RU2803033C1 - Method for determining the degree of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: process control.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to control of production processes by optical means and to a method for determining the degree of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures. The method includes remote scanning of the mixture surface, processing the resulting image using RGB computer colour models with decomposing the colour of each point of the mixture surface image into three components, calculating the entropy of optoleptic information and determining the degree of homogeneity of the mixed heterogeneous mixture by the entropy value of optoleptic information. When taking measurements, a thermal indicator is used, which is one of the mixed components. If the components to be mixed have a close temperature, the thermal indicator is preheated or cooled. An infrared radiation detector is used as a light-scanning device.

EFFECT: increasing the accuracy of monitoring the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

1 cl, 4 dwg, 8 tbl

Description

The invention relates to a technology for the production of multicomponent heterogeneous mixtures and can be used in the construction, agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries when analyzing the degree of homogeneity of both the finished multicomponent heterogeneous composition and its semi-finished products.

There is a known method for determining the quality of mixing of bulk materials, including the introduction of short-lived radioactive isotopes into the mixed mass (AS USSR No. 347070, class B01F 3/18, G01N 23/00, publ. 03/16/1971).

The disadvantage of this known method is the difficulty of working with short-lived isotopes and the inevitable contamination of the mixture with foreign impurities.

There is a known method for determining the quality of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures, including the use of lumogen as an indicator, the distribution of which in the mixture is used to judge the degree of homogeneity of the mixture (RF patent No. 2544290, class G01N 21/85, published 03/20/2015, Bulletin No. 8).

The disadvantage of this known method is the need to work with a special substance, lumogen, and the inevitable contamination of the mixture with it, which may affect its physical and chemical properties.

The closest way The same purpose for the claimed invention, based on a set of characteristics, is a method for determining the degree of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures based on optoleptic information about their surface, including remote scanning of the surface of the mixture; processing the resulting image using computer RGB color models with the decomposition of the color of each point of the mixture surface image into three components; determining the degree of homogeneity of the mixture; calculation of the entropy of optoleptic information, the value of which determines the degree of homogeneity of a stirred heterogeneous mixture (RF patent 2489705 C1, class G01N 21/85, published 08/10/2013, bulletin No. 22). This method is adopted as a prototype.

The features of the prototype, which are common to the claimed invention, are remote scanning of the surface of the mixture; processing the resulting image using computer RGB color models with the decomposition of the color of each point of the mixture surface image into three components; calculation of entropy of optoleptic information; determining the degree of homogeneity of a stirred heterogeneous mixture based on the entropy value of optoleptic information.

The disadvantage of the known method, adopted as a prototype, is the low accuracy of control of the degree of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures due to the fact that the components of the mixture can have similar reflectivity and reflect the same wavelengths of light in the optical range, i.e. have the same or similar colors in the spectrum, which leads to low sensitivity of the known method, and as a result does not provide the necessary accuracy in controlling the degree of homogeneity of the mixture.

The objective of the invention is to improve the accuracy of control of the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

The problem is solved due to the fact that in a known method, including remote scanning of the surface of the mixture, processing the resulting image using computer RGB color models with decomposition of the color of each point of the image of the mixture surface into three components, calculating the entropy of optoleptic information and determining the degree of homogeneity of the mixed heterogeneous mixture according to the entropy value of optoleptic information, according to the invention a thermal indicator is used; one of the components being mixed acts as a thermal indicator; if the components being mixed have a similar temperature, the thermal indicator is preheated or cooled; an infrared radiation detector is used as a light-scanning device.

Features of the proposed method that are distinctive from the prototype are the use of a thermal indicator; one of the mixed components acts as a thermal indicator; if the components being mixed have a similar temperature, preheat or cool the heat indicator; An infrared radiation detector is used as a light scanning device.

Distinctive features, in combination with known ones, make it possible to increase the accuracy of monitoring the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

The components of mixtures can have similar reflectivity and reflect the same wavelengths of light in the optical range, i.e. have the same or similar colors in the spectrum. Therefore, for such mixed substances it is advisable to use other radiation ranges, for example, infrared. To do this, it is necessary to use an infrared radiation detector, for example, a thermal imager, as a light scanning device for the surface of the mixture. The use of an infrared radiation detector increases the accuracy of the method also due to the fact that not only the surface of the mixture is analyzed, but also its deep layers, which more significantly reflects the distribution of the starting substances in the mixture, and, therefore, the degree of its homogenization. Thus, the use of an infrared radiation detector as a light-scanning device improves the accuracy of monitoring the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

To obtain more accurate information about the distribution of components in the mixture during its preparation based on infrared radiation, it is advisable to use a thermal indicator. In order to avoid the influence of various additional substances on the properties of the mixture, it is advisable to use not any additional substance, but one of the components of the mixture as a thermal indicator. In practice, however, three different cases are possible. In the first case, the mixed substances before the mixing operation may have different temperatures for natural reasons. For example, due to different storage conditions for the components of the mixture or due to their supply from different process streams or devices. In the second case, during the mixing process, pronounced endothermic or exothermic processes may be observed, associated with possible chemical reactions or processes of dissolution of the components of the mixture during its preparation. In the third case, the substances being mixed may have a similar temperature without the effects of heat release or absorption being observed. In this case, it is necessary to heat or cool one of the substances, which will be used as a thermal indicator of the homogeneity of the mixture.

Thus, using one of the mixed components as a thermal indicator and preheating or cooling it if the mixed components have a similar temperature provides increased accuracy in monitoring the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

The proposed method is illustrated by the drawings shown in Figs. 1-4.

Figure 1 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the mixture “Building mortar No. 1”.

Figure 2 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the mixture “Building mortar No. 2”.

Figure 3 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the “Colloidal solution” mixture.

Figure 4 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the “Complex fertilizer” mixture.

Figures 1-4 show:

+ - experimental points obtained in the thermal range;

- experimental points obtained in the optical range;

- approximation of the “homogeneity-entropy” relationship obtained in the thermal range;

- approximation of the “uniformity-entropy” relationship obtained in the optical range.

The proposed method is carried out as follows.

The temperature of the mixed components of the mixture is first assessed in comparison with each other. If the mixed components have a similar temperature, preheat or cool one of the mixed components.

This component acts as a thermal indicator during the preparation of the mixture.

Using a light-scanning device, which uses an infrared radiation detector, a thermal image of the surface of the mixture is remotely taken.

The resulting thermal image is converted into an optical image.

The resulting optical image is processed using computer RGB color models with the decomposition of the color of each point of the mixture surface image into three components.

Based on the research data, matrices for displaying color components are formed.

Empirical laws for the distribution of the intensity of color components are constructed.

The entropy value of optoleptic information is determined for each color layer, and then the total entropy, the value of which determines the degree of homogeneity of the mixed heterogeneous mixture.

The possibility of implementing the method is confirmed by the following examples.

The experiment was structured as follows.

The prepared mixture components were loaded into a specially prepared mixer with an electric stirrer. The stirrer turned on.

At regular intervals, optoleptic information was taken using a camera, and a thermal image of the surface was recorded using a thermal imager.

For both surface displays, the entropy of optoleptic information was calculated.

In the manner described, four experiments were carried out resulting in four different mixtures.

Example No. 1: experiment on the preparation of mortar No. 1. Images of the surface of the mixture obtained during the preparation of the mixture “Building mortar No. 1” in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 1.

Table 1 Mixing stroke Appearance of the surface of the mixture obtained by photofixation (optical method) External view of the thermal image of the surface of the mixture (thermal imaging method) 1 2 3 4 5

The entropy values of optoleptic information for the surface of the “Building mortar No. 1” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 2.

table 2 Mixing point Entropy of optoleptic information (optical method) Entropy of thermal image information 1 17.3 19.0 2 16.5 11.0 3 16.0 10.8 4 11.2 11.0 5 10.4 8.9

Figure 1 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the mixture “Building mortar No. 1”. From the graph presented in figure 1 it follows that the change in the entropy of optoleptic information calculated for the surface of the mixture obtained by the thermal imaging method obeys the same law as the entropy of optoleptic information calculated for the surface of the mixture obtained by the optical method. This confirms the correct operation of the proposed method in comparison with the known one.

Example No. 2: experiment on preparing mortar No. 2.

Images of the surface of the mixture obtained during the preparation of the mixture “Building mortar No. 2” in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 3.

Table 3 Mixing stroke Appearance of the surface of the mixture obtained by photofixation (optical method) External view of the thermal image of the surface of the mixture (thermal imaging method) 1 2 3 4 5 6

The entropy values of optoleptic information for the surface of the “Building mortar No. 2” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 4.

Table 4 Mixing point Entropy of optoleptic information (optical method) Entropy of thermal image information 1 16.3 16.6 2 17.1 15.4 3 15.3 13.3 4 15.1 11.7 5 14.7 10.5 6 16.0 10.3

Figure 2 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the mixture “Building mortar No. 2”.

The absolute difference in the entropy of optoleptic information obtained for the optical and thermal ranges indicates the slope of the exponential relationship, which expresses the decrease in the entropy of optoleptic information, i.e. The greater the value of this difference, the greater the increment in the entropy function at each mixing cycle. The larger the value of this increment, the more accurately the change in entropy can be determined.

From the graphs presented in figure 2, it follows that the absolute entropy difference is of greater importance for optoleptic information obtained in the thermal range than for optoleptic information obtained in the optical range. This indicates that the claimed method of controlling the degree of homogeneity of the “Building mortar No. 2” mixture during its preparation provides a higher degree of control than the known method.

Example No. 3: experiment on preparing a colloidal solution.

Images of the surface of the mixture obtained during the preparation of the “Colloidal Solution” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 5.

Table 5 Mixing stroke Appearance of the surface of the mixture obtained by photofixation (optical method) External view of the thermal image of the surface of the mixture (thermal imaging method) 1 2 3 4 5 6

The entropy values of optoleptic information for the surface of the “Colloidal solution” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 6.

Table 6 Mixing point Entropy of optoleptic information (optical method) Entropy of thermal image information 1 13.6 15.6 2 13.3 14.7 3 16.3 14.4 4 8.9 9.7 5 10.5 8.8 6 11.1 8.6

Figure 3 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the “Colloidal solution” mixture.

The absolute difference in the entropy of optoleptic information obtained for the optical and thermal ranges indicates the slope of the exponential relationship, which expresses the decrease in the entropy of optoleptic information, i.e. The greater the value of this difference, the greater the increment in the entropy function at each mixing cycle. The larger the value of this increment, the more accurately the change in entropy can be determined.

From the graphs presented in Fig. 3, it follows that the absolute entropy difference is of greater importance for optoleptic information obtained in the thermal range than for optoleptic information obtained in the optical range. This indicates that the claimed method of controlling the degree of homogeneity of the “Colloidal solution” mixture during its preparation provides a higher degree of control than the known method.

Example No. 4: experiment on the preparation of complex fertilizer.

Images of the mixture surface obtained during the preparation of the “Complex Fertilizer” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 7.

Table 7 Mixing stroke Appearance of the surface of the mixture obtained by photofixation (optical method) External view of the thermal image of the surface of the mixture (thermal imaging method) 1 2 3 4 5 6

The entropy values of optoleptic information for the surface of the “Complex Fertilizer” mixture in the optical and infrared ranges are presented in Table 8.

Table 8 Mixing point Entropy of optoleptic information (optical method) Entropy of thermal image information 1 13.6 15.6 2 13.3 14.0 3 16.3 12.3 4 8.9 10.1 5 10.5 9.7 6 11.1 8.8

Figure 4 shows graphs of the dependence of the entropy of optoleptic information, obtained in the optical and thermal ranges, on the mixing time for the “Complex fertilizer” mixture.

The absolute difference in the entropy of optoleptic information obtained for the optical and thermal ranges indicates the slope of the exponential relationship, which expresses the decrease in the entropy of optoleptic information, i.e. The greater the value of this difference, the greater the increment in the entropy function at each mixing cycle. The larger the value of this increment, the more accurately the change in entropy can be determined.

From the graphs presented in Fig. 4, it follows that the absolute entropy difference is of greater importance for optoleptic information obtained in the thermal range than for optoleptic information obtained in the optical range. This indicates that the claimed method of controlling the degree of homogeneity of the “Complex Fertilizer” mixture during its preparation provides a higher degree of control than the known method.

Advantage of the invention is that it makes it possible to increase the accuracy of control of the degree of homogeneity of heterogeneous mixtures during their preparation.

Claims (1)

A method for determining the degree of homogenization of heterogeneous mixtures, including remote scanning of the surface of the mixture, processing the resulting image using RGB computer color models with decomposition of the color of each point of the image of the mixture surface into three components, calculating the entropy of optoleptic information and determining the degree of homogeneity of the stirred heterogeneous mixture from the entropy value of optoleptic information , characterized in that a thermal indicator is used; one of the components being mixed acts as a thermal indicator; If the components being mixed have a similar temperature, the heat indicator is preheated or cooled, and an infrared radiation detector is used as a light-scanning device.