A stochastic approach for measuring bubble size distribution via image analysis

A solution to the bubble clusters problem

W. Kracht, X. Emery, A. Egaa
ALGES laboratory, Mining Engineering Department Universidad de Chile

Outline
Introduction
Bubble size distribution measurement Classical image analysis

Stochastic approach
Geometric covariogram

Results on simulated images Conclusions

Bubble Size Distribution (BSD) measurement

Bubble size estimation, e.g., drift flux analysis.
It is not clear what is the role of chemistry on the model

UCT: bubbles sampled with a capillary.

Underestimation of BSD

Bubble Size Distribution (BSD) measurement

Sampling for image technique.
Bubbles sampled from the pulp and imaged in a viewing chamber (bubble viewer)

Camera

Viewing chamber

Lamp

Sampling tube

Classical Image analysis: pre-process

Image converted from 24-bit RGB to 8-bit gray scale and later to a binary image.

Classical Image analysis: segmentation

Object recognition: each set of adjacent black pixels is recognized as an object and four cases are defined:
Single Bubbles Single Bubbles (edge)

Bubble Clusters Bubble Clusters (edge)

Cluster processing
Three alternatives:
Watershed Manual processing Assume they are representative and neglect them
Watershed

Manual processing

Neglect them

Stochastic approach
The images can be modelled as a stochastic process:
A set of circular objects, with varying diameters, disposed randomly over the area of the picture (Boolean model)

Geometric covariogram of a disc (2D-bubble)

The geometric covariogram of an object has information of its geometric properties

Geometric covariogram of a disc (800 pixels)

Geometric covariogram of a distribution

The geometric covariogram of a distribution of discs or bubbles is represented by the average of single covariograms

BSD (100% 800p)

BSD (5% 200p, 20% 400p, 5% 800p)

Extracting geometric properties of an image

The geometric covariogram of an image can be estimated directly from the image before segmentation. Instead of calculating the covariogram of single objects, one calculates the probability that two points distant by a distance h, simultaneously belong to the background of the image. This approach takes much shorter than classical image analysis (1 to 10% of the time for segmentationwatershed).

Simulated images
100 bubble images were simulated as a Boolean model with sizes following a log-normal distribution with d10 = 1.0 mm and d32 = 1.4 mm.
15 12

Number frequency, %

0 0 1 2 3 4

Diameter, mm

Results
The 100 images are processed by both methods: classical image analysis, neglecting bubble clusters (left); and the stochastic approach (right).
15 15 12 12

Number frequency, %

Number frequency, %
0 1 2 3 4

0 0 1 2 3 4

Diameter, mm

Diameter, mm

Results
Neglecting bubble clusters makes large bubbles to be underestimated. Indeed, in the simulation, d10 and d32 are underestimated by 10 and 14% respectively. The bubble surface area flux is then overestimated by 16-17%.

Conclusions
Both, bubble clusters and bubbles truncated by the edge of the image should be considered. Not considering them leads to bubble size underestimation. It is possible to determine the bubble size distribution without applying classical image analysis. If bubble clusters are not a problem, the sensor (bubble viewer) geometry can be modified: there is no need for the sloped window.

Acknowledgements
ALGES laboratory, where the technique is being developed. AMTC (Advanced Mining Technology Center) for supporting this investigation.

A stochastic approach for measuring bubble size distribution via image analysis
A solution to the bubble clusters problem
W. Kracht, X. Emery, A. Egaa
ALGES laboratory, Mining Engineering Department Universidad de Chile