Image Based On-line Particle Sizing Using Ethernet Controls

Imaging based particle size analysis of liquids and solids provides significant advantages over other methods since 2-dimensional size, shape and color information is provided along with a visual verification. Systems can be used on-line under demanding operating conditions or in the lab. This paper will discuss newly developed technology that expands the range for image based particle analysis systems by integrating an optical zoom lens with digital Ethernet control. Until now every time the size range was changed on an imaging system the lens needed to be manually adjusted. This adjustment then required the user to recalibrate the entire system. This manual adjustment and recalibration limited the usefulness for image based particle size analysis. The optical zoom lens overcomes this limitation and provides for particle ranges in the order of 17000 microns out of a single system. This 1-7000 dynamic range can be applied to a maximum size of 100mm.Results can be outputted in a simple display or as output signals such as 4-20mA or digital files on Ethernet for process control. All data can be archived for a historical record.