Singulation of Brass Scraps

Abstract

Efficient recycling and the realisation of a circular economy are essential to meet the growing global demand for metals. This thesis investigates the design and evaluation of a singulation system specifically for brass scraps, addressing challenges in their irregular shapes, sizes, and flow behaviours. Singulation, the process of separating particles, is a critical preparation step for automated AI-driven sorting systems to achieve high-definition recycling of alloys. Experiments revealed key factors affecting particle behaviour, including the impact of shape, size, and flow conditions. A detailed analysis of brass particle properties resulted in a proposed system. With both prototype tests and simulation experiments, the realised system for single file singulation achieved effective particle separation, by focusing on mitigating undesired behaviour like rolling and lateral movement. The findings support potential future developments in smart sorting systems for brass scraps and other materials which need automated sorting.