Evaluation of the Malvern optical particle monitor. [Volumetric size distribution]

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5543117· OSTI ID:5543117

Anderson, R. J.; Johnson, E.

The Malvern 2200/3300 Particle Sizer is a laser-based optical particle sizing device which utilizes the principle of Fraunhofer Diffraction as the means of particle size measurement. The instrument is designed to analyze particle sizes in the range of 1 to 1800 microns diameter through a selection of lenses for the receiving optics. It is not a single-particle counter but rather an ensemble averager over the distribution of particles present in the measuring volume. Through appropriate measurement techniques, the instrument can measure the volumetric size distribution of: solids in gas or liquid suspension; liquid droplets in gas or other immiscible liquids; and, gas bubbles in liquid. (Malvern Handbook, Version 1.5). This report details a limited laboratory evaluation of the Malvern system to determine its operational characteristics, limitations, and accuracy. This investigation focused on relatively small particles in the range of 5 to 150 microns. Primarily, well characterized particles of coal in a coal and water mixture were utilized, but a selection of naturally occurring, industrially generated, and standard samples (i.e., glass beads) wer also tested. The characteristic size parameter from the Malvern system for each of these samples was compared with the results of a Coulter particle counter (Model TA II) analysis to determine the size measurement accuracy. Most of the particulate samples were suspended in a liquid media (water or isoton, plus a dispersant) for the size characterization. Specifically, the investigations contained in this report fall into four categories: (a) Sample-to-lense distance and sample concentration studies, (b) studies testing the applicability to aerosols, (c) tests of the manufacturer supplied software, and (d) size measurement comparisons with the results of Coulter analysis. 5 references, 15 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV (USA). Morgantown Energy Technology Center
• OSTI ID: 5543117
• Report Number(s): DOE/METC-83-69; ON: DE83017039
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
COAL
PARTICLE SIZE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
DESIGN
EVALUATION
AEROSOLS
DIFFRACTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FUEL SLURRIES
GLASS
LASERS
MIXTURES
WATER
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COHERENT SCATTERING
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
SIZE
SLURRIES
SOLS
SUSPENSIONS
013000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Transport
Handling
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010600 - Coal
Lignite
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440300 - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)