The Falconbridge Innovation Award
2007 winner –
Mineral Processing Group, Department of Mining, Metals
and Materials Engineering, McGill University. Principal Innovators: Dr.
Cesar O. Gomez and Prof. James A. Finch
“In recognition of the development of a unique gas dispersion technology in
flotation, providing operators and researchers, from laboratory scale to plant use
worldwide with valuable new understanding of the process.”
McGill Gas Dispersion Technology
Flotation requires the dispersion of gas (air) in to bubbles. Three
variables characterize the dispersion, air hold-up, bubble size and air
velocity. The McGill technology is based around three devices (sensors) to
measure these variables. The sensors are characterized by their elegance
combined with simplicity and ruggedness that has permitted application
in plant. The results have provided new insight into the performance of
flotation cells of use to operators and modelers alike. McGill teams alone
have conducted campaigns at over 20 sites on 5 continents over the last 10
years helping transfer the technology world-wide. Based on the data,
plants have made adjustments to the process that have realized substantial
benefits.
PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE FALCONBRIDGE INNOVATION AWARD
1989 - 2007
1989 - Stelco Inc. (Stelco Coilbox)
1990 - Inco Limited (Pressure Carbonyl Process)
1991 - G. Savard and R. Lee (annular tuyere)
1992 - Sherritt Gordon Limited (Zinc Pressure Leach Process)
1993 - Noranda Minerals Inc. (Noranda Process)
1994 - Hatch Associates Limited (Solid Copper Cooling Systems for Furnace
Refractory Protection)
1995 - Timminco Metals and L.M. Pidgeon (The Pidgeon Magnesium Process)
1996 - No award
1997 - Inco Limited (The Oxygen Flash Smelting Process)
1998 - Noranda Inc. (The Gaspé Puncher)
1999 - Facility for the Analysis of Chemical Thermodynamics (The F*A*C*T
Computational System) – C.W. Bale, G. Eriksson, A.D. Pelton, W.T.
Thompson
2000 - Falconbridge Kidd Metallurgical facility (Kidd Process Technology)
2001 - No award
2002 - QIT-Fer et Titane (UGS Process)
2003 - CEZinc (Jarofix Process)
2004 - Dynatec (Refractory for the Gold Pressure Oxidation)
2005 - Eco-Tec (Acid Purification Unit - APU)
2006 - Inco Ltd. (SO2/Air Process)
2007 - McGill Gas Dispersion Sensor Technology
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