Detection of the pulp-froth interface using the ultrasound transit time technique

The vertical position of the pulp-froth interface in a flotation cell is an important parameter in froth flotation processes which needs to be controlled in situ. For this purpose, we introduce the ultrasound transit time technique (UTTT), a non-invasive technique for detecting and measuring the position of this interface. Based on lab-scale experiments, the method is evaluated for a pulp-air and a pulp-froth interface. The technique was found to be well applicable in pulp with up to 21% particle mass fraction. In a container with 80 mm height the accuracy is found to equal 1mm.