| Title | An acoustic method for in-line particle size measurement in flowing bulk solids |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2003 |
| Authors | Tallon, S., Davies C.E., and Kirkegaard M. |
| Journal | Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering |
| Volume | 217 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 33 - 40 |
| Date Published | 2003 |
| ISSN | 09544089 (ISSN) |
| Keywords | Acoustic wave propagation, acoustics, bulk solids, flow, Flowing bulk solids, Frequencies, measurement method, particle size, Particle size analysis, Viscosity |
| Abstract | The propagation velocity of acoustic waves through a packed bed of particles depends on, among other things, the wave frequency and the size of the particles. In this paper, theory is developed to describe the propagation velocity based on consideration of viscous interactions between the gas and solid phases. Experimental measurements in the frequency range 50-10 000 Hz, and for particles ranging in mean size from 65 to 6000 μm, agree well with the theory, particularly at low frequencies. The propagation velocity also correlates strongly with measurements of the surface mean particle diameter, independently of changes in particle density, and a method is described using this relationship as the basis of an in-line particle size measurement instrument for flowing bulk solid systems. Measurements using different size fractions of sand suggest that changes in mean particle size of less than 1.5 per cent can be resolved using the simple prototype developed for this work. |
| URL | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0037269629&partnerID=40&md5=6a99dd0c6688dae323f40f94b2286ed4 |
| DOI | 10.1243/09544080360562963 |
