Flotation machine RFC™ series

Overview
The REFLUX™ Flotation Cell (RFC™) from FLSmidth is a high‑throughput flotation solution engineered to deliver significantly higher processing capacity with a reduced plant footprint. The RFC operates at elevated gas and feed fluxes and uses fluidisation (wash) water to enable up to tenfold higher throughput versus conventional cells while achieving refined separation efficiency.

Key benefits

• Reduced CAPEX and OPEX by replacing multiple conventional flotation cells and lowering required flotation volume and footprint.
• Enhanced grade and recovery through improved hydrodynamics and high‑shear bubble–particle contacting.
• Lower operating costs: reduced power consumption (up to ~30%), reduced air usage (up to ~65%) and reduced wash‑water compared with froth‑washing technologies.
• High throughput (up to 10× conventional cells) facilitating capacity increases and footprint minimisation.

How it works

• High‑shear pre‑contacting spargers and inclined channels enable air‑flooded operation and generate finer bubbles, increasing bubble surface area flux (reported up to ~4× vs traditional cells).
• Bubble–particle contact occurs in a high shear‑rate environment to boost collision and attachment rates.
• Fluidisation (counter‑current wash) water provides effective washing and gangue rejection, improving product grade without a distinct froth–pulp interface.
• RFC design elements (lamella and fluidised‑bed features) enable finer separation at lower pressures and reduced power per tonne processed.

Applications

• Rougher, scavenger and cleaner flotation duties.
• Tailings reprocessing and capacity upgrades on existing flotation circuits — easy retrofit with lower CAPEX.
• High‑throughput operations requiring compact plant footprint and improved water/energy efficiency.

Models and selection
The RFC product family includes multiple models. Select model and sizing to match site capacity and process requirements.

Models comparison (excerpt)

• RFC300 | Diameter: 300 mm | Total feed slurry: 5–13 m3/h | Wash water: 1–5 m3/h | Gas: 2–13 Am3/h
• RFC500 | Diameter: 500 mm | Total feed slurry: 14–35 m3/h | Wash water: 1–14 m3/h | Gas: 5–35 Am3/h

Maintenance & service
The manufacturer provides aftermarket support including spare and wear parts supply, preventive maintenance programmes, technical support, troubleshooting, circuit audits and operator/maintenance training to maximise uptime and lifecycle performance.

Technical specifications

• Technology: REFLUX™ Flotation Cell (RFC™) combining pre‑contacting spargers, inclined channels, lamella/fluidised‑bed features and counter‑current fluidisation wash water.
• Performance: up to 10× throughput vs conventional flotation cells; up to ~4× bubble surface area flux vs traditional cells.
• Operational efficiencies: potential reductions in power (up to ~30%), air (up to ~65%) and wash water vs froth‑washing flotation technologies.
• Applications: rougher, scavenger, cleaner flotation; tailings reprocessing; retrofit capacity increases.
• Representative models: RFC300, RFC500, RFC1400, RFC2000, RFC3000, RFC3600.
• Design features: pressurised chamber with safety relief, safe lifting lugs and compliance with global safety standards.