Using Image Processing To Measure Roller Oversize of Pelletizing Drums: The first development and field test of the new pellet modules was a research project aimed at measuring oversize pellet material. This project involved analyzing roller oversize pellets on a subtracted background. Two different methods of delineation were developed: one using circular Hough transform and one using simple thresholding. The thresholding method proved to be at least as accurate as the Hough and much faster, so Hough development has languished while the threshold method became the basis for the two newly developed pellet delineation modules.

The main objective of installing the Split-Online system was to study how effectively the system quantifies the instantaneous volume of oversized material. The system proves to be effective in quantifying the oversized material and provides the balling attendants and control room operators with a better indication of how the balling circuit is operating. A paper detailing the development and results was presented at the SME Annual Meeting and Exhibit in February 2003.