Use of Vibration Signals Recorded from DSP Sensor Technology for On-Line Monitoring of Feed Distribution in a Coal Preparation Plant

This report establishes the goal of proof of concept of using vibration monitoring and signal analysis techniques to detect feed distribution bias or imbalance between parallel dense medium cyclones in coal preparation plants. In the project, a special purpose DSP data acquisition system for on-line monitoring of parallel dense medium cyclones has been designed and built. Using the designed equipment, several data collection campaigns have been conducted at a full scale operating coal preparation plant in Ebenezer. The analysis of the collected vibration measurements has clearly indicated that the proposed methodology using DSP sensors and vibration signal analysis can detect differences in operating characteristics of dense medium cyclones as a function of the sensor position and the feed conditions. p