Hazardex 2019 Conference Presentations - Optical Particle Characterisation: new technology driving real-time, continuous and highly accurate particulate identification and monitoring
14 December 2018
In this Sponsor Presentation, Matthew Cliffe of Trolex will present a new and highly innovative real-time particulate characterisation technology that is IECEx certified for use in Group I explosive environments and general purpose heavy industrial applications. It provides real-time and continuous data regarding the concentration and size makeup of airborne particulate matter.
Real-time data enables instant responses to raised particulate levels -from alarms to automated dust suppression systems - and allows for unique trends and patterns to be identified on an unprecedented level, allowing critical process improvements to be made.
This fundamental advancement in technology allows for the collection of data from dust and all other particles with optical diameters from 0.38um to 40um. All the data relating to the particulate concentration and size profile can be stored and simultaneously displayed according to industry standards such as PM 1, PM 2.5, PM 4.25 (respirable) and PM 10.
Additionally, custom size profiles such as top-hat or Gaussian profiles, can be programmed, enabling customisation to process and hazards that are unique to the end-user application.
This new technological approach does not calculate the particle size based on any hardware-based filtration systems and as such it can be reconfigured to display any particle size fraction within its detection range purely from software. It also allows for the removal of all pumps and filters from the process, and the flow rate of the particulate matter is not assumed.
Instead the flow rate is calculated on a particle to particle basis constantly re-adjusting the calculation to reflect an ever-changing and challenging environment. This produces far more accurate, reliable and robust results and prevents under or over-sampling.
Due to the lack of filters or pumps this new particle characterisation technology does not require regular maintenance or calibration in the field, and the accuracy of the results does not degrade over time. To enable the most accurate readings the technology can be tuned, either in the factory or in the field, for different environments using a database built up to reflect a wide range of harsh and demanding applications.
The new technology is a development of previous light-scattering technologies allowing any device using the technology to not only count but also dynamically size the particulates. An advanced multi-photodiode structure is used to not only capture the basic particle size data but also the particle time of fight. This new information combined with the particulates size can be used to generate more accurate data and, as previously stated, remove the requirement for pumps and filters
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