An on-line machine vision flotation froth analysis platform

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Froth flotation is a popular process used for the extraction of certain minerals from ore.The effective automatic control of this process has great financial importance. Utilisingmachine vision as the measurement component of an automatic flotation control systemhas several advantages: it is a cost effective solution due to its non-contacting sensorsand consequent low maintenance, as well as its low initial setup costs; it yields consistentand accurate parameters; and the measurements it makes are available immediately, thusenabling real-time control and minimising the effects of process disturbances rapidly andefficiently. In addition, machine vision can be used as a research tool for investigating frothflotation, a process which is still not fully understood.This work documents the development of an on-line machine vision flotation froth analysisplatform that is in use in the industry as the measurement component of an advancedflotation control system and in the academic world as a powerful research tool. Twoadditional froth analysis applications, namely an embedded froth mobility sensor for use inthe flotation industry and a continuous froth video sampling and analysis research platform,are developed in the course of this work.An investigation into continuous video sampling and analysis of flotation froth is performedfor the first time and indicates that this mode of froth image acquisition yields more informationthan traditional froth imaging methods. Recommendations are made with respectto the practical application of continuous froth video sampling and analysis.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University