Measurement of particle speed through optical reflective sensing
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
Two methods determine the speed of 3 m glass spheres using optical reflective sensors embedded in a micro-processor system. The first method, which will be referred to as the one pulse method, is sensitive to particle size and shape. The pulse width of a detected particle is measured and normalized by a shape correction factor resulting in a speed estimate. Three models are developed to correct for effects due to particle shape and light scattering inhomogeneities. The second method, which will be referred to as the two pulse method, measures individual particle velocity components independent of size and shape with two detectors spaced a known distance apart. This distance is divided by the delay between the two detector output pulses to determine speed. A by-product of both methods is a localized particle flux. The microprocessor subsystem automates the pulse detection, timing, velocity calculation and display which are accomplished by the micro-processor subsystem. In the laboratory, a chute is used to generate particle flows with different characteristics. The detection system is tested in the chute for two different flows. A mechanical speed measurement is used for comparison to the one pulse method. The one pulse method is used for comparison to the two pulse method. A mechanical average mass flow rate is used for comparison to the flow rate measurements. Results obtained indicate that the one pulse method estimate is within 4% of the mechanically measured speed. The two pulse method gives erroneous results, in this application, due to detector separation distance greater than 3 particle diameters. The mass flow rate measurement gives erroneous results due to detector head placement. Solutions are proposed to correct discrepancies.
- Research Organization:
- Florida Univ., Gainesville, FL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-91PC90182
- OSTI ID:
- 425292
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/90182-T21; ON: DE97002322; TRN: AHC29703%%40
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: TH: Thesis (M.S.); PBD: 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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