Online Pulp Sensor

Pulp metrics like Bubble Size, JG, Gas Holdup and Bubble Surface Flux are key in flotation optimisation. Bubble size metrics
are used to determine optimal frother dosage, JG is used to find optimal operating point in grade/recovery curve and Bubble
surface flux relates to flotation rate. Up until now, only offline measurements on industrial cells have been available.
Introducing the Stone Three Online Pulp Sensor; In situ machine vision based online measurement of Bubble size, Bubble
rise velocity and Gas-holdup.

Key Benefits
•
PRODUCT BROCHURE

It is real-time and continuous, this enables a measurement that is statistically representative

• Wear resistant housing to withstand prolonged operation inside the cell
• Low Maintenance : Utilizes self cleaning principles
• Unique camera and lighting setup provides high quality in-situ images
• Utilises high frame rate cameras to track bubbles
Key Measurements
• Bubble Size – Sauter Mean and full size distribution
• Gas holdup and JG
• Bubble Rise velocity
• Measures bubbles from 0.18mm to 20.0mm
• Measurement rate : 1Hz
 Advantages over existing measurements
In-situ measurement allows eliminates;
• Pressure corrections
• Density corrections and
• Collection pipes and viewing chambers that can cause
bubble coalescence
Online measurements allows for continuous real time
measurements which is ideal for control systems. Machine
Vision images provides tangible view of pulp phase which are
useful for contextualizing data.
Key Flotation Benefits
Goals:
• Gas Holdup – maximise cell volume and residence
time
• Bubble Size – ensure target bubble size distribution is
achieved
• JG – keep air rate in optimal range. Targeting optimal
bank profile (e.g. high to low)
• Bubble surface flux – achieve ideal target value
• Maximise time in optimal process state

Comparison with APBS Levers:

Data campaign performed on platinum rougher cell • Frother dosage optimisation
Experiment design included air, level and frother steps • Air and Level optimization
Data captured using APBS and online pulp sensor • Agitator health monitoring
Sensor models showed to capture the trend and variance of • Since the device provides real-time measurements it
the APBS measurements. is ideally suited for utilization in control systems

Bubble size over a week:

© Stone Three 2020

24 Gardner Williams Avenue,

Paardevlei, Somerset Wset
Wesern Cape, South Africa 7130 www.stonethree.com
Tel: +27 21 851 3123
Email: info@stonethree.com