In situ particle size measurements using a two-color laser scattering technique

We have developed a technique using light scattered from individual particles in the near-forward direction to measure particle size in the range of 10-200 microm. This technique uses the Mie scattering theory to relate the measured light intensity to particle size based on calibration techniques employing pinholes and water droplets of known size. We have applied a unique two-color optical arrangement to minimize the edge effect which can cause incorrect size measurements for particles that pass through the edge of the laser beam focal volume. In this paper we describe our experimental technique and the results of size measurements obtained with this technique for water droplets and pulverized coal particles.