Laser-based particle measurements of spherical and nonspherical particles

• Published in: International journal of multiphase flow Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 1333 - 1362
• Main Authors: Black, David Lee, McQuay, Mardson Q
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Dispersion; Exact sciences and technology; Flow; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Instrumentation for fluid dynamics; Multiphase and particle-laden flows; Nonhomogeneous flows; Nonspherical; Particle; PDPA; Physics; Swirl; Particle; PDPA; Nonspherical; Swirl; Dispersion; Flow; Ball; Test facilities; Powders; Glass; Non spherical particle; Particle suspension; Experimental study; Coaxial jet; Phase velocity; Particle size distribution; Two-phase flow; Laser Doppler anemometers; Vortex flow; Spherical particle
• ISSN: 0301-9322; 1879-3533
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-9322(01)00008-8

Experiments were performed to collect a detailed set of particle information in a co-axial jet and a swirling flow to assess the influence of particle shape on the particle dynamics. Spherical glass beads and a ground glass powder of the same material and similar size distribution were used for the experiments. The experiments presented also provide a comprehensive data set of particle information in a well-defined laboratory environment suitable for model validation. Results presented were measured with a two-component phase-Doppler particle analyzer (PDPA) and contain detailed particle velocity information for both spherical and nonspherical particles. Significant differences between spherical and nonspherical particles were observed for both co-axial jet and swirling flows in regions where velocity gradients are high. In general, nonspherical particles in the 30–70 μm range were able to follow the gas-phase velocity much better than the spherical particles in the same size range. Size-resolved velocity information was also collected directly below the inlet to measure the different velocity characteristics of different size classes within the overall distribution.