Particle Size of Pneumatically Conveyed Powders Measured Using Impact Duration

CSIRO Minerals has developed a technique for measuring particle size in pneumatically conveyed powders [1] by measurement of the acoustic waves produced by particle impacts upon a specially designed transducer. Previous work has focused on using the peak acoustic wave amplitude to determine particle size. This produces a spectrum that is hard to determine the particle size from, as the peak amplitude is a non‐linear function of particle diameter, and is strongly affected by angle of incidence and velocity of the impacting particle. In this paper impact duration measurements are used to overcome these difficulties while retaining the advantages of being able to measure in high solids loadings of up to at least 0.5 kg/m³ of powder. In laboratory tests the impact size monitor's (ISM) results have been correlated with optical diffraction measurements of the mean (by number) powder size with a correlation coefficient of 0.985 and a relative error of 5.5 %. The ISM operated successfully in the laboratory at a loading of 0.5 kg/m³ of powder and measured particles down to 50 microns in size.     

On-Line Measurement of Mass Flow of Pneumatically Conveyed Solids

CSIRO has developed an ultrasonic attenuation and transit time technique and a microwave transmission technique for on-line determination of the mass flow of pneumatically conveyed solids. In a comparative plant trial on a single burner line at Bayswater power station, the ultrasonic technique determined the coal density and velocity with rms errors of 3.9 and 5.9% relative respectively; the microwave technique successfully determined the coal density with an rms error of 6.2% relative, but was unable to accurately determine solids flow velocity at the low coal densities typical of the trial. In a plant trial at a direct smelter, the microwave technique successfully determined the mass flow of pneumatically conveyed iron ore fines feeding the smelter with an rms error of 10.2% relative.     

Simultaneous Measurement of Particle Size and Particle Velocity by the Spatial Filtering Technique

The objective of this study was to compare the measuring results of a fiber‐optical probe based on a modified spatial filtering technique with given size distributions of different test powders and also with particle velocity values of laser Doppler measurements. Fiber‐optical spatial filtering velocimetry was modified by fiber‐optical spot scanning in order to determine simultaneously the size and the velocity of particles. The fiber‐optical probe system can be used as an in‐line measuring device for sizing of particles in different technical applications. Spherical test particles were narrow‐sized glass beads in the range 30–100 μm and irregularly shaped test particles were limestone particles in the range 10–600 μm. Particles were dispersed by a brush disperser and the measurements were carried out at a fixed position in a free particle‐laden air stream. Owing to the measurement of chord lengths and to the influence of diffraction and divergent angle, the probe results show differences from the given test particle sizes. Owing to the particle‐probe collisions, the mean velocity determined by the probe is smaller than the laser Doppler mean velocity.     

On-line Measurement of Solids Concentration or the Mean Particle Size in a Saturated Slurry Containing Background Particles Using a Turbidity Method

An on-line double-sensor turbidimeter for estimating the solids concentration or the mean particle size in a saturated slurry system in the presence of foreign insoluble particles is proposed. The correlation representing the operation of the double-sensor turbidimeter for on-line implementation is also developed. The technique relies on measuring the transmittance of an infrared light beam through the suspension, once in the presence of soluble particles and a second time when the soluble particles have completely dissolved. The device can be easily implemented on a crystallization system for monitoring and control applications. The maximum errors for solids concentration and mean particle size measurements were 13% and 7%, respectively.     

Particle Size Determination by Laser Reflection: Methodology and problems

The particle size distribution of crystalline solids has progressively become a key parameter in manufacturing processes, as important as chemical purity. Among the particle size determination and counting systems available on the market, very few offer the possibility of continuous in situ monitoring of the particle size evolution during crystallization. For this reason, much interest has been aroused by the appearance of the Par Tec 100, patented by Laser Sensor Technology [1, 2]. A study has been carried out in a stirred vessel to verify the precision and reproducibility of particle size measurement and elucidate the influence of experimental parameters on data accessible with this instrument. Optimum reproducibility has logically been achieved by fixing the highest possible cycle time and taking the mean of several cycles. Determinations with the Par Tec 100 are influenced variously, according to whether they relate to the total number of particles counted or to the mean size. Thus, the number of counts measured by a particle size probe largely depends on the operating conditions and more particularly on the hydrodynamic conditions, solvent, temperature and focal point position. Its dependence relative to the concentration of the solid in suspension is normal and linear for a solid and for a given monodisperse sample. To establish the relationship between the number of counts and the population density would therefore necessitate delicate calibration on a case-by-case basis. The mean size determined does not depend on suspension homogeneity, provided that the stirring speed is sufficient for a statistically significant total count. On the other hand, for a given sample, a displacement of the focal point can lead to considerable variations in the size determined. The optimal focal point position for small sizes is in fact highly sensitive. Lastly, the optimal position of the focal point is considerably dependent on the true size of the particles, which means that this counter is unsuitable for the precise analysis of a dispersed sample since each particle size class would require a different setting of the focal point. In addition, the sizes determined, irrespective of the products studied, appear to be underestimated for large particles and over estimated for small particles.     

Estimating Average Particle Size by Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM)

The Lasentec focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) probe provides in situ particle characterisation over a wide range of suspension concentrations. This is a significant advantage over conventional instruments that require sampling and dilution. However, FBRM gives a chord distribution, rather than a conventional diameter distribution. Both theoretical and empirical methods for converting from chord to diameter data are available, but the empirical method was found to be more successful.     

In-Line Particle Size Determination for Jet Agglomeration Processes

In jet agglomeration plants, powders are agglomerated to obtain good instant properties. The free-falling initial material is wetted in a spray cone by droplets or in a steam jet by condensation at the particle surface. In a subsequent region of high particle concentration, collision between particles occurs and agglomerates form, if the forces of adhesion are strong enough. A commercial measurement device, working according to the principle of Fraunhofer diffraction, was modified for in-line application. It was used to measure particle size distributions and concentrations of solid particles and droplets in jets. A model is presented to calculate local particle sizes by means of mass balances from integral measurements over large volumes. The results of in-line particle size and agglomerate size analyses show the practical importance of dry agglomeration during transport and lead to a better understanding of the subsequent wet agglomeration process.     

Analysis of Particle Size Distribution by Particle Tracking

Particle tracking is performed using a combination of dark field or fluorescence video microscopy with automatic image analysis. The optical detection together with the image analysis software allows for the time resolved localization of individual particles with diameters between 100 and 1000 nm. Observation of their Brownian motion over a set of time intervals leads to the determination of their mean square displacements under the given room temperature and viscosity. Hereby, the radii of a set of particles visible within a given optical frame are derived simultaneously. Rapid data analysis leads to reliable particle size histograms. The applicability of this method is demonstrated on polystyrene latices and PMMA nanospheres with radii between 51 nm and 202 nm.     

利用低相干光纤动态光散射法测量浓悬浮液中多分散颗粒粒径分布

本文针对高浓度散射介质,用低相干光纤动态光散射技术测量浓悬浮液中多分散颗粒系的粒径及其粒径分布。利用迭代CONTIN算法对实验数据进行反演运算,得到多分散颗粒系的粒径分布结果。结果表明,浓悬浮液中多分散颗粒系的峰值粒径测量值与给定的两种标准粒径值相吻合,其误差在4%之内,粒径分布曲线中各散射颗粒所反映的散射体光强分布与根据Mie散射计算得到的理论值相吻合。实验结果证明低相干光纤动态光散射实验系统能准确测量浓悬浮液中多分散颗粒粒径及粒径分布。     

Formation of Charged Particle Tracks in Solids

A criterion for formation of etchable tracks in solids is suggested using the well-known concepts of ionization and thermal spikes, diffusion process with useful and justified assumptions, and present or published experimental and theoretical investigations on the same subject. The suggested criterion is useful for a wide spectrum of researchers including development and applications of track recording materials, ions implantation, sputtering and other areas, which include interactions of charged particles with solids.     

Determination of Particle Size Distribution in Fluids using photon correlation spectroscopy

Photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) has been applied to various systems of particles suspended in a fluid. Computer simulations were used to analyse CONTIN, a program for the numerical inversion of the experimental data. Measurements were performed on a spectrometer equipped with a digital correlator. Various suspensions of polysterene latex spheres differing both in size and size distribution were prepared in double distilled water. Further some samples provided by an external institution without prior specification were analysed. Diffusivity measurements on submicron DES (di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate) particles in nitrogen were also performed. The results obtained demonstrate the strengths and the limitations of PCS as a method of determining particle size distributions in particle fluid systems.     

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation for Particle Size Determination

Measurements on paint components have been conducted with symmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (sym flow FFF) and asymmetrical flow FFF (asym flow FFF). Both methods are based on the same principle of separation, but they differ in the construction of the fractionation channel and the configuration of the channel flow and crossflow. On the basis of the good selectivity and resolution of these techniques, it was possible to determine the particle size of each individual constituent of a three-component mixture of a paint binder, pigment and filler, characterized by relatively broad and overlapping distributions, and to follow the changes on mixing them. In the case of sym flow FFF, it was possible to use thinner fractionation channels, with no system peaks and good selectivity in both the normal and steric-hyperlayer mode. The main features of asym flow FFF are the simpler construction of the fractionation channel and the possibility of focusing the sample in the channel better and of following visually the separation. This variant should be preferably used in the normal mode of operation.     

Determination of Particle Size Distribution by Par-Tec® 100: Modeling and Experimental Results

Some particle size analyzers, such as the Par-Tec® 100 (Laser Sensor Technology, Redmond, WA, USA), measure the so-called cord length distribution (CLD) as the laser beam emitted from the sensor randomly crosses two edges of a particle (a cord length). The objectives of this study were to develop a model that can predict the response of the Par-Tec® 100 in measuring the CLD of a suspension for spherical and ellipsoidal particles and to infer the actual particle size distribution (PSD) using the measured CLD output. The model showed that the measured CLD is reasonably accurate for the spherical particles. However, this measurement progressively deteriorates as the shape of particles changes from spherical to ellipsoidal with large ratios of major to minor diameters. Experimental results obtained with spherical particles having a normal and a non-normal PSD indicated that the Par-Tec® 100 measurements deteriorate as the PSD deviates from a normal distribution. The information obtained from these experiments also showed that the model can reasonably predict the Par-Tec® response. Use of the inferred PSD rather than the measured CLD made a major improvement in estimating the actual PSD. Mean particle size analysis revealed that the Par-Tec® 100 volume-weighted mean particle size is closest to the unweighted mean particle size measured by sieve analysis.     

风沙流中颗粒相浓度和粒度的瞬态同步测量

本文基于激光衍射技术提出了一种新的浓度测量的改进方法。该方法可以同时获得测量颗粒的浓度和粒径分布。基于这一测量方法,通过对大型风洞风沙两相流系统中不同风速,高度条件下颗粒浓度和粒径测量,获得了跃移颗粒的空间结构信息。结果显示,颗粒浓度随来流风速线性增加,且在近床面区域内来流风速对颗粒粒径具有选择性。     

On‐line Determination of Particle Size Distributions in Flowing Dispersions

Emulsions are of great importance to industry. They are involved in many engineering operations, including chemical reactions, extraction, emulsification and suspension polymerization, etc. However, an important problem for these processes is how to control the size distribution of the dispersed phase. Indeed, off‐line analysis of the emulsion may generate uncertainties due to sampling and dilution of the product, which are likely to change the dispersion state and physico‐chemical properties. In this work, an on‐line optical method is proposed to characterize dispersed media in real flowing conditions. This method is based on the time‐analysis of back‐scattered light fluctuations. The present paper deals with the development of this method and its application to dispersions of alumina in water. The results obtained with the on‐line optical method are compared with those acquired by classical laser light scattering and microscopy.     

In‐line Particle Size Measurement for Control of Jet Milling

Jet milling is suitable for the production of very fine powders with a well‐defined particle size distribution (PSD). The major disadvantage of the process is the poor energy efficiency. In practice jet mills have to be operated below their maximum capacity in order to avoid the production of off‐specification material, due to operation disturbances. Therefore, it is important to automate operation with a real‐time PSD instrument for quality control. In this paper, a study for in‐line particle size measurement using laser diffraction is presented to improve operation control. This measurement system uses a novel CMOS pixel array, which has a robust and flexible feature for the application. It also includes an in‐line cell system, where direct measurement is implemented in the product particle stream coming from the mill and an air purge for the cell window allows continued operation. Experiments were conducted on a 10‐inch spiral jet mill pilot plant with alpha‐Al₂O₃ as test material. The milling process is investigated by varying the operational conditions. The measurement results are useful to build a grinding model for control purpose.     

Study on the Projection Non-mode Algorithm of Laser Particle Size Measurement

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Determination of Particle Size Distribution Parameters using a Laser-Scattered Light Spectrometer

A method based on the measurement of scattered light intensity distributions is demonstrated to be able to determine directly the particle size of monodisperse supermicron-size particles. In all other cases of a particle cloud, information about the size distribution can be acquired from comparison of measured and calculated intensities as a function of scattering angle. This indirect method is only applicable if the assumptions made in the theory used for comparison are fulfilled. Therefore, the method is limited to spherical particles with known refractive index. The type of size distribution also has to be known. In the cases considered a log-normal size distribution was assumed. The uncertainty of the result increases with increase in the number of parameters that have to be determined. The method seems to be limited to unimodal distributions described with two parameters.     

Determination of Particle Size Distribution by the analysis of intensity-constrained multi-angle photon correlation spectroscopic data

Laser light scattering (LLS), especially dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), also known as photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), is a well established method for particle size distribution analysis. It usually involves a Laplace inversion of the field autocorrelation function. However, the resolution is limited because of the ill-conditioned nature of this Laplace inversion. No unique solution exists when noise is present on the data. In contrast with this ill-conditioned nature, the angular dependence of scattered (static) intensities is precisely not ill-conditioned, which allows the resolution of the ill-conditioned inversion of DLS data to be improved. In order to characterize samples with more complicated size distributions, an intensityconstrained multi-angle PCS data analysis program has been developed, which is an alternative way of normalizing the field correlation function to that reported by Cummins and Staples [12]. In this program, the field autocorrelation function is normalized to the scattering intensity by using a predetermined coherent factor at each angle, which provides an additional constraint on the Laplace inversion of multi-angle PCS data analysis. The alternative analysis improves the resolution of PCS and provides a more reliable particle size distribution than single-angle data analysis. Both simulated and measured LLS data are used to illustrate its application, resolution and limitations.