Ultrasound imaging techniques in density separation of polyolefin waste

Ultrasound imaging techniques are investigated using a multi-element sensor array for purposes of monitoring and measurement ofpolyolefin waste particles inside the black ferrous liquid ofa magnetic density separator (MDS). A medical ultrasound imaging system with real-time capability was adapted first to assess the potential of imaging technology inside the MDS. An image processing routine was developed to determine the depth distribution of the detected particles as they are carried by the flow in the MDS channel. This real-time information is vital for optimizing the splitter position, which directly influences quality and recovery of the MDS polyolefin products. Despite successes in the laboratory, the medical technology proved unsatisfactory for continuous high-quality image forming in the industrial set-up as it requires regular operator intervention. Therefore, research has been initiated into alternative imaging methods, which are also being investigated in other fields such as non-destructive testing and geophysics. The influence of different ultrasound datasets and related image-forming techniques were investigated, for which dedicated algorithms were implemented in Matlab. The main advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques are addressed. It is concluded that the alternative imaging methods may be more robust and deliver higher image quality compared to the commercial medical imager. In particular, sizing of polyolefin particles may improve significantly if the method takes into account the correct ultrasound velocities of both the ferrous liquid and the immersed polyolefin particles.