TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 2000

Image-Based System for Particle Counting and Sizing

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126, Issue 3

Abstract

A procedure is developed to provide measurements of particle size by adapting parts of a commercially available particle image velocimetry system to obtain in situ digital images of the particles. The procedure is nonintrusive and is able to capture images of the particles as they are mixed, thus avoiding the need for disturbing the flow or withdrawing samples for later analysis. Measured size distributions are shown to compare closely with manufacturer's values for standard polystyrene spherical particles, and particles with diameters as small as 6 μm are resolved. The system also is shown to track changes in particle-size distribution during an aggregation test. In addition, information on particle geometry is obtained, which should be useful for improving the ability to model aggregation processes. A simple modeling framework based on the Smoluchowski equation is presented to demonstrate the use of data obtained with this procedure in particle aggregation modeling.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 126Issue 3March 2000
Pages: 258 - 266

History

Received: Mar 16, 1998
Published online: Mar 1, 2000
Published in print: Mar 2000

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Authors

Affiliations

Associate Member, ASCE
Res. Assoc., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Texas A&M Univ., Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78412.
Prof., Dept. of Civ., Struct., and Envir. Engrg., State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260.
Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Civ., Struct. and Envir. Engrg., State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
Assoc. Prof., Geol. Dept., State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
Prof., Dept. of Civ., Struct. and Envir. Engrg., State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.

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