with the intention of exploring the possibility of using the CFD as predictive method. The simulation setup comprised of five spargers whereas the corresponding laboratory experiment used three. The main purpose was to determine how different sparger configurations affect bubble dynamics and flotation efficiency. The results of CFD simulations show that bubble collisions are mainly function of buoyancy forces with no contribution from laminar shear. This implies that in laminar flow condition, droplet bubble and bubble interactions can be modeled with simplified formulation of the collisions as being shear induced. This could help to reduce the computational cost without compromising the accuracy of the solution. To improve the simulation of air bubbles behavior in the flotation column, a population balance model was incorporated into the CFD model. This model captured important features including the size distribution, growth and collapse of bubbles which are important determinants of the flotation efficiency. Furthermore, the CFD model was integrated with various flotation kinetic models in order to determine the most suitable model for describing the oil rejection rate. The study also investigated the oil recovery factor at different time intervals and different heights of the column to fully characterize the spatial-temporal behavior of the flotation process. The implications of the findings are useful in the improvement of flotation systems for the separation of oils especially in laminar flow condition.