Direct detection of the pulp-froth interface using the ultrasound transit time technique


Direct detection of the pulp-froth interface using the ultrasound transit time technique

Richter, T.; Heitkam, S.; Eckert, K.

The 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 employ a non-invasive technique, the so called ultrasound transit time technique (UTTT).
In UTTT, a transducer sends Ultrasound pulses of several MHz through the pulp. The pulses are reflected at the pulp-froth interface. The echoes are recorded by the emitting transducer and the time-of-flight is computed.
The vertical position of this interface is calculated by multiplying the time-of-flight with the speed of sound of the pulp. The latter is determined simultaneously by a second transducer, using a target plate which is placed at a known height in the pulp, simultaneously. Based on detailed measurements, the capabilities of the method are evaluated for a pulp-air and a pulp-froth interface in a lab-scale setup. The accuracy is found to be equal to better than 3%.

  • Poster
    Flotation 2019, 11.-14.11.2019, Cape Town, South Africa

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-30637
Publ.-Id: 30637