Linear, spatio-temporally resolved ultrasound measurement of the liquid fraction distribution in froth
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Hannes Emmerich
Hannes Emmerich studied mechatronics at the TU Dresden and received his Diploma in 2019. Since 2020, he is a research fellow with the laboratory for measurement and sensor system techniques and member of the ultrasound imaging group. His research currently focusses on ultrasound measurement methods in the low kilohertz range. High attenuating materials as liquid foam restrict typical measurement methods. Overcoming this problem by using new materials, image and signal processing is therefore his main goal.
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Ludwig Schaller
Ludwig Schaller was born in Schweinfurt, Germany, in 1993. He studied electrical engineering at the TU Dresden and received his Diploma degree in 2020. Since 2021 he has been a research assistant at the laboratory for measurement and sensor system techniques. He is a member of the ultrasound imaging group. His research interests include ultrasound measurement methods, signal processing and the development of electronic prototypes.
Richard Nauber (Member, IEEE) received the Diploma degree in mechatronics and the Dr.Ing. degree in electrical engineering from the Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Dresden, Germany, in 2010 and 2018, respectively. He worked as an Embedded Software Developer for a renewable energy company afterwards. Since 2012, he has been a Research Fellow and Head of the Ultrasound Imaging Group at the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Techniques. He currently works as Postdoctoral Researcher in the Micro- and Nanobiomedical Engineering Group at Leibniz IFW Dresden. His research interests include computational ultrasound and photoacoustical imaging especially for biomedical applications. Dr. Nauber received the Best Dissertation Award from the Gisela und Erwin Sick Foundation in 2018.
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Leon Knüpfer
Leon Knüpfer studied mechanical engineering at the TU Dresden, where he graduated in 2020. Currently he is a research fellow with the institute of fluid dynamics at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. His main research interests include the development of experimental techniques for characterization of liquid foam.
Sascha Heitkam studied mechanical engineering at the TU Dresden and graduated best of class in 2010. In 2014 he received a Ph.D. (cotutelle) from the TU Dresden and the Université Paris Sud in the field of fluid mechanics. Since then, he is a research fellow and project leader at TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Since 2018 he heads the group of Multiphase Flow and Measurement in the department of Transport Processes at Interfaces. Since 2020 he also heads an Emmy-Noether research group regarding Fluid Mechanics of Foam and Froth. His main research interest is the development of measurement techniques for aqueous foam and their application in generic flows as well as in froth flotation.
Jürgen Czarske (SM’15) has received the Diploma and the Ph.D. degrees from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany. From 1986 to 1991, he was supported by a scholarship from the company Siemens AG. From 1991 to 1996, he was with the Leibniz University. From 1995 to 2004, he was responsible for metrology at the Laser Center Hannover (LZH e. V.). As a visiting scholar, he conducted research in Japan and the USA from 1996 to 2001. Since 2004, he is the director of the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique. Since January 2016, he is director of the Institute of Circuits and Systems. His awards include the 1996 AHMT Measurement Technology Award, one 2008 Berthold Leibinger Innovation Award, one 2014 Reinhart Koselleck project of the German Research Foundation, the 2019 Joseph Fraunhofer Prize and the Robert M. Burley Prize of the Optical Society (OSA) and the 2020 Laser Instrumentation Award of IEEE Photonics Society. Jürgen is associate editor of the Journal of the European Optical Society – Rapid Publications, advisor of the Student Chapter Dresden of SPIE, elected member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Society for Laser Technology (WLT e. V.). Jürgen has published around 200 international articles in peer-reviewed journals, held over 100 invited lectures and holds more than 20 patents. His research aims on the universal control and application of coherent waves using adaptive digital systems. Jürgen is Life Fellow of OSA and SPIE, Fellow of EOS and IET (formerly IEE), and senior member of IEEE.
Lars Büttner studied physics at Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. Since 1999, he was a research fellow with the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH e. V.), Germany. He received a Ph.D. degree in physics from Leibniz Universität Hannover, in 2004. Since 2005, he has been with TU Dresden, Germany, where he is currently the head of the Flow Measurement and Adaptive Laser Systems Group at the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique. His current research interests include laser- and ultrasound-based measurement techniques and adaptive optical systems. He is co-recipient of the international Berthold Leibinger Innovation Prize (3rd prize) in 2008.
Abstract
Froth flotation is an important process for separating metal particles from gangue. A single flotation circuit for copper uses approx. 44 billion litres water a year. In situ process monitoring of the foam’s parameters and closed-loop control can reduce the resource use. However, no measurement technique is broadly employed that yields the liquid fraction distribution in the froth. Optical measurements are prevented by the bulk foam’s opacity. Though, ultrasound in the low frequency range is able to penetrate froth.
In this paper we investigate the application of ultrasound to measure the local liquid content of aqueous foam in the axis of the ultrasound beam. Assuming a dependency of the backscattering coefficient b on the foam’s liquid fraction ϕ, we developed a model to calculate b from the echo signal. Local backscattering coefficients
We demonstrated the capability of spatio-temporally resolved measurements with a frame rate of 0.33 Hz and an axial resolution of 7.9 mm in an experiment with a time-varying, inhomogeneous liquid fraction. This research work is contributing to a determination of in situ information of the foam’s parameter in a flotation process.
Zusammenfassung
Schaumflotation ist ein wichtiges Verfahren zur Trennung von Metallpartikeln vom tauben Gestein. Ein einziger Flotationskreislauf für Kupfer verbraucht ca. 44 Milliarden Liter Wasser pro Jahr. Eine In situ Prozessüberwachung der Schaumparameter und eine geschlossene Regelung können den Ressourcenverbrauch reduzieren. Dennoch ist keine Messtechnik etabliert, die den Flüssigkeitsgehalt im Schaum ermittelt. Optische Messungen werden durch die Opazität des Schaums verhindert. Geeignete In-situ-Messtechnik, insbesondere hinsichtlich der Strömung und der Zusammensetzung des Schaums, sind daher erforderlich. Ultraschall im niederen Frequenzbereich ist jedoch in der Lage, den Schaum zu durchdringen. In dieser Arbeit untersuchen wir die Anwendung von Ultraschall zur Messung des lokalen Flüssigkeitsgehaltes in wässrigem Schaum auf der Achse der Ultraschallausbreitung. Unter der Annahme einer Abhängigkeit des Rückstreuungskoeffizienten b vom Flüssigkeitsgehalt ϕ des Schaums entwickelten wir ein Modell zur Berechnung von b aus dem Echoignal. Lokale Rückstreuungskoeffizienten
Funding source: Allianz Industrie Forschung
Award Identifier / Grant number: 21151 BR
Funding statement: The IGF project No. 21151 BR of the research association DECHEMA, Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e. V., Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy through the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) within the framework of the program for the promotion of joint industrial research (IGF) on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag.
About the authors
Hannes Emmerich studied mechatronics at the TU Dresden and received his Diploma in 2019. Since 2020, he is a research fellow with the laboratory for measurement and sensor system techniques and member of the ultrasound imaging group. His research currently focusses on ultrasound measurement methods in the low kilohertz range. High attenuating materials as liquid foam restrict typical measurement methods. Overcoming this problem by using new materials, image and signal processing is therefore his main goal.
Ludwig Schaller was born in Schweinfurt, Germany, in 1993. He studied electrical engineering at the TU Dresden and received his Diploma degree in 2020. Since 2021 he has been a research assistant at the laboratory for measurement and sensor system techniques. He is a member of the ultrasound imaging group. His research interests include ultrasound measurement methods, signal processing and the development of electronic prototypes.
Richard Nauber (Member, IEEE) received the Diploma degree in mechatronics and the Dr.Ing. degree in electrical engineering from the Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Dresden, Germany, in 2010 and 2018, respectively. He worked as an Embedded Software Developer for a renewable energy company afterwards. Since 2012, he has been a Research Fellow and Head of the Ultrasound Imaging Group at the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Techniques. He currently works as Postdoctoral Researcher in the Micro- and Nanobiomedical Engineering Group at Leibniz IFW Dresden. His research interests include computational ultrasound and photoacoustical imaging especially for biomedical applications. Dr. Nauber received the Best Dissertation Award from the Gisela und Erwin Sick Foundation in 2018.
Leon Knüpfer studied mechanical engineering at the TU Dresden, where he graduated in 2020. Currently he is a research fellow with the institute of fluid dynamics at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. His main research interests include the development of experimental techniques for characterization of liquid foam.
Sascha Heitkam studied mechanical engineering at the TU Dresden and graduated best of class in 2010. In 2014 he received a Ph.D. (cotutelle) from the TU Dresden and the Université Paris Sud in the field of fluid mechanics. Since then, he is a research fellow and project leader at TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Since 2018 he heads the group of Multiphase Flow and Measurement in the department of Transport Processes at Interfaces. Since 2020 he also heads an Emmy-Noether research group regarding Fluid Mechanics of Foam and Froth. His main research interest is the development of measurement techniques for aqueous foam and their application in generic flows as well as in froth flotation.
Jürgen Czarske (SM’15) has received the Diploma and the Ph.D. degrees from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany. From 1986 to 1991, he was supported by a scholarship from the company Siemens AG. From 1991 to 1996, he was with the Leibniz University. From 1995 to 2004, he was responsible for metrology at the Laser Center Hannover (LZH e. V.). As a visiting scholar, he conducted research in Japan and the USA from 1996 to 2001. Since 2004, he is the director of the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique. Since January 2016, he is director of the Institute of Circuits and Systems. His awards include the 1996 AHMT Measurement Technology Award, one 2008 Berthold Leibinger Innovation Award, one 2014 Reinhart Koselleck project of the German Research Foundation, the 2019 Joseph Fraunhofer Prize and the Robert M. Burley Prize of the Optical Society (OSA) and the 2020 Laser Instrumentation Award of IEEE Photonics Society. Jürgen is associate editor of the Journal of the European Optical Society – Rapid Publications, advisor of the Student Chapter Dresden of SPIE, elected member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Society for Laser Technology (WLT e. V.). Jürgen has published around 200 international articles in peer-reviewed journals, held over 100 invited lectures and holds more than 20 patents. His research aims on the universal control and application of coherent waves using adaptive digital systems. Jürgen is Life Fellow of OSA and SPIE, Fellow of EOS and IET (formerly IEE), and senior member of IEEE.
Lars Büttner studied physics at Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. Since 1999, he was a research fellow with the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH e. V.), Germany. He received a Ph.D. degree in physics from Leibniz Universität Hannover, in 2004. Since 2005, he has been with TU Dresden, Germany, where he is currently the head of the Flow Measurement and Adaptive Laser Systems Group at the Laboratory of Measurement and Sensor System Technique. His current research interests include laser- and ultrasound-based measurement techniques and adaptive optical systems. He is co-recipient of the international Berthold Leibinger Innovation Prize (3rd prize) in 2008.
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© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Beiträge
- Qualifizierung von Gleichstrom-Elektrizitätszählern für Schnellladestationen
- Flow distortion effect on electromagnetic flowmeter and mitigation using magnetic flux manipulation
- Dynamic water fill level measurement using a phantom-dependent adaptive electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) method
- Kombinierte Abstands- und Materialerkennung mit induktiven Näherungssensoren
- Stitched open-loop measurements with a focal-distance-modulated confocal sensor
- Eigenerwärmung von Widerstandsthermometern für Lufttemperaturmessungen bei Impulstromspeisung
- Linear, spatio-temporally resolved ultrasound measurement of the liquid fraction distribution in froth
- NMR spectroscopy threshold signal-to-noise ratio
- Investigations on the positioning accuracy of the Nano Fabrication Machine (NFM-100)
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Beiträge
- Qualifizierung von Gleichstrom-Elektrizitätszählern für Schnellladestationen
- Flow distortion effect on electromagnetic flowmeter and mitigation using magnetic flux manipulation
- Dynamic water fill level measurement using a phantom-dependent adaptive electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) method
- Kombinierte Abstands- und Materialerkennung mit induktiven Näherungssensoren
- Stitched open-loop measurements with a focal-distance-modulated confocal sensor
- Eigenerwärmung von Widerstandsthermometern für Lufttemperaturmessungen bei Impulstromspeisung
- Linear, spatio-temporally resolved ultrasound measurement of the liquid fraction distribution in froth
- NMR spectroscopy threshold signal-to-noise ratio
- Investigations on the positioning accuracy of the Nano Fabrication Machine (NFM-100)
