Characterization of Particle Shape with an Improved 3D Light Scattering Sensor (3D-LSS) for Aerosols

Area of Science:

• Aerosol science
• Particle characterization
• Optical physics

Background:

• Online imaging techniques accurately assess micron particle size and shape.
• Submicron particle shape analysis typically relies on offline methods like SEM and TEM.
• Industrial gas-solid processes require efficient characterization of fine particulate products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an online sensor system for measuring the shape factor of non-spherical particles.
• To enable real-time shape analysis for submicron particles (500 nm to 5 µm).
• To overcome the limitations of offline techniques for submicron particle shape determination.

Main Methods:

• Utilized elastic light scattering of single aerosol particles in a laser beam.
• Employed an aerodynamic focusing nozzle designed using CFD simulations.
• Measured scattered light intensity at multiple azimuthal positions.
• Developed an algorithm to compute particle sphericity from light intensity distribution.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and tested an online sensor system for particle shape analysis.
• Demonstrated the sensor's capability to determine the sphericity distribution of particles.
• Validated performance using model aerosols with varying particle shapes.

Conclusions:

• The developed online sensor provides a viable method for real-time shape factor measurement of submicron particles.
• This technology enhances the characterization of fine particulate matter in industrial settings.
• The system offers a faster and more accessible alternative to traditional offline analysis methods.